WAGEW0RM1R
; NUMBER g)
VOLUME 7
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, APRIL
TH
f BILLY MAJORS DOPE 8
A LITTLE ABUUT UIV1SK5
The First National Bank Is about
to begin the erection ot a quarter ot
a million dollar building at the cor
ner of Tenth and O. Pending the
completion of the building the bank
will be located on South Eleventh.
Its president. S. H. Burnham, asked
permission of the city authorities to
put out a sign showing the temporary
. location. Permission was refused
The refusal was based on an ordi
nance enacted for the purpose ot stop
ping some grave abuseB, . but I'm
blessed if I can see the sense In mak
ing It so almighty iron clad. The
attitude of rorae people in this town
reminds me of a story.
When Phillip D. Armour built
and endowed the Armour Institute in
Chicago he put at the head of it one
of the greatest educators in this or
any other country, Dr. Frank W. Gun
8aulus. One day Dr. Gunsaulus went to
Armour and outlined at great length
a plan for enlarging the work of the
Institute. Armour listened without
saying a word, and finally Ounsalus
finished by saying:
"I'm afraid, Mr. Armour, you thint
I go around with my head in th-j
clouds."
"No, I don't think that Doc," said
Armour, "but I do think you Ki
around a lot with your feet a d i
long ways from the ground."
I have come to the conclusion thai
there are a lot of civic leaders in
Lincoln trying to enforce their way
or doing things and their ideas ot
how things ought to be done, who
are going around with their feet a
d d long ways from the ground.
I presume some of these aesthetic
ladies nd gentlemen would raise a
howl If somebody proposed to b-:i.'J
a "welcome arch" across O street, like
Denver has at her Union depot ana
like Omaha . has at Eighteenth and
Farnam. Some months ago I read a
"kick" in one of our daily newspapers
on the fact that women going along
some ot our business streets cpuld
look Into barber shop windows and
actually see men with lather all over
their faces. By thunder, I'm expect
ing every day to see an ordinance eu
acted prohibiting us working gents
from walking along the streets in
our shirt sleeves.
Of course there are those who arc
"knocking" on the suggestion that
the city buy Lincoln Park and add it
to the ctty park system. It comes
from two classes the class that has
grown wealthy by the increase ot
real estate brought about by the labor
and sacrifices of others, and the class
that can always smell ."graft" li
every proposition calculated to ad
vance public interests. I don't know
who owns Lincoln Park and I don't
care a continental. If the city can
buy it at a reasonable figure, it ought
to buy It. It I knew the men respon
sible tor blocking the effort to secure
Peck's Grove for park purposes I'd
take especial delight in grilling them
every week. They were guilty of lit
tie less than a crime against the citi
zenship of Lincoln.
We've got "art associations,'
"civic societies," "music societies"
and other societies of that class, to
burn, and we are always boasting
about our "culchaw" and refinement.
don't you know. But our park sys
tem Is a Joke, our boulevards aro
seas of mud when they are not hub-
deep in dust, and our street lighting
system is archaic. The men who
ought to be taking the lead in reined-
ing these things are so busy at the
task of splitting hairs Infernally fine
and painting the continuity of sua
beams -that they have no time for
anything really worth while to the
public at large. Mayor Love proposes
a city commission made up of men
who shall serve without pay, serving
because they are public-spirited. O,
tempore! O, mores! Judging the fu
ture by the past, if we are going to
put Lincoln into the hands of such
men I want, when the thing is accom
plished, to get a concessidn for baling
the hay I ran cut from the cicy
streets.
The longer I association with union
men the prouder I am of my member-
AINU oUXNUKl IMIJMOa
ship in a trade union. You 'will find
more genuine liberality, more broad
mindedness, in a bunch of union men
-than you can find in any other bunch
of men of equal size. I want to prove
my assertion by the action ot the
Central .-Labor Union ' last Friday
night By unanimous vote the deli
gates to that body adopted resolutions
commendatory of Rev. Mr. Batten,
and assuring him of the friendship of
the members of that body. Yet upon
the floor of that meeting were men
who have been deprived of work by
reason of a crusade led by that sate
reverend gentleman. One of them is
a member of the Bartenders' Union.
Others are cigarmakers, whose em
ployment has been curtailed in a
measure by the closing of the saloons.
Others differ radically from Rev. Mr.
Batten on some things. Yet these
men admire him for his courage, f-jr
his willingness to talk for unionism,
for his willingness to help working
men and working women whenever
he can. They laid aside their per
sonal differences and paid a deserved
tribute to a ministerial friend who
never hesitated to oppose them when
he thought they were In the wrong.
I insist that in adopting that Batten
resolution unanimously the Lincoln
Central Labor Union made son.e
mighty good union history.
Five .cents a dozen for sewing the
buttons on the negligee shirts that
men wear! How's that for wages?
"O, that's not so bad nearly a halt
cent apiece for sewing on those lit
tie buttons." Walt a minute! Not
five cents a dozen buttons, but five
cents a dozen shirts four buttons to
the shirt, forty-eight buttons for a
nickel.
' That's the wage paid button girls in
a shirt factory not seven minion
miles from Thirteenth and O streets,
in the beautiful city of Lincoln. Nine
buttons sewed on for a penny! And
the girls have to fold the shirts back
after they have sewed the buttons
on.
Some of these days I'm going to
present a lot of facts to the ministers
of this city and then watch and see
it they can take their minds off of
some things future and fasten them
on some things present for a little
while. A year or so ago the Lincoln
Woman's Club listened to a series of
lectures on "the art of caring for
Oriental rugs." Maybe that splendiJ
organization will condescend, some of
these days, to give some attention to
the conservation and protection of
girls who sew on shirt buttons at the
rate or forty-eight buttons for a
nickel. Of course Oriental rugs cost
money, and girls are cheap but
really we ought to begin thinking a
little bit more about the girls. This
country will need 'env some of these
days.
Elsewhere in this issue appears a
story from Hampton's Magazine con
cerning Clarence O. Pratt, well known
among the unionists of Lincoln, and
especially the street railway men. 1
is such a clever and fair story of
Pratt that I know you'll enjoy it. And
I hope a lot of anti-unionists wiil
read it and change their minds about
this "agitator." I'm going to ask the
publisher to send marked copies tj
mv good friends. President Sharp and
Manager Humpe of the Lincoln Trac
tion Company.
The Parson, the Labor Official anl
the Undersigned, went fishing last
Tuesday, and the three of us held
sessjon from "A" to "Z" on the labor
movement, the churcn-at-work and
the politicians. I don't propose to
have it said that the Apostle Peter
was the only man that over told tne
truth about his fishing trip, so I'll
admit right here that the Parson, the
Labor Official and the Undersigned
didn't catch enough fish to feed a
multitude, but we did have a bully
time. Maybe I'll tell you more about
It next week.
Three strikes on in Lincoln, yet
there is no disorder, no rfoting, no
loud talk nothing to disturb the
peaceful serenity of the community.
Yet there is plenty of provocation. I'm
a man of peace, and I deprecate trou-
ble, but I'll be darned if I have ever
been able to convince myself that it
is wrong to swat a despicable strike
breaker over the head with a cobble
stone morally wrong, I mean. I can
forgive the man who calls me a hard
name. I can forgive a man who beats
me out of my hard-earned money. I
can make allowances for the man
who lies about me. But I can't for
give the man who "scaBs" on me
when I am striving to better my con
dition and the condition of those de
pendent upon me. There may be men
lower In the social scale than th-3
strikebreaker, but I thank God I'v;
never met 'em.
What's all this fuss about the Trac
tion Co. paying the members of its
executive hoard $150 a month each.
I dislike hearing any union man kick
ing about It, for we union men ought
to be the loudest shouters for high
wages. Let's admit that the execu
tive committeemen are worth the
$150 a month, and then insist thac
simple justice demands that the mot
ormen and conductors are entitled to
at least .25 cents an hour.
BILLY MAJOR.
THE MUSICIANS.
Lincoln Local Honored by the Spanish-American
War Veterans.
At the annual meeting of the Ne
Amerlcan War Veterans, held in
Grand Island, H. E. McGurrin, a
member of the Musicians' Union of
Lincoln, was selected as department
adjutant. Mr. McGurrin has a splen
did record as a soldier of Uncle Sam's
and in honoring him the boys honored
themselves.
Says the Kansas City Labor Her
ald: "Sixteen of the boys, selected
for their extraordinary lung capacity
have been doing duty under Ben Kend
CENTRAL'S DELEGATES
PAY FRIEND A TRIBUTE
Lincoln Central Labor Union, at its
meeting on Friday evening of last
week, took cognizance of the fact that
Rev. Samuel Zane Batten is soon tj
leave Lincoln and take up his resi
dence in Des Moines. Rev. Mr. Bat
ten has for several years been a fra
ternal delegate from the Ministerial
Association to the central body, and
has been a regular attendant upon
the meetings of the workers. The
resolutions adopted by the Central La
bor Union unanimously and by ris
ing vote tell in good measure the
esteem in which the reverend gentle
man is held by the unionists wittt
whom be has worked and associated
for several years. The resolutions
were as follows:
"Whereas, Rev. Samuel Zane Bat
ten has been fraternal deldate to
this body from the Ministerial Asso
ciation for several years, and
"Whereas, Rev. Mr. Batten has
time and again shown bis zeal for
and devotion to the cause of the
toilers, and has demonstrated his ac
tive belief in the principles of trades
unionism and the work of organizing
the wage earners, helping us on num
erous occasions by timely advice and
by personal work, and
"Whereas, It now comes to the
knowledge of this body that our
brother, Rev. Samuel Zane Batten, is
about to remove from Lincoln and
take up his residence in another city
where he believes his sphere ot in
fluence may be widened, therefor be
it
"Resolved, That Lincoln Central La
bor Union hereby expresses its regro.
at the loss about to be inflicted upon
it and upon the whole body of orga
nized labor in this community by the
removal of this good friend, eloquent
advocate and active supporter of tho
cause of organized abor.
"Resolved, That this body take this
occasion to express to its brother and
fraternal deU-ui-:e its sincere thank
and appreciation of his many acts of
friendly help, his many eloquent ad
dresses in behalf of the downtrodden
and the oppressed and his ever-present
help when the advice and counsel
of true friends were needed.
"Resolved, That this body tender
also to Rev. Mr. Batten the most em
phatic assurance of Its good will and
hopes that in his future environment
he may be able to continue, and to
even greater advantage to the cause
rick at the Wild West show at Con
vention Hall this week."
Ben Kendrick is a Nebraska boy,
and is one of the finest band artists
that ever came out of the land, of the
sundown west. He is a near relative
of J. F. Kendrick of .the Lincoln
local. i
Things in the line of band music
are looking up. Capital Beach will
soon open up, and there is every
likelihood that the number of band
concerts in the city parks will be
practically -doubled this season. But
the dancing and theatre seasons are
drawing to a close, and this means
that the band business will have to
hump itself if there is not a big fall
ing off in the demand for musicians.
LABOR MEMORIAL SUNDAY.
Will be Observed at the Temple
Sunday Afternoon, May 8.
Arrangements have been made for
the proper observance of Labor Mem
orial Sunday in Lincoln. The date
fixed by 'the American Federation of
Labor is the second Sunday in May,
this year falling upon the 8th. A
committee appointed at the last meet
ing of the Central Labor Union has
arranged for the proper observance
of the occasion, and the meeting will
be at Labor Temple at 3 o'clock Sun
day ' afternoon, May 8 a week from
next Sunday. . . . ,
The memorial address will be de
livered by Rev. Mr. Zenor, fraternal
delegate to the Central Union from
the Ministerial Association. A male
quartette will sing and there will be
special instrumental music.
A cordial Invitation is extended to
the general public, and it is the duty
of every unionist and family to be
present and participate in the exer
cises ,
of organized labor, the advocacy ot
organized labor's cause that has
marked his years of residence in this
city. And be it further
"Resolved, That Lincoln Central
Labor Union, made up of accredited
delegates from twenty-six trades un
ions .and representing approximately
3,000 organized workers, commend
Rev. Samuel Zane Batten to the union
men and women of Des Moines, Iowa,
where he is shortly to make his
home, and assure them that in him
they will find a steadfast friend and
champion, ever ready to answer their
call for helpers in the great task ot
educating not only the toiler, but the
general public to the benefits of
thorough organization and complete
co-operation.
"Resolved, That this body further
express the wish that Rev. Mr. Bat
ten may be spared to long years of
usefulness in his chosen field of la
bor, and that he may continue
through all those years to be, as he
has been in the past, the champion
of justice for the toilers of the land,
Be it further
"Resolved, That a copy of these
resolutions be made a part of the
permanent records of this body, that
a copy be forwarded to the Des
Moines, la.. Trades and Labor Assem
bly, that copies be furnished dally
newspapers in Lincoln, and that the
same be published in The Wage-
worker." .
It was decided to observe, "Labor
Memorial Sunday" in a fitting way,
and a committee composed of Walk
er, Zenor and Maupin was appointed
to arrange the details. "Labor Me
morial Day" is Sunday, May 8, and
Lincoln unionists will observe it with
a special meeting at the Labor Tem
ple at 3 o'clock on the afternoon ot
that day. The memorial address wl-1
be delivered by Rev. Mr. Zenor, and
there will be special music. The com
plete program will be announced next
week.
The attempt of Treasurer Tom TBv
ans to resign his office was a com
plete iffaifture the resignation being
tabled by a unanimous vote. Tom's
got a life job unless he removes
from Lincoln.
Routine matters were given the
needed attention, and several com
mittee reports indicated that the
work of the body is being pushed at
a goodly rate.
i WITH THE
x L,U 1LE, mi A1JUU1 jyiEJN
The strike of the Printing Press-
men and Assistants is still going on
and there is no sign of weakening
on the part of the men who are out.
The managers ot the strike keep get
ting the "rats" away about as fast
as the employers can ship them in,
and as a result the struck shops are
alway "in the air." Places have been
found for a number of the strikers
and they are at work, but are handy
in case they are called back. There
have been no new developments dur
ing the past week.
One of the most interesting thing
that has happened in labor circles for
a long time ' is the drastic action
President Berry of the International
took to maintain the reputation of
the International for standing by its
contracts. The spectacle . of union
men striking, only to have their
places filled by fellow unionists at
the demand of the union officials is
rather unique. The web pressmen of
Chicago struck because a former
platen pressmen was made foreman
of the Inter-Ocean press room. C. H
Rogers, formerly a member of the
Web Pressmen's Union, but later
foreman in a flat bed establishment.
was offered the foremanship of the
Inter-Ocean. He went through thi
necessary formalities in changing
fiom one local to the other, ' bat
when he appeared for work in the
Inter-Ocean press room the web
pressmen refused to recognize ' his
card. President Berry Immediately
ordered Rogers to assume ifa duties
as foreman, which he did, and there
upon the other pressmen walked out.
President Berry, having been warned
that such action would follow, had
prepared for it, and no sooner had
the pressmen wiAked out than he
had men . there to take their place.
The web pressmen on the other dally
papers struck the next day, but Preu
ident Berry was ready for them. He
gave it out that a pressman's card
was good in any union office, ana
when union pressmen struck in viola
tion of solemn contract with employ
ers and to keep out of recognizing
legally issued cards, he proposed to
take a stand that would convince the
public that the International Printing
Pressmen and Assistants' Union, was
not in favor of upholding such action!
"We'll stand by our contract if it dis
rupts a dozen locals," said -President
Berry in effect. '
This square action on Berry's part
will go a long ways towards com
manding the respect of employers
everywhere, and it will make the or
ganization stronger and better la
every way. -
Denver is out after the next con
vention and has the proper commit
tees at wqrk framing up the cam
paign. THE BOILERMAKERS.
"Scabs" Continue to Desert and Play
Horse With the Burtington.
If the Burlington management ex
pected the striking Boilermakers to
weaken after a fortnight of idleness,
then the Burlington management
guessed wrong. The Boilermakers
are standing as firm as a rock, and
to date there has not been a deser
tion from the rangs. The pickets aro
constantly on duty, and as a result
of their activity the Burlington "brass
collars" find difficulty in shipping In
the "scabs" as fast as the union pick
ets influence ' them to desert. Fewer
than 140 Boilermakers went on strike
at Havelock, yet to date the Burling
ton has shipped in more than 300
"scabs," and today has fewer than a
hundred In the shops. And of that
hundred all but a half-dozen are-mere
jokes as boilermakers. The average
"scab" knows as much about boiler
making as the average union boiler
makers knows about repairing
watches.
Last week Mayor Hinkle was in
duced to swear in a lot of men as dep
uty marshalls, the men being select
ed by the Burlington management A
few hours later Mayor Hinkle was
shown that mlost of these special
policemen were non-residents and he
immediately revoked their commis
sion. Yet it is a well known fact
that non-residents have been import
ed for police duty in open violation
LIVE ONES
INUW UU1 UIN SIKlrUi,
of the state law. The attention of
County Attorney Tyrrell will be called
to this violation of the law, and some
body will have to Sweat for it. ;
Delayed trains are becoming more'
frequent, and freight shipments are
being held up in a desperate effort
to get the passenger trains and mails
over the road. - Nos. One and Three
and Two and Six are beginning to
show the effects of the strike by
growing late and later, while the
local passengers are as erratic as a
cyclone.
Reports from other struck points
are to the effect that the men are
standing firm. Two "scab" boiler
makers sent to Ravenna were refus
ed board and lodging by every hotel,
restaurant and private house in town.
As a result the Burlington had to '
send a bunk car and a cook to Ra
venna to supply the needs of the
"scabs."
THE LEATHER WORKERS.
Lincoln Strikers Dance and Make
Merr Despite Their Trouble.
There seems to be no change in the
strike situation' among the' Leather
workers on Horse Goods in Lincoln.
The strikers are still out and have
shown not the slightest inclination to
go back under open shop conditions
and at the same old scaie of wages
and hours. If former employers have
made any effort to secure strikebreak
ers they have so far managed to keep
the fact secret. And if they hare
made efforts they have been unsuc
cessful. The strikers continue ' to
meet with regularity and do not seem
to worry over the outlook.
Instead of being downcast the strik
ing Leatherworkers make merry. On
Tuesday evening of last week they
gave a ball that proved unusually
successful socially , and financially. .
Strike benefits continue.
But if no gains are being made In
Lincoln there are gains elsewhere.
Denver reports three serious breaks
in the ranks of the employers' com
bine, and a number of men have re
turned to work - under the conditions
they demanded. One employer' in
Kansas has been haled into court for
requiring his employees to sign an
agreement not to join a union. Kansas
City . reports several shops gained,
and scattering gains are being re
torted from other sections.
AN UNFAIR DEAL.
President Gompers Goes Up Against
a Premediated, Plan of Snubbing.
When Samuel Gompers, president
of the American Federation of Labor,
was invited to read a paper before the
American Academy of Political and
Social Science recently, It was taken
for granted that he would receive gen
tlemanly consideration from those who
invited him to the late session in
Philadelphia. But the treatment he
got has the appearance of being a
premediated move to give him offense.
We' believe our people generally love
fair play. There has grown up In
America lately, however, class of
bat-eyed commercialists whose com
ponents never slip a chance to be
mean, just because they know how
to be. These people do not observe
that the public is watching their do
ings. It was written long ago that
such things as the ill-mannerly treat
ment of Mr. Gompers return to plague
the inventors. Trades-Union News.
! PERSONAL.
Mr. and Mrs. O. C Jones went to
Beatrice the first of the week" and
spent several days visiting with
friends.
Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Swlhart and
(daughter, Florence, of Fremont, were
the guests of relatives in Lincoln last
week.
The Socialists will hold their usual
propaganda meeting at A. O. U. W.
hall, 1007 O St., next Sunday after
oonn at 3 o'clock. Clyde J. Wright
will lecture on "Industrial Concen
tration." The usual musical program
will be rendered by Prof. Franta anl
Miss Smith. The public Is invited.