The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1905-09-15

When Mr.. Workem came home on
the evening of Labor day he was
tired and happy. Throwing his uni
form to one side, and pinning his
badges on the wall, Workem dropped
into a chair with a sigh of satisfac-
ton and exclaimed:
THAT was the biggest celebration
labor ever had in this mans town."
Mrs. Workem said nothing until
she had picked up the discarded
uniform and hung it in the closet.
Then she took chair and replied:
Eyes, it was about the longest
parade 1 ever saw on Labor day.
about the longest?" shouted
Workem. ct had all other parades
skinned by not less than twelve blocks.
We had two thousand more men in
line today than we ever had before"
81 guess so," replied Mrs. Workem,
who had a far-away expression in her
eyes.
"Ain't supper about ready, mar
asked Workem. I'm as hungry as a
bear"
Supper will be ready in few min
utes, pa. I'm just waiting for the
potatoes to boil"
Mrs. Workem went into the little
kitchen and after briskly moving
about for few minutes announced
that the evening meal was ready.
Workem fastened in, not forgetting
to give the baby kiss he as passed
his high chair. During the ensuing
fifteen minutes Workem said very
little, being very busy with knife and
fork. Mrs. Workem ate her meal in
silence. Finally Workem showed his
chair back, reached into his upper
vest pocket and pulled out a cigar.
When the cigar was going to his salts
faction he leaned back in his chair
and said:
"Ah, but we made magnificent
showing this day. Labor showed it's
strength today in way that will
make the bosses sit up and take no
tice. We own the world, I tell you.
The sight of this grand army of toll
marching proudly shoulder to shoulder
is one that will"
Rats" exclaimed Mrs. Workem.
whats that, MAJ" shouted the as
tonished Workem.
Look here, husband" said Mrs.
Workem, steely glitter showing in
her eyes and the lines about her
mouth settling deeper. Look here!
I've been thinking all day today. 1
had to stay at home and take care of
the baby while you paraded, and
had plenty of time to think. I've been
thinking on this problem of organiza-
ton. I'm a good union woman, my
dear, and your working card is as
dear to me as it is to you. I'll suffer
anything with you, too, to stand by
the unions principles. But I'm rafaid
you unionism is merely a veneer"
why, ma! How can you say. that ?
Why, I'd die for my union if neces-
sary. I've gone ragged and hungry
rather than go back on the boys, and
I'd do it again. Why, my unionism
is as deep as any mans can"
"All right, my husband. I'll admit
it for the argument, and then make
my indictment. Didn't you carry a
banner today saying something about
the peril of Chinese cheap labor?''
Eyes, ma; I did. The importation
of Chinese cheap labor to compete
with American work"
20, stop, husband. I've heard that
till my ears ache. And all the time
you are bowling against Chinese cheap
labor you have been voting the ticket
put up by men who have been import
ing cheap labor from the slums of
by the hundreds of thousands.
You've been foolish enough to let the
Baers and Morgans keep you bowling
about Cinnamon SO loud you couldn't
hear the tread of the hundreds of
thousands of criminals and paupers
being imported by contract to work in
the mills and the mines of the east"
"Why, look here, ma; l wouldn't
get"
And last campaign you spilled
grease all over your best coat carry
ing a torch in a parade and holding
1t SO everybody could see the words
On banner your marching comrade
carried. 1t said Protection to Ameri-
can Workingmen,' didn't it?"
"Yes, ma; and =
well, the men who paid for that
banner and who contributed the ex-
penses of that and other parades,
have raised the price of their meat
and flour and sugar and clothing a
half-dozen times since then. Now tell
He WHERE we COIue III! has your
wages been increased. The landlord
has raised the rent. The coal dealer
has added a dollar on the ton. We get
three pounds less sugar for a dollar.
We pay as much for a round steak
as we did for tenderloin. The
trust managers furnished the parade
money and the workingmen furnished
the votes-now tell me who is getting
the worst of it? Show me your share
Of the protection you talked about"
why, mother!" exclaimed Workem.
You wouldn't have me voting against
these sweat shop slaves?"
he grand old party that freed the
slaves and"
Freed the black slaves, yes" inter-
'upted Mrs. Workem. But how about
some white ones? The girls in Gouge