WAGEWORKER
By Maupin & Hogard
WILL M. MAUPIN .... Editor
W. P. HOGARD Manager
Published Weekly at 137 No. Htb
St- Uncolr. Neb. One Dollar a Year.
Entered as second-class matter April
SI, 1904, at the postofflce at IJncoln,
Neb., under the Act of Congress of
March 3rd, 1879.
TO LABOR UNIONS.
Will you assist us by ap
pointing some one in your
union to furnish us With news?
The Wageworker wants to pub
lish the news of your local, and
In order to do so must have
your assistance. It Is our aim
to give our readers all the la
bor news that is to be had and
we wish to do It properly, so
that you will be satisfied. By
helping us In this way, you not
only make this paper more val
uable and complete, but your
knowledge of what is going on
In the labor movement is bet
ter and the good feeling among
the various crafts is more
strongly cemented. When this
fellowship idea is instilled thor
oughly among us there is less
likelihood of a break in the
ranks and it is certainly need
ed at the present time.
DIRECT LEGISLATION.
By all means let the trades union
ists of Nebraska forward, in every
way possible, the work of the Direct
legislation League. It is through just
such Instrumentalities that the wage
earners will be able to occompHsh re
sults beneficial to themselves. It sim
ply means that the people make dl
rectly the laws they want, instead of
delegating the work to a few. When
ever the people want a law they en
act it, and vice versa.
At the forthcoming convention of
the Nebraska State Federation of La
bor. South Omaha. January 4 and 5
Professor Howard of the State Uni
versity will deliver an address on
the work of the Direct Legislation
League, and it promises to be one
of the most valuable features or the
convention. The Wageworker wants
to assure the trades unionists of Ne
braska that in Professor Howard they
have a warm friend and supporter,
and he Is in a position to be of in
estimable service to the wage earn
ers. He will explain the objects and
aims of the league, and will be able
to show that the interests of the
wage earners lie along the lines -laid
down by the league. It is to be
hoped that every wage earner who
can will take advantage of the oppor
tunity to hear this gifted man speak
upon a topic of pressing importance.
ANTI-TUBERCULOSIS CRUSADE.
The trades unions of the country
welcome with gratitude the assis
tance of every agency that looks to
ward the eradication of tuberculo
ids. For this reason there should by
the heartiest 'co-operation hetween
the local trades unions of Nebraska
and the Nebraska Association for the
Study and Prevention of Tuberculo
sis. This society Is doing a splendid
work, and asks the hearty support
and co-operation of not only the dif
ferent local unions, but the Nebras
ka State Federation of Iabor.
Tuberculosis la the great enemy of
the wage earners for the simple rea
eon that it breeds and thrives un
der conditions that surround workers
under present conditions. The soci
ety Is aiming to stamp out the great
white plague by doing away with the
conditions under which It breeds and
thrives. If it succeeds In this it will
have succeeded in accomplishing that
which the unions are trying to ac
complish, namely, the bettering of
ranltary conditions. Surely the unions
will welcome any help along these
lines.
Mrs. K. R. J. Edholm, of Omaha,
secretary of the Nebraska society,
has kindly accepted an invitation to
address the Nebraska State Federa
tion of Labor convention at South
Omaha next month on this important
topic. Her address will be of inter
est for the reasons above outlined.
She will doubtless find that the State
Federation is willing to co-operate
to the utmost with the Nebraska so
ciety, and these two agencies, work
ing hand in hand, can do much to
prevent the further spread and rav
ages of this dread disease.
The State Journal continues to reit
erate the exploded charge that the
gas company and other "interests" de
feated the city charter during the last
legislature. The charter was defeated
because of the bullheadedness of those
who had it in charge. They refused to
Insert a submission clause in a char
ter that provided for the initiative
and referendum, and organized labor
took a very important part in defeat
ing that charter. If those who have
the charter business in charge now
are wise they will provide that the
charter be submitted to a vote of the
people. If they fail, they will bump up
against the same old opposition.
We believe in law but if the father
of that little girl who died the victim
of an abortionist will take it upon him
self to be the executionist of the doc
tor and the hound who seduced the
little girl, we have faith to believe
that there are not twelve men to be
found in Lancaster county who would
convict -him of anything more than
"temporary- insanity." We'd gamble
on the statement that twelve union
men could not be found to convict him
of anything worse.
If the Traction company will pay its
just taxes promptly, squeeze the water
out of its stock and after paying a
reasonable dividend on the money ac
tually invested, put the balance into
betterments, the people will be fairly
well satisfied. Anything else will not
be beneficial to the public.
Remember that the women clerks
are human, and try and make the
Christmas rush as easy for them as
possible. We don't give a continental
how hard nor how long you work the
male clerks. If they haven't got sand
enough to protect themselves by or
ganization, work 'em to a frazzle.
If organized labor wants to know
why the federal courts always hand
organized labor the lemon, let them
study up on the corporation record
of Judge Lurton, who has jUBt been
appointed to the supreme bench by
President Taft.
The Board of Education seems de
termined upon the Davenport tract.
But It may yet discover that the
voters have something to say upon
the subject of spending a quarter of
a million on a building upon that
site.
Perhaps you noticed that the Gas
Co., was the only public service cor
poration in Lincoln that published
the findings of the. railway commis
sion in that recent little local squab
ble.
Senator Burkett Indignantly denies
that he franked anything but "Pub
Docs." from Lincoln to Washington.
What's the use of all this "holler'
Isn't it Senator Burkett's frank.
A few would-be bosses in Omaha
received a severe jolt last week a
Jolt calculated to make them sit up
and take notice of public sentiment.
Now we can all get ready for the
formal opening of the Lincoln Labor
Temple the prettiest labor headquar
ters In the trans-Missouri country.
Iu 1910 we elect another congress.
But will it he another corporation
congress like the one we elected In
1908?
Formal opening of the Lincoln La
bor Temple, Wednesday evening, De
cember 29. You are cordially in
vited. Judge Lurton has been confirmed.
How did Senators Brown and Burkett
vote on that matter?
We wish every one of you a happy
and prosperous new year.
The Iabor Temple is open to visit
ors. You are invited.
Now for another and a better year!
SOME NEW STATISTICS.
V
Bureau of Labor Engaged in Gather
ing Some Important Figures.
The Bureau of Labor and Industrial
Statistics is engaged in gathering
statistics that will not only be inter
esting to the wage earners of the
state, but will be valuable for future
reference and comparisons. For the
first time in the history of the state
statistics are being gathered on "the
cost of living." Commissioner Maupin
has selected twenty-five families, liv
ing in various parts of the state and
representing some twenty different oc
cupations, and these families will keep
an accurate record of living expenses
for the month of January. Blanks have
been prepared for the use of these
families. The results of this Investi
gation will be ready for publication
about February 15. In July the same
families, or as nearly the same as
possible, will keep a similar account,
thus furnishing a good working aver
age for the year. Commissioner Man
pin believes that this work will be
Useful Holiday Suggestions
Just at this time there's
wondering what to give a man for Christmas.
The man can't tell you, probably he doesn't know,
but the chances are that
be coming in here after
111 i
you could nave given mm.
Suggestions for Christmas
One off our Wile & Co., Union Made, suits or
ODercoats for dress or business wear, a lib
eral, usefful gift, $10 to $40. Just bring in an
old suit or tell us his size, afftertoards, iff they
don't ffit him right, we'll change or alter them
free-
Fine Necktoear, rick silks, many ffine color
ings, ffrom 25c to $3. A great stock off
glooes, including Dent's, Perrin's and H. & P.
ffor dress and street wear, ffrom $1 to $3.
Fur and fur-lined glooes ffor toarmth, ffrom
$2.50 to $5. Stceaters and sweater coats.
Weber shooting coats, $2 to $10.
Eoertoear, guaranteed sox, six pairs in a nice
holiday box $1.50.
Combination sets off tie, handkerchieff and
sox to match, all colors, put in neat box ffor
holiday boxes, from 50c to $2.50.
Armstrong- Clothing Go
EVERY SHOE "UNION MADE" HERE
continued by future managers of the
bureau, thus giving the public valuable
information. v
The Bureau of Labor and Industrial
Statistics is also engaged in collecting
statistics for 1909 concerning the labor
organizations of the state. The secre
tary of every trades and labor union
has been furnished with blanks and
asked to report on some twenty or
thirty questions submitted by the bu
reau. With the wage statistics thus
gathered a good comparison may be
made between the Increase in wages
and the Increase in cost of living. The
bureau management is asking the
unions to co-operate freely with the
bureau in this important work, and
the indications are that they will see
the value of the work contemplated
and give every possible assistance.
THE ELECTRICAL WORKERS.
Cheering Reports Coming in From All
Over the Country.
The electrical Workers are not al
lowing cold weather, nor anything else,
to interfere with their work of pushing
the organization to the front. Reports
of increased wage scales and new
members come in with happy regular
ity. President Perrln of Council No.
6 of the Second District reports an in
creased scale at Cedar Rapids, where
splicers will receive $3.25, $3.50 and
$3.75 after January 1. The "inside lo
cal" organized in Des Moines last Sep
tember has more than doubled its
membership, has secured a 50 cent
per day raise in wages and established
the closed shop. "None but union
electrical workers employed in this
shop," is now a familiar sign in Des
Moines.
Secretary-Treasurer Mayer, who is
many a person who
soon after Christmas he 11
something he wants that
GOOD CLOTHES MERCHANTS
Thompson Shoe
$3.50 & $4
Handcraft Shoe
$5.00
All New--"F0R MEN"-All Ne
Men's Bootory
12th & P Sts.
located in Lincoln, is getting out a
"Budget" every now and then, gener
ally on the first of the month. It al
ways contains some cheerful "dope"
and the boys are beginning to look for
it with eagerness.
LOOKING FINE.
Labor Exchanges Come to Wageworker
Desk in Handsome Array.
Gee, but the holiday issues of the
labor papers of the country were
mighty fine. The Wageworker gets a
lot of them, and so numerous were the
handsome holiday editions that it
would be useless to attempt to give
them individual mention. But it re
joices us in spirit and makes us ex
ceedingly glad to note the increasing
prosperity of the labor papers of the
country. The labor editor is coming
into his own, and if he will only hold
up his head and insist upon being
treated as a business man he will con
tinue to prosper in increasing meas
ure. This Temlnds us that there arc about
a hundred of them who have not yet
affiliated, with the International La
bor, Press Association. They ought to
come in and help put the business on
a higher and better plane. They car.
learn something to their advantage by
addressing the secretary-treasurer,
Will M. Maupin, Lincoln, Nebraska.
It's a little late, but here's hoping
that every labor editor in the country
had a Merry Christmas, and that every
last one of them will enjoy a happy
and prosperous new year.
Looking Ahead.
Some men pay their debts promptly
merely for the purpose of establishing
credit that they may siome time abuse.
is
We are Headquarters for
M. Wile CS Company
UNION MADE CLOTHES
.50 a set. Fancy Silk Suspenders in
3C
r
FCOMO
The best coal in the market for
the money
LUMP, EGG OR NUT $6.50
For Furnace, Heating Stove or Kitchen
Range. Try it.
Bell 234
Auto 3228
FORMERLY A
LEON E. CLDFFORED
PIANO
WITH
PRESCOTT
UNION-MADE PIANOS
Artistic and High-Grade
Let Ted Dyefor Yoi
or clean, repair and
235 N. 11th Street E.
Bell FI600
Auto 4876
Special Equipment for
Ladies' Wear
i
1
We Wish You a
cMerry Chzistmas
and a
i
Happy SJew Yeaz
COA'L
WHITEBREAST COAL CO.
1108 O STREET
UNIOX MAN
TUNER
MUSIC CO.
press your clothes
V. MARRIMPP
Cleaner - Presser - Hatter
- Si
