tions, their modes of living and their conditions of employment. Cer
tainly the men and women who work in our shops and mills and fac
tories are of as much account as the men and women who till the soil.
Neither could exist long without the other. The bureau of labor
should at least be put on the same plane as, the other departments of
state.
The editor is in receipt of another Xew Year greeting from
4,l'ob" Oberfelder of Sydney. Colonel "Bob" never forgets his
friends, and he must have an almighty good memory, for he has
friends unnumbered. He wishes all manner of good to the editor,
and the editor joyfully reciprocates by wishing Colonel Oberfelder
every possible joy of life, and a long, long time in which to live that
life. Every time a fellow gets a bit blue he can always secure com
fort and cheer if he is able to call to mind the name of some royal
good fellow like "Bob" Oberfelder, who is a friend. Without friends
like him life would be considerably more crowded with pessimists and
the sky considerably more murky by clouds of doubt.
If we just had to have that terrific cold snap, why didn't it come
a week before Christmas instead of a week after? It would have made
the holiday trade far better, and it wouldn't have been quite so hard
on some of us who had to buy coal right after having to dig up to pay
for the Christmas presents we so gladly bought.
STATE FEDERATION OF LABOR
The second annual convention
of the Nebraska State Federation
of Labor was called to order at
Havelock President Coffey, at
noon, Tuesday, January 3. Fifty
three delegates were present. Ow
ing to the storm the delegates
were late in gathering, and im
mediately after the call to order
adjournrment was taken to 2
o'clock.
Upon reconvening the active
work of the convention was be
gun. The first excitement arose
over the seating of electrical
worker delegates. Mayer of Lin
coln, representing No. 265 of the
Re id-Murphy faction, and Portly
of Omaha, representing No. 22 of
the McNulty-Collins faction, both
presented delegates. The cre
dentials committee refused to
make decision and left the matter
with the convention. Fisher,
representing the McNulty-Collins
faction, was given the courtesy of
the floor and tried to advance ar
gument in favor of Portly, and
Mayer was given the privilege of
making: a statement. Guve of
Omaha advocated the seating of
Portley, calling attention to the
fact that refusal meant the for
feiture of the charter granted by
the American Federation of La
bor. Coffey and Maupin were of
the opinion that the forfeiture of
charter would work no great
hardship, and urged the seating of
Mayer. Peate of Lincoln also
urged the acceptance of Mayer's
credentials. By a majority vote
of one Portley was seated, where
upon Maupin filed protest on the
ground that the Omaha local had
not been in existence a month as
provided by the constitution. The
protest was overruled and Portley
was seated. Mayer declined .to
accept a seat as fraternal delegate.
The next warm discussion arose
over the publication of the year
book, Maupin, Guye and others
protesting against the method
used therein. A recommendation
setting forth that the convention
desired no repetition of the plan
was introduced and recommended
for passage. President Coffey re
sented their solution, stating that
it was a personal criticism of him
self and Secretary Hart. He ex
plained that the work was done to
meet an emergency, and was ad
mittedly in plain violation of the
constitution. The matter was
discussed at great length, and
finally it was decided to with
draw the resolution and this was
done. Immediately an amend
ment to the constitution was
adopted providing for the issu
ance of a year book under the di
rection of the Federation itself
and without ' the intervention of
professional solicitors.
President Coffey's annual ad
dress was listened to with deep
interest, and every recommenda
tion but one was adopted. The
exception was the' recommenda
tion for the establishment of a
monthly bulletin to be published
by the Federation. Later it was
decided to have the officers issue
a quarterly statement to all af
filiated unions.
A bill providing for the safe
.sjuardinjsr of workmen on build
ings, bridge, viaducts, etc., was
presented through a member of
the carpenters local of Omaha.
The bill is one that every wage
earner should be willing to get
behind, and the convention unan
imously instructed the legislative
committee to work for it. But it
was suggested bluntly that the
legislative committee could do
better work if the carpenters of
Lincoln and Omaha would affil
iate with the Federation and help
defray the expense incident to
maintaining a legislative lobby.
Among other things along: leg
islative lines linked by the Feder
ation are the following:
Graduated compensation, defi
nition of assumption of risks, em
ployers' libality, abolition of the
convict labor lease system, the
abolition of the contract system
on all public work and the substi
tution of the day's work system
under supervision of state engi
neer or architect, the branding: of
prison made goods. The legisla
tive committee was instructed to
JL2
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Year ends, start a savings account
with us. We pay 4 per cent interest,
and your money works tor you while
you sleep. The saving habit well de
veloped means independence. Begin
cultivating the habit now. Call and
let us explain our system.
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132 No. 11th St
Once Tried Always Used
Little- Hatchet Flour
Made from Select Nebraska Hrrd Wheat
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RYE FLOUR A SPECIALTY
145 So. 9th St., LINCOLN, NEB.
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Bell Phone 200; Auto. 1459
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First Trust and Savings Bank
Owned by Stockholders of First National Bank
The Bank for The Wage Earners
Interest Paid at Four Per Cent
139 South Eleventh lirccln, Nebraska
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