THE WAGEWORKER
Published every Friday by The Wageworker Publishing
Company, 1705 O Street, Lincoln, Nebraska
WILL M. MAUPIN, Editor
E. L. GRUBB, Manager
f CURT CURRENT COMMENT 1
V J
THERE is every reason to believe that the total vote
of Nebraska next Tuesday will be the largest in the
state's history not even excepting the record year
of 1908. The peculiar issue this year insures that every
vote influenced by appetite and inclination will be gotten
to the polls. It remains to be seen whether the' 'relig
ious" voters get out, or whether they will content them
selves, as usual, with singing, praying and "resoluting"
right up to election day and then "laying down." It
will have to be admitted by those familiar with the facts
that this latter method is the one usually followed by the
"religious voters." The interests represented by Mr.
Dahlman in this campaign are not much given to praying
for success, but when it comes to the hustling, and voting
they set a shining example. Mr. Dahlman's chances of
success are dependent on the activity of the interests
that are supporting him an activity never lacking and
the proneness of the other side to rely on prayer without
works. We shall see what we shall see.
IT IS fondly to be hoped that another such campaign
will not again afflict Nebraska. It has been filled to
overflowing with personal abuse; the chief candidates are
neither one of that high order of statemanship and busi
ness ability that the state should demand of its guberna
torial candidates, and the one overshadowing issue that
is responsible for the deplorable condition is one that will
not, and in the very nature of things cannot, be settled
at this election.
NEBRASKA, usually foremost in good works, is tailing
far in the rear of her sister states in the -matter of
publicity work. Nebraska during the past two years has
spent less than a thousand dollars in advertising, and
tnat was spent for crop bulletins. Not a penny was ex
pended for colonization work. During the same period
Colorado and Kansas have expended vast sums. "It is
easier to make a dozen deals in Colorado real estate than
it is to make one in Nebraska," said a prominent Omaha
real estate man the other day. Asked for the reason he
replied: "Colorado is well advertised; Nebraska not at
all." Nebraska should wake up.
A
VOTE for Joseph W. Crabtree for superintendent
of public instruction is a vote to make the public
school system of Nebraska what it should be. It is also
a vote to take the public school system out of the domain
of partisan politics. The public school is the college of
the workingman's children, and the workingman should
be the first to resent any attempt to make it a partisan
adjunct. Prof. Crabtree may be depended upon to op
pose and prevent the prostitution of the public school
system to partisan ends.
THOSE who cast a vote for Silas R. Barton may do so
with the satisfaction that they are voting for one of
the most capable officials the state of Nebraska has ever
had, and one who has been of great service to the people.
He has saved the wage earners of the state vast sums of
money by protecting them against fly-by-night insurance
companies, has inaugurated business methods that were
in the interests of economy, and has proved his efficiency
in a thousand ways. It is a pleasure to most men, as it
should be to all men, to acknowledge such splendid ser
vice as Mr. Barton has rendered, and the best way to
acknowledge it is to re-elect him to the position of auditor
of public accounts.
ALL THOSE who were instrumental in making the Ad
Club Carnival such a great sucess are entitled to
praise for their efforts. They provided a lot of clean fun
for the public, while at the same time advancing the in
terests of an organization that will do an immense amount
of work in the future in the way of properly advertising
Lincoln. One of the finest things about this Ad Club
business is the hearty and genuine spirit of good will it
is building up between Lincoln and Omaha. Omaha's
commercial supremacy is so commanding that it is not at
all in danger from any thing Lincoln may accomplish,
although the two cities must forever be more or less
rivals along certain lines. But they have so much in
common and so little to scrap about that the wonder is
either of them was so foolish as to be jealous of the other.
If the Ad Clubs of the two cities never accomplish any
thing more than the killing off of the ill feeling that has
heretofore existed in greater or less degree, they will have
accomplished a big work. r
RESIDENT ARMSTRONG of the Gas Company re
ports a most surprising willingness on the part of eras
consumers to sign up agreements releasing the company
from rebates in return for dollar gas on December 1. A
whole lot of this is due, doubtless, to the frankness of
President Armstrong in stating the case to the public
and to the public belief that under present management
the company is more inclined to lend an ear. to demands
than formerly. While dollar gas is greatly to be desired
it is more desirable to ascertain just how far the muni-,
cipality may go in the fixing of rates and imposing condi
tions. This will not be determined until the supreme court
hands down its decision, which may be delayed a year or
two. The amount of rebates due the average consumer
in case the supreme court decides for the city are insignifi
cant in comparison to the other benefits that will accrue.
And, after all, "peace with honor" is to be preferred to
constant scrapping.
N
OW if we could only-frame up a deal whereby the city
could get an adequate car service and at tne same
time settle all difference it has with the Traction Company
how happy we might be. As the matter now stands the
car service is abnominable, the company is in financial
straits and the city and company mixed up in litigation.
Would it be possible, for President Sharp to frame up and
submit a proposition that Would bring about some such
amicable adjustment of all difficulties as the one President
Armstrong of the Gas Company has framed up?
I
F YOU really believe that Lincoln is full of empty re
sidences, you ought to go out and try to rent for reas
onable price a desirable residence of six or eight rooms.
There are a number of empty houses of this description
that are new and have never been occupied. These nave
been built for speculative purposes and the rent asked is
absurdly high. But such a house that rents for a reason
able sum is snapped up in a hurry. There is an unsatisfied
demand for semi-modern cottages of from five to six
rooms renting for from $18 to $25 A hundred such
cottages, if located fairly well, could be rented during
. the next month, and the owners could pick their tenants.