The Omaha Sunday Bee.
EDITORIAL SHEET.
PAGES 9 TO 16.
ESTA11L ISIIED JUNE 10, 1871.
OMAHA, SUNDAY MORNING, MAY 17, 1903.
SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS.
1
05IAIU SOCIETY IN A NOVEL
Meredith Nicholson Weaves a Clever Story
with Local Background.
AK-SAR-BEN BALL AND KIDNAPING EPISODE
Pretty Pea Pictarea u Suggestive
Conuntat Mad oa Omaha's
Chief Social lastita.
tloaa.
Omaha society baa at last mad lta debut
Into a modern work of fiction.
The occasion of Its coming out party Is to
be found In the new book by Meredith
Nicholson under the title of "The Main
Chance," In which fact and fantasy are
cleverly Interwoven with a background of
Omaha hidden under the disguise of Clark
son, the scene of the plot's action. Mr.
Nicholson has, as every one knows, through
his connection with one of Omaha's most
estimable families, had ample opportunity
to observe our society at Its best, and that
he has made good use of his opportunities
will be plain to any one who reads through
his book. The book, by the way, is dedi
cated "To E. K. M., who will remember and
understand," which will be quite sufficient
to make a great many other people, who
can recognize familiar Incidents here and
there, also remember and understand.
The story Itself In brief describes with
picturesque sidelights the advent Into this
western town of a young man, John Sax
ton, from the east, sent here to collect the
remnants of some bad Investments of soma
Boston friends, and his progress In almost
unconsciously wooing and winning Evelyn
Porter, the daughter of the principal
banker In the city, just returned from an
eastern college to attach herself to the
western soil from which she had sprung.
There Is Just enough similitude In the char
acters that have boen drawn to keep a per
son In touch with Omaha people and affairs
on the qui vive to rocognlr.e In them men
. and women who move about us In human
flesh and blood. Mr. Nicholson, however.
haa taken core to disguise them sufficiently
by making each a composite of several real
personages, so that the game of guessing
must be played without any certainty as to
the solution.
Brings la a Kidnaping.
That the author haa not gone far away
from actual life Is speedily seen when the
reader finds after going about half-way
through the volume that the central point
of action la the kidnaping of the young son
of the great banker amid surrounding cir
cumstances remarkably like to a kidnaping
story of recent date still fresh In the public
mind. In addition to this we have a de
scription and criticism of our annual Ak-Bar-Ben
pageant and the royal court ball,
readily recognised under the thin veil of
'the Knights of Midas." Some of the pen
pictures of Mr. Nicholson has drawn are
suggestive. If not always flattering to our
self-esteem. The commercial position of
Omaha, or rather "Clarkson" in the story,
which Is Introduced "as no mean city," Is
described In these words:
The business of Clarkson had to do with
primary employments and needs. The cat
tle of a thousand hills and many rough pas
tures were gathered here, and here wheat
end corn from three states were assembled.
Ill exchange for these products Clarkson re
turned to the country all of the necessities
and some of the luxuries of life. Several
!mP?r.tanmra"wajr nes had their admlnls
Ih. nJi!?ce'her- P were brought from
i5"i..R.oclS!'"- from Mexico and even from
British Columbia, to the great smelters
whoso smoke and fumes hung over tho
town. Neither coal, wood nor Iron lay near
at hand, so that manufacturing was almost
unknown; but the packing houses and smel
ers gave employment to many laborers,
drawn In great measure from the Blavonio
r,cef-vrne,y "treet cut trough the town
at right angles to the river, bisecting tho
business district. It then gradually threw
, . , . . " . mi. hi ni inni i I wits
iilLti. iTfi .i home" ot WO"1 of Clarkson's
Z. . -Xt. "" exaggerated esti
mate of the value of corner lots had caused
" v w "rti vacant; ana weeds
and signboards exercised eminent domain
..... v ti,,. in n pouin or var
ney street were other thoroughfares which
. . luBiuonBDie, ana nere
citizens had sometimes built themselves
mm. ncio, aa wiey saia, as good as
anything In Varney street. Kverywhere
A HTT sWi SWl tram vamaln . .IJ ' . .
framo buUdinp hnffered In blocks that
I - v.uu,..ou imnaaome nouses.
I B"fcr-'of cubes of clay loomed loneaomely.
wlth houses stranded high on their torn
Ynlts, where property owners had ben too
form to new levels., The clay banks were
liarlv Hut b.a a a . . ..
7SL'L v .rr" o remain until
the next high tide of prosperity.
Shafts Aimed at Clabdona.
The Omaha club transformed intn
Clarkson club," comes under the spell of
ice autnors pen ror this little tribute:
...r -v,ut waa, uuring most or
W - ' ' V .i a i ,u iuwii. winy
a few of the sleeping rooms were occupied
XI iuulucuii whs me one inci
jaent ot the day that drew any considerable
number of men to the dining room. Thi
-. vi. were nung
In the hall, and colored prints of English
"'n wv-v vu uu iiunraiiB or sev
eral pioneers were scattered through the
reading and lounging rooms. There was
rr"' """un ra reierrea to natterlngly
as th.j library, but Its equipment of liters-
til . nnn.l.l .u4 . , . .
.... w.,. .. il siiL-yuiopoaia ana o
r vuiuniiuim djt mem
bers at times coincident with house clean
ing scenos at home. Clarkson business men
who maintained non-resident membership
In 6t. Louis or Chicago clubs aald, In ex
cusing the poor patronage of the Clarkson
club that Clarkson was not a club town,
like Kansas City or Denver, where there
iiium uuaiiauuaa men witn money
spend.
The Country club la brushed over with
brief mention and the little house party
mainiainea some years ago by a group
v our society men as "The Benedlcta,"
resurrected newly christened aa rh
Bachelors." Tho thoughts elicited by our
effort to make Ak-Bar-Ben successful both
from a popular and social standpoint are
given In a running conversation discussing
the selection of the banker s daughter and
the heroine of the novel to be the queen of
the haH. and a later description of the car
nival, from which these excerpts are taken:
Ak-aar-Bea Ball la Vamw.
uii" the, prJnclLe. ? that thn" that I'm
M Vi,,.boVt'. ihl" on ot ,ha things
it".1 i?!.1 Jn ,hMe w",wn towns, lfs
the inability to escape from their Infernal
bualneaa. On the face of it their Midas ball
Is a aoclal event, but at the bottom It's
merely a business venture. All the business
men have got to go In for it, but It doesn t
stop there; they must drag their families
In. Evelyn Porter has got to mix up with
the daughters of the plumbers and the
candlestick makers in order that the cod
of commerce may be satisfied."
. V J u don't . quite grasp the situation."
aald Eaxton. "If you had to get out among
triese men who have hard work to do every
day you'd have a different feeling about
such thlnga They've got to make the town
"t. '"V"" carnival fa one of the ways In
which they can atlr things up commercially
IkT.!! Jh am? .!me lve P'ure to a
Whole lot of peepla
t"'Now look here, you know as well as I do
yo? cant m,I up ,U ort "a condi
tions of men and particularly women. In
thla wav 1 1 v. . . . . 1. 1 . , :
man may Introduce the green grocer at the
r,nar- hat kind of ruck, to his
wtfe and daughter, but what's the good of
There were two separate and distinct
aides to the annual carnival of the Knights
of Midas. The main object to which the
"any committees on arrangements ad
a,'ced themselves was the aiwembllng In
't larkson of as many people aa could be
collocted by asalduoua advertising and the
granting ot pciul privileges by the tall
roads. The streets must be filled, and to
tUl lusnt and keep them filled It was neces
The Struggle Between Labor and CapitalThe Trades
Unions' Side by a Member of the Conference Committee
The rrnlnt at tuna hulwun tha Sn.l.
Hess men of Omaha and their employes at
present Is the recognition of the union.
Several other mattera have been Injected
into the controversy, chiefly for the pur
pose of fogging the real Issue, but nothing
can obscure In tha tinnreliidlred mlnil th
fact that It Is the existence of the trades
nlon that Is aimed at. In their statements
0 the Dublin the buatneaa men have laid
great stress on three points. Insisting that
iney contain tne meat ot the situation.
These points are the recognition of tha
union, the sympathy strike and the boy
cott I will endeavor to consider these'
three in order of their lmnorlinro flrf
giving my attention to the one on which
the others hang.
In the DUbllo statement of their uMa nf
the controversy the business men deflna
recognition of the union as "turning over
meir ousmess to tne union," "submitting
to the dictates of their employes." "allow
ing their affairs to be managed by walking
delegates" and similar assertions, each and
several of which is unfounded either in fact
or logic. Al! that tha trades unions nr
Omaha or any other community In which
sucn organisations can be found ask of
their employers is recognition aa rniwin.
slble bodies. By recognition I mean that
tne employera treat with their employes as
members of the union, rather than aa In
dividuals; that, all other things being
equal, they give preference to union men In
engaging new employes and that they abide
by their contracts, entered Into with tha
unions.
This may strike one not thnrnn
versant with all the elements of the situa
tion as fully proving the employers' case
as regards the charge that the unions un
dertake to .dictate who shall or who shall
not be employed. It Is worthy of studv.
and I believe Its reasonableness will be
readily apparent to anyone who win riv it
careful examination.
In the first place, the union d OM not Aatr
an employer to take Into his service any
man who is not satisfactory In every r.
spect; no union has ever insisted on an em
ployer retaining in his employment a man
who is incompetent. Insubordinate or even
personally distasteful. It is only required
that in dismissing an employe It be for good
reason, and not for a refusal to violate a
rule of the union or a clause of the con
tract under which he Is working. In mak
ing a contract with the union the employer
Is allowed to scrutinise the union mi. and
each and all are subject to debate and must
oe mutually agreed upon. He Is therefore
familiar with all that Is axneotad of hi
and knows also what to expect from his
employes.
It will not be contended by anv
sane man that thla mniiitin im
poses a hardship of any sort on either
siae. -ine sole object of the union In
making this contract la ta
members permanence of employment under
conaiuona mat are as fair and equitable
as possible for both sides. It. la intended
to protect as far as possible the employe
from exposure to the whims, caprices or
unjust exacUons of the . employer, condi
tions which experience 'haa tamrht h.
worker he must meet. No fair-minded em
ployer can possibly object to this. He Is
asked merely to enter voluntarily into a
binding contract and to observe Its pro
visions ana stipulations during the time of
lta existence. In return, he Is assured of
being amply supplied with competent and
satisfactory help during the life of the con
tract.
I will not Insult the Intellisync nt
readers by entering Into a discussion of the
ngnt 01 men following any particular craft
or calling to associate themselves together
for the purposes of a trades union. This
right Is conceded by the business men with
out debate. In meeting It they insist with
a vehemence that hardly seems warranted
by the facte of the right of the nonunion
man to secure employment at his particu
lar vocation. Thla Is a rivht
the labor unions without debate. The aver
age labor union haa had more experience
with the nonunion man than the employers
can ever hope to have, unless they may
succeed In carrying out their Implied Inten
tion or wipingout of existence every ves-
tisre of a trades union; and even In )m
event it is doubtful If they would be able
to parallel the experience of the trades
unions in thla respect, for It Is certain that
a cause so firmly founded In right and jus
tice as that of organised labor would not
long remain In ruins, but would soon be
found again fighting. If not flourishing.
Let me here define briefly and plainly the
attitude of the union man toward the non
union man. In each Instance the employer
Is given his choice of employing either; the
nonunion man has never objected to work
ing alongside of the union men. but the
union man never has been and never will
be content to work alongside the nonunion
man. Therefore, if the employer wishes to
employ union men. ha must do so ex
clusively, or as nearly exclusively as the
exigencies of his business will permit, at
all times and under all circumstances air
ing preferenoe to union men; or. If he
elects, he may employ nonunion men ex
clusively. For this, too, there la reason. No one In
any degree familiar with Industrial oondl.
tlons and the history of the labor move
ment will undertake to contradict the
statement that the Improved conditions of
employment of labor in nearly If not all
respects la due to the existence of the labor
sary to entertain the masses; and this
was done by providing what the commit
tee on publicity and promotion proclaimed
to be a monster Pageant of Industry.
The spectacle was not tawdry nor ugly.
It did not lack touches of real beauty.
The gaily decked flouts, borne over the
atreet car tracks by trolleys, were like
barges from a pageant of the Old World
In the long ago, impelled by mysterious
forces. From many floats fireworks sum
moned the heavens to behold the splendor
snd bravery of the parade. The proces
sion was led by the Knights of Midas,
arrayed In yellow robes and wearing hel
mets which ahono with all the effulgence
of bright tin. There were a series of
floats on which commerce, agriculture,
transportation and manufacturing were
embodied and deified in the persona of
sundry young women, posed in appropriate
attitudes and lifted high on uncertain
pedestals for the admiration of the multi
tude. On other cars men followed stren
uously their callings; coopers hammered
hoops upon their barrels, a blacksmith,
with an infant forge at his command, made
the sparks fly from his anvil as his float
rumbled by. An enormous steer was held
in check by ropes snd surrounded by mur
derous giants from the abattoirs; Gam
brlnus smiled down from a proud height
of kegs on men that bottled beer below.
Many brass bands, including a famous
cowboy band from Lone Prairie and an
Indian boy band from a Wyoming reser
vation, played the newest and most dash
ing marches of the day. Thus were the
thrift, the enterprise, the audacity and the
generosity of the people of Clarkson ex
emplified. Such was the f rst night's entertainment.
The crowd which was brought to town to
spend its money certainly wae not de
frauded. The second night it was treated
to band concerts, a horae show and other
entertainments, while the Knights of Midas
closed the door of their wooden temple
upon all but their chosen guests. These
were, of course, expected to pay a certain
sum fur their tickets and the sum was
unions. For many years, stretching back
through the centuries, theso agencies have
been at work combatting the greed and
rapacity of organized capital, all the time
struggling for a betterment of the wage
worker's condition. The results attained
have been great, Immensely so when com
pared with tha conditions that prevailed
at the beginning, and which even now pre
vail In those unhappy regions where labor
has no voice In Its disposition. And these
results have been attained only by an Im
mense expenditure of effort and money, by
personal endeavor and by such sacrifice aa
only those who have gone through with the
struggle, for It has been one long continued
struggle, can have any conception .of.
In all essential respects the trades union
la a partnership, a corporation In which
lta members are the shareholders, and Its
stock Is Its position In regard to lis re-"
spectlve trade. Let us suppose that some
one of the Omaha business men who has
commenced with little and built up his
business to a point of profitable prosperity
should be approached by a man with the
statement: "I admire your line of busi
ness, sir, and have decided to enter into
partnership with you. I congratulate you
on the success you have made of It, and
Intend In the future to share that success
with you. But I do not Intend to put Into
It any capital, nor will I partake to any
degree In Its expenses; I merely Intend to
draw my share of Its profits." It will not
require much thinking to determine the
answer to such a proposition. But that Is
merely what the nonunion man says to the
union Bin. He says: "I am willing to
enjoy all the advantages that accrue from
the existence of a union, but I am opposed
to paying any of the cost of maintaining
that union."
It may be objected by some that there
are certain rules and regulations laid down
by the union that the nonunion man can
not with due regard to his Independence
of manhood subscribe to. I assert here,
and will cheerfully undertake to maintain,
that there are not now and cannot. In the
very nature of things, be any such rules.
No union in any way undertakes to control
the conscience of Its members, nor to In
any way Interfere with their social, re
ligious or political freedom. In joining a
union a man la asked merely to subscribe
his willingness to be bound by certain regu
lations referring solely to the conditions of
his employment, the result of the experi
ence and wisdom of years concerning his
craft, and not to sell his labor for less
than a certain wage. No union ever fixed
a maximum wage scale; a minimum sum
Is all that Is Insisted upon. No union ever
made a rule or regulation for the conduct
of its members that operated to prevent
any of them from rising in the world. The
fact that union men have risen to high
positions, and may today be found occupy
ing high positions of trust and responsi
bility, both In public and private capacity.
In Omaha and elsewhere, Is a sufficient
answer to this. No man is degraded In any
sense by submitting himself to conditions
The
On Wednesday 4ast The Bee addressed
the following letter to thechalrman of -the
press committee of the Business
Men'a association, to which , the accom
panying reply was received and a similar
request to the representatives of the
trades unions In response to which the ar
ticle here printed was submitted.
OMAHA, Neb., May 13, 1903. Mr. J. A.
Sunderland, Press Committee Business
Men's Association. Dear Sir: I would
like to print in next Sunday's Bee an ar
ticle giving the position of the members
of the Business Men'a association In the
present strike troubles. Will you not pre
pare a atatement exclusively for us, to be
printed over your name and covering about
3,000 words? Kindly let me know whether
I may depend upon having the article.
If you consent to prepare It we would
want the manuscript by Friday, afternoon.
Thanking you in advance.
Tours very truly,
'VICTOR ROSE WATER,
Managing Editor.
OMAHA, Neb., May 13. 1903. Victor
Rosewater, Managing Editor The Bee.
Dear Sir: In reply to your Invitation of
this date I am directed by the executive
committee of the Business Men'a associa
tion to say that we will furnish you an
article for your Sunday edition stating the
poaltion of the members of the association
In the present strike troubles, but shall
be unable to give you an exclusive article,
aa we shall doubtless furnish the, other
papers certain matter for their editions of
that date which would include much of the
same matter. If you wish us to prepare
the article under these conditions please
advise us promptly.
Tours very truly,
J. A. SUNDERLAND.
Acceptance of the condlttona prescribed
by the Business Men's association was
Immediately signified and the time ex
tended another day, but yesterday after
noon notification was given The Bee that
the promised article could not ba furnished
at the present .time. The press committee
has, however, given out the following un
signed communication, covering one of the
points at Issue, with the assurance that
not small. The Knights of Midas' ball
was not. it should be said, a cheap affair.
A buzz of talk floated over the hall. The
band was silent while Its leader peered
down upon the floor waiting his signal. He
turned suddenly and the trumpets broke
forth Into the notes of a dignified march.
All eyes turned to the front of the hall,
where the knights In their robes, preceded
by the grand senechal. bearing his staff of
office, were emerging slowly from the outer
door into the aisle. When the stage was
reached, the procession formed in long
lines, facing Inward on the steps, making
a path through which the governors, who
were distlngulHtied by scarlet robes, came
attending the person of the king.
"All hall the king." A crowd of knights
In evening dress, who were honorary mem
bers of the organisation and had no parts
in costume, sent up the shout.
The king had seated himaelf. and expec
tancy again possessed the hall. The band
struck up another air, and a line of girls
In filmy, trailing gowns, was filing in.
AU Hall the aeea.
The queen, following her ladles In waiting,
had appeared at the door. There was a
pause, a murmur, and then a great burst
of applause aa those who were In the
secret identified the queen, and those who
were not learned It as Evelyn's name
passed from lip to Hp. Whatever there
was of absurdity In the soane was dls-
relled by Evelyn's loveliness and dignity,
ler white gown Intensified her fairness,
and her long court train added an illusion
of height. She carried her head high, with
a serene air that was habitual. The charm
that set her apart from other girls was
In no wise lout in the mock splendor of this
ceremony.
The grand chamberlain now stepped for
ward and read the proclamation of the
Knights of Midas, announcing that the
king had reached their city, and urging
upon all subjects the duty of showing strict
obedience. He read a formula to which
Evelyn and Whealun made responses. A
page stood beside the itueen hultung a
that the majority, of men engaged In his
calling have found tolerable.
Another aspect of the nonunion man Is
worthy of some attention. He Is the read
iest weapon with which the employer can
fight tha employe. I use the word advis
edly. Fight is the correct term. All the
soft words In the dictionary will not change
this aspect of the situation. Experience has
proven that a great many men do not pre
tend to affiliate with tho union of their
craft for the reason that they are by pro
fession strikebreakers; that is to say, In
stead of steady and honorable employment,
they prefer to eke out an uncertain exist
ence during times of peace In order to be
able to enjoy the premium that is alwaya i business, makes a mistake, which sooner
offered by the employer at such time. a. a . InVher ftlngK imThetti?
strike has been precipitated. Such a condl-lto start right than to make mistakes In
Hon prevails in Omaha today. Employerals,aft'"s' whlch necessitate returning to cor-
who have locked out men they have known
and learned to trust are paying to
strangers a premium above the wages
asked by the union men, and doing this in
an endeavor to break down the unions and
force their old employes to return to work
on auch terms as the employer sees fit to
grant. I think in this paragraph will be
found the real reason for the sudden solici
tude ot the Omaha Business Men's asso
ciation for the nonjnlon man. They are
fully aware that tho strikebreaker Is a bird
of passage, and that when the premium he
is offered stops his services, stop. Without
him, they are weaponless In event of a
lockout such aa exists in Omaha today.
Before I leave this phase of the topic, I
wish to advert to one more of the alleged
causes of complaint against the labor
unions on part of the business men. They
have most vociferously Insisted that tha
labor union deprlvea the employer of his
right to hire or discharge his men ' at his
option. I have explained already the ex
tent to which the union interferes. I want
now to quote from the report of the great
Anthracite Coal Strike commission, which
the Omaha Business Men's association haa
adopted as Its bill of rights and fundamental
law combined. On page 488 of that report,
beginning with the last paragraph on tho
page, and continuing on page 488, I find thla
language, no part of which has been as yet
published by the Omaha Business Men's
association In Its reference to the con
clusions of the committee. It most ad
mirably fits the present case:
In the days when the employer had but
few employes, personal acquaintance and
direct contact of employer and employe re
sulted in mutual knowledge of the sur
rounding conditions and the desires of each.
The development of the employers Into
large corporations has rendered such per
sonal contact between the responsible em
ployer and the Individual employe no longer
possible In the old sense. The tendency
toward peace and good fellowship which
grows out of personal acquaintance or di
rect contact should not, however, be lost
through this evolution to greater combina
tions. There seems to be no medium
through which to preserve It so natural
and efficient as that of an organization of
employes governed by rules which repre
sent the will of a properly constituted ma
jority of Its members and officered by mem
bers selected for that purpose, and in whom
Man's
Tha Bee's original request for a mora
comprehensive statement of ' Its - position '
would be compiled with' for a future Issue:
In the present controversy between em
ployers and union labor there la a factor
which, while a bone of contention between
the two opposing parties, is little under
stood. I refer to the nonunion artisans,
mechanics and laboring men.
The mechanlo or laborer may prefer to
be unidentified with any secret, oath-bound
organization for many reasons, and It Is
his right to remain so unidentified if he so
prefers. There are advantages and dis
advantages connected with such member
ship, all of which must be carefully
weighed and decided by each individual for
and by himself alone.
In the ranks of nonunion labor correctly
belong the thousands who are united with
various organizations by reason of coercion.
As the unions become strong they become
intolerant and arbitrary. This Is by no
means peculiar to labor organisations. It
Is the same with all, whether religious or
social. When weak, they proselyte or re
cruit by plausible argument. When strong,
they Increase their ranks by force, not al
waya by force of arms but force of cir
cumstances.' The labor organizations are today Indig
nant at the presumption of employers and
business men in banding together for self
protection. They have never before been
opposed except by Individuals, and they
cannot conceive of any other reason for an
employers' association than a war of ex
termination of the unions.
The basic principle of the Business Men's
association and the star of hope for the
artisan, mechanlo or laborer who prefers
for whatever reason to handle his own
affairs is "the unalienable right of the
employed to labor for whom he pleases,'
when he pleases and on what terms ha
pleases." Reversing this, the same right
must be conceded to the employer In the
selection or continuance of his workmen.
The unions having become so strong
numerically and so Intolerant of opposition,
other worklngmen are forced to enter tho
ranks by fear of bodily injury, social
ostracism, or by the enforced demand that
employers buy none but union labor. The
mechanlo must Join the union, If the union
crown, which glittered with false brilliants
upon a richly embroidered pillow, and when
the king knelt before her she placed it upon
his head. At this there was more cheering
and handclapplng.
On the point whether the criticisms are
well taken, the author and aome of his
readers may disagree, but they will all en
dorse the final verdict, which hi iuts Into
the mouth of the heroines father and
clinches with the approval of his hero,
"We've got as good a town aa there la
anywhere west of Chicago."
The publishers, the Bobbs-Merrill com
pany, Indianapolis, say that advance orders
for Mr. Nicholson's novel had already ex
hausted three large editions before the an
nounced publication day, and a lot more
will undoubtedly have to be printed to
satisfy the demand right here In Omaha.
HOWARD AS PEACEMAKER
Promlneat Geaeral la Riding Throagu
Keataeky vtth View of
Ending Feads.
MIDDLESBORO, Ky.. May 11 General
O. O. Howard, founder of the Lincoln
Memorial school at Cumberland Gap, and
other institutions, is riding alone through
the mountains of eastern Kentucky to In
vestigate conditions, with a view to ending
feuds.
General Howard, who goes on horseback,
will ride through Brethltt. Letcher snd
Harlan counties, ending his trip at Grant
Lee hall, Cumberland Gap.
authority to administer the rules and af
fairs ol the union and Its members is
vested.
After discussing the tendency ot men en
gaged In a certain line of work or branch
of Industry to form themselves Into unions,
and plainly setting forth tha unwisdom of
the employer who undertakes to Ignore or
deny this right, or to nullify the effect ot
Its exercise by undertaking to Ignore the
union after It Is formed, the report goes on
(concluding paragraph of page 489):
Trades unionism is rapidly becoming a
matter of business, and that employer who
falls to give the same careful attention to
the question of his relation to his labor or
to his employes which he gives to other
iaciors wmcn enter into the conduct of his
full the recognition sriven to a trAdea unlnn
...vi... tiAirruruio PllUni lllltl miirfl
the more businesslike and responsible It
becomes. Through dealing with business
men In business matters Its most Intelli
gent, conservative and responsible members
come to the front and gain general control
and direction of Its affairs. If the energy
of the employer Is directed to discourage
ment and repression of the union, he need
not be surprised if the more radically In
clined members are the ones most fre
quently heard.
I feel assured that the business men who
have with such sealous persistency pointed
out other features of this report, Insisting
on its Inerrancy, will not undertake to dis
pute the correctness of the excerpts I make
from the same inspired authority. Now let
It be understood, once and for all, that
Just as this government "could not endure,
half free and half slave," so no condition
of employment can endure, half union and
half nonunion. As to the nonunion man,
he may remain In that condition If he
elects; In a great many Instances he must,
for no self-respecting union man will take
the application for reinstatement of the
renegade before his union, much less vote
for It If It should be presented. "He who
la not for me Is against me," Is just aa
true today aa It ever was, and It applies
exactly and with all Its force to the posi
tion of the union toward the nonunion
man.
Let me now refer to the other points
made by the business men In their state
mentthe sympathy strike and the boy
cott Neither of these ta a cardinal prin
cipal of trades unionism. This may seem
strange to aome people, but It Is true. They
are merely weapons with which the trades
union fights. Even the moat biased of em
ployers will admit that they are vastly
to be preferred to the weapons used In the
earlier days of the oombat between or
ganized labor and organized capital. Such
stories as "Put Yourself In His Place" or
"Haworth's" could not be written today.
Not that the antagonism between employer
and employe has lessened since the time
those stories were told, but because of tha
advance In methods. Trades unions are not
particularly proud of either and will quite
willingly abandon one or both when better
means can be devised for offense and de
fense. It may be that the employers have
Side of It
eees fit to admit him. In order to get work.
He must place himself at the disposal ot
the walking delegate. If he Is a machinist
he must quit work If ordered to do so be
cause machinlsta in New Tork or San
Francisco have some real or fancied griev
ance against their employer. If he Is a
mason or bricklayer he must lay off In
definitely because the hodcarrlers, the car
penters, the teamsters, etc., cannot obtain
all of the concessions they may see fit to
demand from their employers.
It Is a question whether the general labor
situation Is improved by union domination.
There is an ejement of supply and demand
that cannot be Ignored. Where soma may
gain others must suffer. There is no limit
to the birth rate, yet there la a limit placed
upon the number who may annually enter
the ranks of skilled labor. Every branch of
Industry la becoming unionized. Tkera la a
strict limit placed upon the number of ap
prentices who would learn a given trade or
vocation. Only union men may work. There
is not room for all. The othera may "go
hang."
It la no man's fault that he haa been born
Into this world. It la not always his fault
that ha Is unable to rise above the most
common labor, ao low a quality ot labor, so
numerous and rapidly becoming more ao
that there la little hope or danger that
unionism can either Increase the remunera
tion or decrease the output.
The union haa lta rights; the employer haa
his rights, and the workman who affiliates
With no union haa equally his rights. The
union of worklngmen, working for a com
mon Interest, Is unquestionably of benefit
If administered with due regard to the
rights of others, but any organization of
men haa Its limitations beyond which It
cannot go with safety.
It la sincerely to be hoped that the con
servative element In both labor unlona and
employera' associations may predominate.
Each Is dependent upon the other. Each
should be amenable to reason, and, above
all, each should view the situation from the
other fellow's standpoint, asking nothing
which he would not be willing to grant It
be were on the other side.
A BUSINESS MAN.
(Published by request of and Indorsed by
Business Men's association).
PRATTLE OF THE YOI-TG9TERS.
Teacher "Elmer, can you tell me what
the largest diamond in the world Is called?"
Elmer "Tes, ma'am. The ace."
"My boy," said the parent "It should be
your ambition to carve your name some day
upon the temple of fame."
"8ay, Pop," replied the boy, "that re
minds me; you ain't never gave me that
jack-knife you promised me."
Lawyer's Little Girl We've got a new
baby at our house. Papa bought It from
Dr. Blank.
Pastor's Little Girl When we get a new
baby we'll have to buy It at tha depart
ment store, because they give a discount to
ministers there.
"Mamma," said little Elsie aa she looked
up from her book of bible stories, "I don't
belleye Solomon was as rich aa people
think."
"Why not, dear?" asked her mother.
"Because," replied the small Investigator,
"this book says 'he slept with his fathers,'
and if he was so awfully rich I guess he
would have had a bed of his own."
A Phlladelphian tells this story of his
nephew:
Five-year Robin shared my couch the
other nlgbt. He was a proper bed fellow,
noiseless sad klckleas. When I awake
Robin was revealed flat on his stomach,
with elbows down, chin oa bis bands, and
given us a better one In the Injunction. At
any rate. In the present Instance it is being
tried, merely as an sccessory. Its efficacy
haa not by any means been established.
In the orgsnlsatlon of modern society no
individual csn aay with exact truth that he
atanda alone. Interdependence la the ad
mitted rule, and this Interdependence Is
becoming more and more marked each day
aa tho progress ot our civilisation adds to
the complexity of our social organization.
What Is true of society Is true of business,
and of tradea unionism. The basic prin
ciple, lta very vital element, of tradea
unionism la Interdependence. "An Injury
to one Is tha concern of all" has been a
recognised motto of union men for ages,
and it haa now come to be applied In lta
broader and higher aense to the affairs of
the unions themselves. Anything that af
fects one organized union In aome measure
at least affects every other, and ao must
be taken cognizance of by all. If It be
sufficiently serious, a sympathy strike la
the result. How far the sympathy strike
may extend depends entirely on the nature
'of the Injury; It sufficiently serious It may
involve the whole organization, a condition
that would certainly be a calamity In more
ways than one.
Aa to the boycott, a harsh word, and ona
that aprlnga from a terrible condition,
readera ot Irish history need not be re
minded of its origin. In lta present appli
cation It covera a process much less drastic
and unpleasant than lta original soope, but
probably not the less effective for lta mod
eration. It merely amounta to an exercise
of .the right to withhold patronage from
any one who haa become for any ona of a
number of reasons obnoxious. It can only
be enforced by mutual consent.
Neither tha sympathy strike nor tho boy
cott to resorted to until after all means of
settlement hava been exhausted, tha as
sertions of tha business men to tha con
trary notwithstanding. A declaration ot
unfair against a firm or corporation can
be made only through a certain specified
course, and after certain well-defined and
carefully considered stepa hava been taken.
Any firm refusing to employ union men la
"unfair" per se. A firm that employa union
men can only ba declared unfair for a vio
lation of its contract, and then only after
all efforts to make an amicable settlement
have tailed. In case of a dispute between
employer and employed the group of men
directly affected first undertake to adjust
the matter through Its suborganlzation; if
this fails, the matter goes to the whole
union, thence to the international union of
that body, and finally It comes back to the
local union and la then taken to the Central
Labor union. Only after the matter has
proceeded through this channel can the
declaration of "unfair" be made. Thla
ought to answer the assertion that 'tha
unions Insist upon the right at auch times
and for such reasons as they and they
alone shall deem fit" that they be ac
corded the privilege to establish boycotts.
Both the sympathy atrike and the boycott
are dangeroua weapona and they are only
used in extreme cases and then only after
mature and careful consideration.
I believe I hava now fairly and briefly
outlined the position of organized labor
In lta present attitude toward tho employer.
At no time la the union in a position of an
tagonism to tha "bosa" except when forced
Into it by a refusal to treat with tha union
or to abide by the terras of contracts en
tered into willingly and, on the part of tha
union at least, In good faith. I hava made
no chargea against the business men. but
facts amply supported by evidence, might
be stated to an almost Interminable length
to prove that they employ both the boycott
and the sympathy strike In their business
dealings; that they take the sternest meas
ures In dealing with their recalcitrant or
unfaithful members, and that, on tha whole,
their hands are no cleaner In thla matter
than those of tha union man against whom
they Inveigh so bitterly.
Aa to the trades union's attitude toward
arbitration: At all times and under all
clrcumstanoss, tha union Is ready and will
ing to submit any of lta demands, rules or
regulations, to any Impartial body of men
for arbitration and decision. It can never
consent to arbitrate Its right to exist.
If the employers were to devote the aame
amount of study to the problems Involved
that the union men do. It would lead to a
better understanding. Men who treat with
their employes on tha basia ot fairness
realise an immeasurable return In the mat
ter of better service; men who decline to
treat their employes fairly loss in tha m.
proportion. So long aa human nature re
mains constituted as it Is, so long tha con
flict will endure. If we ever attain that
beatific state of existence of which tha poet
nas sung, "When all men's good la each
man'a aim," then the tradea union will
disappear, because they will not be needed.
Until then the business men of Omaha and
of all other communities rnir rest aaaurad
that they will have to do with tradaa
unions, peaceably it they will, but certainly
in any event. And In the meantime, the
tradea unlona will not abandon ana w i
tittle of the ground they hava gained during
centuries oi a ngnt ror better conditions of
employment.
Thanking you on behalf of organized
iaDor tor tma opportunity of presenting
what I conceive to be tha merits ot tha
whole case, I am vary truly yours,
la V. GUTE,
Chairman of Labor Conference Committee.
atudylng my very acquilina nose as in
tently as ever Darwin studied a new toad.
He was manifestly wrestling with a prob
lem.
As soon as my eyes opened ba broke out
"Uncle Will, did you ever have an ac
cident on your noseT"
As is my custom I replied to blm In tha
stately phrase of story-book heroes: No.
Robin; I realise that my nose Is not all that
one could wish aa an ornament. But I waa
born that way, and it haa always been a
good nose to me. Hence, I am satisfied
with It."
"Well," ha sighed, rather hopelessly.
though trying to put the best face on a
very bad matter, "I suppose It Is good
enough to smell with."
Then I laughed.
Mr. Bowman So thla Is your seventh
birthday, Elsie.
Elsie Tes, sir.
Mr. Bowman Gracious I It you keep on
having birthdaya you'll catch up to your big
sister.
Elsie I guess I will, 'cause she's stopped
havln' 'em. She'a been a 'r long as I
can remember.
Her Fresea Face.
I gazed on her face In my sad despair;
'Twas a cruel and blttar blow.
My companion watched me sitting there.
But I tried no emotion to show.
Again I lifted my downcast eyes
For I knew that the queen had" lost ma
tne prise
When I counted on drswlng an are.
. Chicago Tribune.
BOSTON AND THE TEACHERS
Hub it Preparing Great Doings for tha
V lilting Bchoolma'ams.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR COMFORT COMPLETE
Visitors ta National Riirtllaaal Aa.
sorlatloa Convention Will Be
Treated with I'aasaal Cordi
ality and Coartesy.
Tha official program-bulletin of the forty-
aecond annual convention of tha National
Educational association to be held In
Boston, July to 10, is out and In addition
to tha program, as complete to date. In
cludes general Information concerning tho
excursion and tha proposed entertainment
of the delegates and visitors that promises
to afford a rara opportunity not only tor
attending tho meetings, but for visiting
those places In and about Boston and New
England that are richest In nlstorto In
terest. A rate of one first-class limited fare for
the round trip, plus $3 membership fee,
naa Deen granted by the New England
Passenger association and concurred In
by all ot tha other passenger associations
and tha various coast line steamship com
panies connecting with Boston from the
larger coast cities from Lubec, N. B-. to
Jacksonville, Fla hava joined in extend
ing special rates not only to residents of
the ports from Which their vessels sail,
but also to their railroad connections en
tering those porta. As It Is Impossible to
specify these lines, since In some cases
arrangements are still Incomplete, all are
requested to consult their local passenger
agents for Information that will be issued
aa soon aa possible. Arrangements hava
also been made for tha exchange of rail
road tickets, without additional charge,
for transportation by steamer between
Mackinac, Detroit, Buffalo and Cleveland,
and for alight additional charge by St.
Lawrence river steamers ; these details are
also obtainable from local ticket agents.
Tickets In tha territory of the . Western
Passenger association will be on sale June
a and July L I, I and 1 Provision has
been made tor conditional extensions and
top overs and aide trips ot great variety
hava been arranged at the varloua points.
Nebraska and Iowa Headquarters.
Ainnla tintal accommodations have been
arranged, with rates ranging from 12 to IS
a day, and headquartera for tne various
states bava been arranged at the different
hotels, tha Vlotorla having been selected
for Nebraska and the Westminster lor
Tn.i all twin in the Immediate vicinity
fnntav annara convenient to Trinity
church chapel, where the headquarters of
the national executive committee, ooaru
of trustees and officers of the various de
partments will be located.
A building In the Immediate vicinity of
Copley equare, probably Copley hall, will
be converted Into a club house for the use
of all delegates. Here will be located
writing rooms, rest rooms and all tho con
venlences of the modern club. Particular
at tont Ion will be given to the comiort ana
entertainment ot women delegates, for
whose exclusive use special ccommooa
Mnna win ha provided. The special hos
pitality committee la prepared, x, request,
- a. MinmltlM ta .mlllit W tO the
IV nuv"'
wants of each state headquarters in all
...... whara other arrangements have not
been, made and auch attention would be
acceptable. Among the convention worn
era will be a corps of guides, pagea and
messengers selected from among the achool
boya of Boston, who will be provided with
Official badges and whose aervlcea to tha
National Educational association visitors
win ba entirely gratuitous.
Tha reception committee wui nave a
aufflcient number of guides at each atatlon
and wharf, at all houra, to meet the in
coming delegates and accompany them to
the registration and assignment headquar
tera at the Walker building on Copley
square, and from there to their lodgings If
desirable. Owing to the very large attend
ance, only those who register aa members
Ahtain membershlD certificates and
badges will be entitled to assignment to
accommodations, admission to meetings,
.-i.i uttartiinmtnti. reduced rates and
Ilka privileges provided for members by
tha local executive committee.
Soma Entertainment Features,
ifunumii axaurslona by rail, trolley cars
an tativ.hn coaches will be held dally to
tii tha polnta of Interest In the vicinity of
Boston and win be a maraea leaiurn m
the convention, and every facility will ba
offered by tha committee on excursions to
visit within tha least time ana in uie moo
convenient manner aa many polnta of in
terest as possible.
Almost all of the muaeuma and Ilka placea
that usually charge a fee will ba open free
tO mo Visitors tnu ' y
guides will be provided. Even tha adjoining
towns of hlstorlo Interest nave organises
hospitality committees consisting ot teach
er to provide special entertainment and
conveniences for the visitors.
And all of thla will be in addition to tne
..ihi Itself, which will be replete
with Interesting and Instructive sessions to
Include all branches ot school interests tnai
will ba presented by the foremoat educa
tors 0f the day. The general aessions will
ba held at Mechanics' ball, wuua nearoy
hatia and audltorluma will be used for
pedal department meetings, among these
will be the departments ot nigner muck
tlon, kindergarten, elementary education,
wnii anhoola BUDerlntendence, manual
training, art education, mualo education.
business education, child stuay, pnysicai
training, science Instruction, achool ad
ministration, library depantmont, Indian
education and special education.
CARTOONIST SVERY ANGRY
Philadelphia Artist Threatens Gov
ernor Pennypacker with a
' I alt fat Libel.
PHILADELPHIA, May la. Charles Nelan
cartoonist, haa addressed a long letter to
Governor Pennypacker, In which he com
plains of tha use ot tha word "outcast" in
the governor's letter on tho libel bill, aa
applied to the maker of one of Mr. Nelan'a
drawings. Mr. Nelan demands a prompt
apology, falling to receive which he glvea
notice he will bring suit against the gov
ernor for libel. He aaya In the letter:
"I beg to say to you, air, that when you
applied this epithet to me you uttered an
unqualified falsehood. I am not an 'out
cast' and I am not a 'vagabond.' It you
will not retract, but will agree not to plead
the privileges of your position as a defense
to the wrong you have dona me, I will In
stitute proceedings against you within live
days and will hurry the case to trial with
the utmost expedition, ao tha Jury In the
courts and the lsrger jury of the people
may know whether I am tha 'outcast' you
have stigmatized ms or whether you are
a slsnderer and libelee of the honor oi g
citizen."