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About The Wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-???? | View Entire Issue (Jan. 13, 1911)
fHE WAGEWORKER. Entered m secoml-cUss mattet April 21. 1904. at the poatoftce at Lincoln, Neb., under the Act of Congress of March 3rd. 1579. EARLY UNIONISM. Rev. Charles Stetzle Talks of its First Policies. On account of the viciousness of the judges and the manifestly unfair treatment of the employers. Parliament in repealed all the Combination Laws, giving la bor the utmost liberty in organiz ing their unions. Organizations of workingmen sprang up in all parts of the country. The new libertv was abused, and inexper ienced leaders became arrogant and unreasonable. This gave the employers an opportunity to de mand "a return to the old regime, but in spite of political trickery and manipulation of every con ceivable kind, they were unsuc cessful. Then followed a brief period of business depression which gave the employers an op portunity to deal with their em ployees in an independent man ner, with the result that the work ers again became disheartened, because of the feeling that the new law had not proven to be as beneficial as they had supposed it would be. At about this time there was introduced among the organized workingmen of England a semi political organization called the "National Association for the Protection of Labor." Establish ed in 1SS0, it had in a very short time a membership of one hun dred thousand, but it was soon disbanded. Put three years later there was formed the "Grand Na tional Consolidated Trades Un ion." Within a few weeks half a million workers became identi fied with it. Skilled and un skilled workers alike were receiv ed, and many women. The or ganization was crudly socialistic in character, the hope being that "the workers would gain control of all the means of production, not through the use of the ballot, for they were practically all disfran chised, but through a monster strike. This organization also failed, but the political spirit aroused during the discussions consequent upon ' its establish ment gave rise to an agitation favorable to the srantinsr of the franchise to the working-people of Great Britain. JUany ot the men threw themselves into the Chart ist Movement, and from lS37"to 1842 there developed among them a revolutionary spirit which threatened to result in exeat - - J bloodshed. The Chartists, while not a part of the trades union movement, nevertheless captured manv of its leaders and influenced many workingmen to take radi cal steps toward securing a com plete change in the form of gov ernment. They sought to engage the workers in general strikes 'until the Charter becomes the law of the land." In many cases this movement was repudiated bv Jocal labor unions, in some in stances because of the general rule that religion and politics wert debarred from the meetings ot organized labor, but principally because the organized working- men as a whole did not have very much confidence in the move ment. Begun with a high motive and with genuine democracy as its basis, the Chartist Movement soon degenerated into a species of economic quackery. Not a Kick. Out of the first batch of ap pointments announced by Governor-elect Aldrich of Nebraska, Louis V. Guye of Omaha, mem ber of the barbers union and former president of the C. L. U., gets the position of deputy labor commissioner in place of W. M. Maupin of Lincoln. As yet we have not heard Bill complain of the "system." Easton, Pa., La bor Journal. Not a complaint ! And you'll not hear one from "Bill." He re tires from office without a single oang of regret, and without hav ing made the slightest effort to retain his position. While hold ing down the job he tried to per form his duties as best he could, and he isn't a bit ashamed of the record he made. He is succeeded by a good union man, for which fact he is thankful ; he returns to orivate life and private business with the knowledge that the chiet charm about public office holding is the anticipation the reality is a bit different. By the way, Shorpe, did you ever head "Bill" complain about anything? Death of Mrs. Johns. Mrs. C. C. Johns of Grand Is land died at St. Elizabeth's hos pital Thursday morning after a lingering illness. Mrs. Johns was brought to Lincoln the day after Christmas, suffering from cancer of the bowels. An operation was imperative, but owing to her de creased vitality, due to Tong ill ness, she was unable to rally after the operation. The remains were taken to Havelock, Ia.,N Thursday afternoon to be buried in the fam ily lot. Mrs. Johns was the wife of C. C. Johns, secretary-treasurer of the Nebraska Press association and advertising manager for Wol bach Bros of Grand Island. She was an especial favorite in social circles and among the members of the press association. To the be reaved husband and relatives the sincere sympathy of the newspa per profession of Nebraska is extended. Gone to Wyoming'. Louis B. Maupin left Wednes day for Baggs, Wyo., where he assumes the duties of cashier of the State Bank of Baggs. Mr. Mauoin has been assistant cash ier of the American Savings bank for the past eight months, and prior t thjjit time was connected with the F. & M. bank and the Bank of Njrth Platte. Baggs "-is Wageworkers ask your Fraternal Insurance Order WHY they don't make a valuation each year and prove to you they are. safe? THE MUTUAL PROTECT IVE LEAGUE makes annual valu ation and shows it CAN pay all future obligation 100 per cent on the dollar. Demand this of your Lodge. How do you know they won't bust to-morrow? We Demand the Label. .k C. E. Campbell, state manager. Auto 61 80 134 So. 18th St. FOIR SALE for rax aunidlB DSiir The above signs, neatly printed on heavy cardboard, for sale at THE WAGEWORKffi 1705 "0" STREET a new town in the Snake River valley country; and the bank is' owned by men in Rawlins and Cheyenne. At present the valley is a sheep country, but irrigation projects are being pushed and railroad will traverse it next sum mer. Baggs will be the chief business point of the valley and its citizens expect it to become a rival of even Rawlins and Chey enne. At present Baggs has a population of 400, with all lines of business well represented. Single Taxers Dine. Local advocates of the land value tax idea held a social "feed" at the Lindell Friday noon, and listened to some short but inter esting, remarks from local leaders in the movement. Laurie J. Ouindry of Omaha was present and given the place of honor on the "talkfest" program. The so called "single tax" idea is grow ing in strength, and the rapidity of its future growth depends en tirely upon the willingness of men to be taught something really worth while,; . . Boiler Inspection. Last Wednesday the United States senate passed the Burkett bill requiring interstate railroads to equip their locomotives . with safe and suitable boilers, and ap pointment of fifty inspectors un der the direction of a chief in spector and two assistants. All appointments are subject to civil service rules. The bill passed without a negative vote and now goes to the house. Senator Bur kett introduced the bill at the re quest of 60,000 locomotive engin eers, and has consistently urged the measure at every opportunity. A Vicious System. The United States has natural resources enough to support the entire population of the globe in comfort, but not with land mo nopolar a sacred institution, re warded, encouraged and pamper ed by a tax system especially dc-. vised to oppress industry and thrift and promote special priv ileges, .in God's earth. Portland Labor Press.'