The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1905-04-21
AN OPEN LETTER.
A Union Mans Wife Hands a "Scab''
Firm a Warm Roast.

A Union Mans Wife Hands "Scab"
Firm a Warm Roast.
Lincoln, Nebr, April 21.-To E. S.
Hutton & Co., Interior Decorators,
City: Sirs-I am in receipt of your
letter of the 18th inst, containing sam
pies of your wall papers and giving
Mandatory mention of your ability as
Interior decorators. l note what you
say about pianos" and Harmony and
Gil that sort of thing, and when you
ask me if l do not send for a piano
tuner when my piano is out of tune. |
unhesitatingly answer yes. But l do
not send for a tuner who works with
a monkeywren instead of a key, and
who uses a gray goosequill for a
pitch pipe. Neither do 1, when l want
interior decorating done in my home,
send for firm that employs 'scabs'
or enlist the services of firm that
fights the system through which my
husband is enabled to earn the money
whereby l am allowed to beautify the
Interior of the humble little cottage in
which we live.
note that your letterhead states
none but expert workmen employed.
| am rather old-fashioned in my be-
I;efs, and l still cling to the idea that
nv q
terses is guilty of an. infraction Of
the law, regardless of the amount OF
money involved And / know enough
OF unionism to know that expert work
men who are morally responsible are
nc: in the habit of "scabbing" on their
fellow workmen. Therefore, speaking
in all candor, l am compelled to de-
clare that / do, not believe your claim
trat you employ only expert work
men," For this reason I make haste
to inform you that l have nothing in
your line that you are likely to get
the contract for this year-or any 9TH
err year until you get square with the
Brotherhood of Painters and Decora-
tors
My husband is union man, and he
has made many sacrifices for the prin-
ciples of unionism. I, too, have made
some sacrifices, and l am willing to
make more in defense of the. princl-
pies which mean so much to the tollers
| of this republic. My home is an hum
| hle one, but it is home And l would
| rather live in a union-made shack
! minus interior decorations of every
| description than to live in place
built by the toll of unrequitted labor
| and decorated to the limit by spineless
| workmen who cringe and crawl al
| every look from the taskmaster who
denies to them the right to organize
for mutual benefit.
hope you will continue to send mt
letters similar to the one that lies be
fore me now. They will cost you TIVE
cents each, and every letter means jus
two cents less profits accruing to yo
by reason of your unfair attitude to
wards organized labor. There are in
terror decorators in Lincoln who rec
ognize the union and employ skille
union men-not moral and industris
incompetents from the outside. The
employ men whose homes are her
ard who help by their patronage tn
business in which my husband is Ell
gagged and thereby makes a good III
ing for me and for mine. If l came
get one Of these firms to hang N
paper in my cottage this season it wi
remain unpapered. And assure "
that there are hundreds of women
Lincoln who will take the same star
that l have taken.
If ever you get square l would
pleased to know it, and then if my wol
is not already done, I may consid
your proposition to do the work. U
til then. you are not in it for minu1
MRS. DOROTHY NJ. CLIFFORD.