The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1908-12-12
Live Ones In
Good Old Lincoln

The Plumbers Union of Lincoln on
Wednesday evening of this week had
the honor and pleasure of entertaining
their general president, John R. AL
pine. President Alpine is also a vice.
president of the American Federation
ct Labor, having been elected to sue
ceed the late unlamented Daniel J.
Keefe.
The local union held special meet
ing Wednesday evening and enjoyed
an address from President Alpine. He
was put next to the local situation
ana stated that about the first of the
year he would have an organizer in
Lincoln and keep him here until lot
of tangles were made straight. He
oomplimented the faithful little band
upon their "stick-to-it-iveness."
Wednesday afternoon President AL
pine called at The Wageworker shop
In company with the Chapman boys
and Mr.. Keugel of the Omaha local,
.
held on things in general.
Internationally our organization is
in good shape" said President Alpine.
I'VE expect that during the business
depression we would at least stand
still, with chances of a decrease in
membership. But we actually gained
in membership and in business. We
nave increased our membership about
five thousand, and We have won over
sixty contests. We have lost prac-
tically none and have three or four
that may be classed as a 'staud-off,
with all the prospects in our favor.
I'VE had splendid convention in
Denver. One of the most gratifying
things to me is the splendid change
for the better that is coming over all
of our big labor conventions of all
ness meetings within the real defini-
ton of that term. Levelheadei, sober
and influential men have come to the
front in the labor movement, and it
is no longer possible to truthfully
charge us with being lot of 'boozers.
That charge might have stuck years
ago. but 1t has no basis of truth now.
We had about 600 delegates at Denver,
and 1 believe that they measured up
In point of ability better than the
average convention of business or pro.
fessional men.
There has been a splendid bet
to say to you. and I'd like to say it
to all the world. that organized labor
is doing more practical temperance
work among its members than any
learned that our business is a rea,
business proposition, and that If it IS
done properly it must be done ay
sober men. That's why we have rele-
gated the good fellow to the rear
and picked oct the level-headed,
thoughtful, men of our unions to do
business for US. am speaking now
of all the crafts, not of any one par
ticular craft.
Every day we are realizing more
and more what wonderfully complex
business affairs our union organiza.
tions are. and as we get them nearer
results we obtain"
President Alpine told many anus
ing incidents of his work in different
parts OF the country, and related an
necdotes of the big labor leaders he
has met. He puts Andrew Fureseth
OF the Seamen's Union among the top
notchers in the labor movement, ani
says that President Lynch of the
printers organization is getting bigger
every day as a level-headed labor
leader. or course he puts the ''old
man." Samuel Gompers, at the heat
of the list. Asked to express an opin
ion concerning Dan Keefe, the mar
he supplanted as a vice-president O
the Federation. President Alpine said
Excuse me, please. recall in this
connection a remark made by Johu
j. ingalls, after he had been defeated
for the senate and then roundly de
nounced by Mary Ellen Lease. Some
body asked him what he had to sa!
in reply to Mrs. Lease and he said
Nothing, only that there are but tw'
classes of people who mutilate tn
dead, Indians and women"
During the afternoon President Al
pine, in company with an escort o
union plumbers, made social cal
on several Of the boss" plumber
and carefully avoided any reference
to the local situation. The visit o
their international president has pu
a lot Of ginger into the members o