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Parliament in repealed all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.'
