davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1908-05-02
THE CARPENTERS.
Spring Work Opening Up In Way
That Cheers All Hearts,

Spring Work Opening Up In 4 Way
That Cheers All Hearts,
Work is opening up in fine shape
and as a result the roll On unemployed
is growing shorter eery day. The
work of organization. too. is being
quietly but effectualiy pushed
The local union of Carpenters was
the first one to come through with
its per capita assessment to defray
the expenses of the union label show
at the Auditorium
The local has every reason to feel
proud of the record that Brother F. A
Kates is making as secretary of the
central BODY He is ON the firing line
all the time.
Unionists anxious to get into the po-
iitieal game are referred to Brother
Quick for information and experience.
The educational campaign, inaug-
urated by Brother Chase. is proving a
big attraction. 1t has resulted in a
handsome increase in the regular at
tendance, and the good effects of the
square" talks that have been made
are being felt in renewed zeal in
union matters.
The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1908-05-02
LEATAERwoRkERs' BALL.
Local No. % Will Make Merry on the
Evening Of May S.

Learherworkers Union No -. of
Lincoln. is making great preparations
for the annual ball to be held on the
evening OF May ;. at PITTS Hail. The
LeatherworkerS have achieved the
reputation of making their annual
balls social events of more than ordin-
AIRY interest. and they do not purpose
that the ball next week shall fall
short in any respect Bruse's union
orchestra will furnish the music for
the occasion
A cordial invitation is extended by
the Learherworkers TO all union men
and women. and their friends. to at
tend this ball and help the members
of the local have a good time Tickets
fifty cents a couple.
The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1908-05-02
LABOR SUNDAY


viii BE Appropriately Observed at St
Marks Reformed Church
In accordance with the recommends
ton of the last convention of the
American Federation of Labor. held at
Norfolk. Va. the Central Labor Union
of Lincoln has arranged to appropri-
ateiy observe Labor Sunday" May
10.
The services will be held at St
Marks Reformed church. Q street, be-
tween Fifteenth and Sixteenth street,
under the direction of the pastor. Rev.
p. NJ Orr. beginning promptly at 10:s
a M The Central Labor Union. to-
gether with the pastor and congrega-
tion of St. Marks cordially invites
the cooperation of every trades union
organization. and of every trades
unionist in Lincoln and vicinity, in
making Labor Sunday" successful
Sunday" successful from every view
point
Rev Mr.. Orr. who will deliver the
sermon. is a staunch union man. He
worked for a number of years as a
ships blacksmith in the great CramI
shipyards in Philadelphia, and while
so engaged was an active member Oi
the union of his craft 1t was be
cause of his ability to draw goo6
wages as a union man that he was en-
abled to pursue his theological stud
les On numerous occasions Rev Mr.
Orr has shown his warm friendship
for union;sm. and it is safe to sa,
that his sermon will be helpful to the
toilers who hear him.
Special music win be prepared fol
the occasion. On the date named st
Marks church should be crowded II
its utmost capacity by union men ant
women intent upon seking that which
is more than meat or raiment
The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1908-05-02

have become so common with the Lin
coin local that they no longer attract
especial attention. The only surprise
is when a meeting is held without TAX
ing from two to nalf-dozen new
members
An increase of $3.50 per week has
been granted the electrical workers
of Halifax. \. s.. and this in the face
of hard times
Col. Mark Castor. whose heart is
still right. even if he is under the ne
cessity. of carrying 3 withdrawal card.
has discarded his winter lambreQuins
and his smiling face is now the target
for the chilly April Winds
The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1908-05-02
ELECTRICAL WORKERS.
Have jolly Time All by Their Own
Selves Thursday Evening.

The Brotherhood of Electrical Work
ers changed the regular order of
things this year. and instead of hav-
ing an annual ball had a social time
among themselves last Thursday even
ing No tickets were sold. the local
paving all the expenses. and all the
members. with their wives and pros
pectiveS. attended and had a jolly
time Dancing was the main diversion
of the evening. and refreshments were
served in season The committee in
charge carried out its instructions to
the letter. and the result was an even
ing of enjoyment
Work in this neck o. the woods" is
getting better all the time-and so
is the spirit of unionism. limitations
The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1908-05-02


sent another special message TO con-
gress. After acknowledging certain
legislation passed in accordance with
his Recommendation. he reiterates
with urgency his desires for further
action. notably to amend the anti
trust laws and to limit the power OF
Injunction in labor disputes. Failure
TO remedy general wrongs, he says
win end in class hatreds that will be
hard to eradicate. With the message
he delivers few paragraphs on the
iniquitous rich in which he praises
this interesting message follow
There seems. however. much doubt
about two of the measures 1 have
recommended: the measure to do
away with abuse of the power of in
junction and the measure or group of
measures to strengthen and render
both more efficient and more wise the
control by the national government
interstate business.
First. as to the power of injunc-
ton and of punishment for contempt
In contempt cases. save where imme-
should be before another Judge As
regards 1njunctfons. some such legis-
lation as that 1 have previously rec
commended should be enacted. They
are blind who fail TO realize the ex-
treme bitterness caused among large
bodies of worthy citizens by the use
that has been repeatedly made of the
power of Injunction in labor disputes.
Those in whose judgment we have
most right 10 trust are of the opinion
that while much of the complaint
against the use of the Injunction is
unwarranted, yet that it is unquestion-
ably true that in a number of cases
this power has been used to the grave
injury of the rights of laboring men
L ask that it be limited to some such
way as that 1 have already pointed
out in my previous messages, for the
very reason that do not wish to see
an embittered effort made TO destroy
il. 1t is unwise stubbornly to refuse
to provide against a repetition of the
abuses which have caused the present
unrest In democracy like ours it is
idle to expect permanently to thwar
the determination of the great body
of our citizens 1t may be and Otter
| is the highest duty of a court. legis
lature. or an executive. to resist and
| defy a gust of popular passion: and
! most certainly no public servant
whatever may be the consequences t
himself, should yield to what he think.
is wrong. But in a question which i;
emphatically one of public policy, tn,
policy which the public demands il
sure in the end to be adopted: and
portion of our people what is right il
only too apt in the end to result il
causing such irritation that when tn
| right is obtained it is obtained in tn
| course of a movement so i'll cOnSid
cred and violent as to be accompanies
! by much that is wrong The process
of Injunction in labor disputes. as wei
as where state laws are involved
should be used sparingly. and onl
The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1908-05-02
Roosevelt Sends a
Sizzling Hot Message

when there is the ciearest necessity
for it: but it is one so necessary TO
the efficient performance of duty bv
the court on behalf of the nation that
it Is in the highest degree TO be re-
grettad that it should be liable TO
reckless use- for this reckless use
tends to make honest men desire 50
to hamper its execution as TO DESTROY
its usefulness.
A strong effort has been made TO
have labor organizations completely
exempted from any of the operations
of this law. whether or not their acts
are in restraint of trade Such ex-
ception would in all probability make
the bill unconstitutional. and the lexis
lature has no more right to pass a
bill without regard to whether IL Is
constitutional than the courts have
lightly TO declare unconstitutional a
law which the legislature has solemn
ly enacted The responsibility Is As
great on the one side as on the other.
and am abuse of power By the IexisIa-
ture in one direction IS equally to be
condemned with an abuse Of power
by the courts in the other direction
1t is not possible wholly 70 except
labor organizations from the working
of this law. and they Who insist upon
totally excepting them are merely
providing that their status shall be
kept wholly unchanged. and that shey
shall continue TO be exposed to the
action which they now dread ObyI-
ously. an organization not formed BIZ
profit should not be required to fur
nish statistics in any way as complete
for profit
Moreover. 50 far as labor Is en-
gagged in production only. its claims
to be exempted from the antitrust lzv
are sound This would substantially
cover the right of laborers to combine.
to strike peaceably, and to enter into
trade agreements with the eDplOyers-
But when labor undertakes IN a
| wrongful manner to prevent the dis
tribution and sale of the products OF
labor. as by certain forms Of the boy
cott. it has left the field of production.
and its action may plainly be in re
straint of interstate trade, and must
necessarily be subject to inquiry. ex-
actly as in the case of any other com
binatfon for the same purpose. so as
to determine whether such action Is
contrary to sound public policy The
heartiest encouragement should be
given to the wageworkers 70 form la
Dor unions and to enter into agree
ments with their employers. and their
right to strike. so long as they act
peaceably, must be preserved But
nor a blacklist which would be Illegal
at common law
The measures I advocate are in
the interest both of decent corpora
tions and of law-abiding labor unions
They are. moreover. pre-eminently In
the interest of the public. for in my
judgment American people have def
nitely made up their minds that the
reign of the great law-defying and
law-evading corporations are over
and that from this time on the mighty
1 CONTINUED ON Page ~
The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1908-05-02
Making Cripples
And Dodging Taxes

Out on the southwest side of Chica-
so lies the Mccormick branch of
the International Harvester Company.
Here six thousand human beings
men. boys, and girls-Shape and ar
range the harvesters that cut large
share of the wheat crop of the world
Suspended above the great rooms of
the factory. powerful electric cranes
perform the work formerly done by
hundreds Of toilers. lifting and trans
porting heavy pieces of iron
On July I. 1897, Walter Merritt. an
electric repair man in the employ of
the harvester company, Was directed
by his superintendent to SO upon one
OF the electric cranes TO inspect its
motors. He climbed up an iron post
BY the suspended cage in which the
crane operator works the levers that
apply power to the crane As he
stepped from the top Of the cage to
the wheels on which the crane rested
the operator a few feet beneath hin,-
suddenly pulled = lever. applied the
power and Merritt was thrown over
into the gearing In an instant the
u,erciless coxs had cut into his aeSh-
stopped. his right arm was crushed OF
at the elbow. He was taken 10 \ hos
psral. where blood poisoning set in
and rendered his other arm almost
useless.
At the time of the accident Merritt
was earning $s-sS per day of ten hours,
but by working overtime he managed
90 draw about $50 per month After
a three weeks stay in the hospital the
injured man was taken Rome. Weak
and discouraged. he discussed the fa-
ture with his wife. The comfortable
little Nat. with its piano paintings. and
bric-a-brac, would have TO be given
up
One day. shortly after he came from,
the hospital while he was thinking
hard. trying to solve the difficult prob
lem of how a man with only one arm
and that partially disabled. could earn
q livelihood for himself. his wife and
child. Merritt had visitor. II was
Mr.. Brown. the claim agent for the
Harvester company IL was Browns
duty to settle personal injury claims
as cheaply as possible. An increase
in Browns small salary depended or
his showing better results this year
than last. in showing at the end oi
this corporate year a smaller sum paid
out for damages to the heirs of the
, killed and wounded workmen thar
last year.
Addressing Merritt in sympathet
ic tone. the trained adiuster said:
Walter. I'm awfully sorry for YOU
and I want to assure you that the com
pany means TO do the right thing b,
you We always treat our employee:
right suppose YOU need a littl,
money. so I've brought you $50. and
want you to sign this receipt"
Not q word of explanation of tn,
formidable looking document with it
many lines of printed and type-writtel
matter.
This was Merritts first experience
with a claim agent IL was case o
guileleSsness and ineSperience agains
cold. calculating business
As Merritt found himself graspinl
The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1908-05-02


in his left hand. he thought it was
rather kind of the company to make
him = present of the ten crisp five
dollar bills that he needed 50 much
CHANGING at the paper before him his
eyes caught the words release and
forever discharge These were not
the words of simple receipt Then
there were many other things peculiar
about this document So many words
and such fine print Handing back the
fifty dollars 10 the claim agent but
keeping the paper, Merritt said
Well. Mr. Brown. 1 never had to
sign any paper before when 1 got my
pay from the company. and l don't
quite understand why I should do 80
now, IN read this paper over careful
IL and let You know in few days
don't quite like 10 sign il now,
This is the paper Merritt was asked
to sign
Know all men by thefr Presents
That l. Walter Merritt. OF the city of
Chicago. county OF Cook and state of
Illinois. for and in consideration of
the sum of fifty dollars 10 me in hand
paid by the International Harvester
company, a New Jersey corporation.
the receipr whereof is hereby ackno~f-
edged, do hereby release and forever
discharge, said International Harvest
er company from all claims and de-
naands and each. every and all right
cause and causes Of action of every
name. nature and description whatso.
ever. which I now have or which has
accrued in my favor against it. said
International Harvester company arss-
ing or growing out of or by reason OF
any matter, cause or thing whatsoever.
from the beginnins of the world to
the date hereof
And. l do further hereby declare
that said International Harvester com
pany has not nor has anyone for ii,
Or in its name. al any time prior to the
execution and delivery of this release
by me. made me any offer OF employ
ment in any capacity whatever. as part
consideration for the execution of this
release, and that | thoroughly under
stand the meaning of this release and
know that its execution by me is an
absolute waiver and bar of all and
! every claim and demand l may have
against said company OF every name
and description. and that under no cir
cumstances can l sue or maintain any
! action. suit or proceeding against SAID
| company by reason of any matter OIL
thing whatsoever happening to me, ol
arising in my favor against said com
pany prior to the execution and deliy
/ cry hereof, and l further eNpressl,
state that no fraud or undue infiuenc,
on the part of said company. or OF
the part of anyone representing it ha:
l in any way entered into this releas,
or into any of the steps leading up L
it,
Witness my hand and seal this e4Jl
day of July. A. D., 1907
l
The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1908-05-02
PUT ENERGY BEHIND 1T.

If all the energy reserved from the
boycott is put behind the union label
the results viii surprise you Even the
huge trusts will fail if their goods do
not move.-Trade Union Advocate
The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1908-05-02

act for the uses and purposes therein
set forth
Given under my hand and notarial
seal this s4th day of July. A. D.. 1907.
Notary Public
of the paper without arousing Nerritt's
suspicious. 50 he violated one of his
own rules by leaving the document
with the injured man
His parting words were spoken con-
fidentially,
Now Walter. YOU know we don't
want any trouble about this When
YOU get well. IN see what can do for
YOU Don't go to any lawyer. for if
YOU do L may not be able to help YOU
at all. for you know it wasn't our
fault that you got hurt. and we could
beat YOU in a lawsuit. We always
win our cases I'm telling YOU this as
s friend.
The intention of the unfortunate
mans good little wife told her that
in this serious matter il wasn't quite
safe 10 rely ON Mr. Browns advice So
next day Merritt went to lawyers
once and showed him the paper that
Mr., Brown wanted him TO sign
The lawyer told him that it was \
form of release. which. If signed by
the injured man would forever bar him
from collecting damages Merritt
stated the facts as to the circunn-
stances of the accident The lawyer
said,
The International Harvester COM
pany is New Jersey corporation If
YOU sue the company for more than
s.. .eeo it viii transfer the case to the
federal court because il claims to be
citizen of New Jersey and YOU are \
citizen of Illinois The federal
courts viii probably decide that YOU
and the craneman were fellow ser
wants. and you would lose your case
there. But You might sue in the state
courts for $4,000, and the company
could not transfer the case to the fed
eral court. because that court will not
| consider any case unless the amount
sued for il more than $1,000 In cases
like yours the law of Illinois is much
more favorable to the plaintiff than
that of the United States courts. and
you could probably win in the state
courts. The company will appeal if a
/ jury decides in your favor The cal
endars of the court are crowded with
thousands of cases like yours against
corporations. and it would take al
least three years to collect your dam
ages"
| Merritt was surprised to find thai
the law put such cheap value on hu
man limbs. He would talk it over witt
his wife She advised him to see Mr.
Brown and settle his case for 81 90,
rather than face the uncertainties ant
delays of a lawsuit
Brown was very sorry but his hand:
CONTINUED ON page 81
The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1908-05-02

l. --------- a notary pun
lie in and for said county, in the state
aforesaid, do certify that Walter Mer-
ritr. who is personally known to me
The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1908-05-02

to be the same person whose name
is subscribed to the foregoing instru-
ment appeared before me this day in
person and acknowledged that he
signed. sealed and delivered the said
instrument as H. free and voluntary
act for the uses and purposes therein
set forth
Given under my hand and notarial
seal this s4th day of July. A D.. 1907.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1908-11-06
Interference in Foreign
Affairs Is Disastrous
to Germany.

BERLIN. Nov. As the eulmI.
nation % weeks Of protest against
the diplomatic wfrorn of the Ger.
man foreign office. Editor Hardin.
81 DIE Suukumft. today came out
With the bold declaration that the
kaiser must either curb his ten.
dencY 90 engage fn controversial
politics or abdicatm shr throne The
uttnranco Is considered the boidest
that has ever appeared 10 4 Ger.
man Newspaper II has created
great excitement and there is talk
thar Hardin viii BE- called 10 tAsk
for hla editorial.
The attack ef Editor Hardin ia
hwink widely quoted All over the
empire Hardin said. In part,
Does the emperor desire 10 N
noanee the throneY flfs grand
iAther contemplated abdication In
leAs serious crisis than this ana
one that vas noe brought about by
hia own faults.
ln~ emperor mnsf not b. blind
"a the fact that his fellow oounfyy.
men are AGAINST both him and hls
chancellor Neither Chaaceslor
Non buriOv nor hts nucceaaor can
retain office without a pledge from
the emperor that viii limit hla
share In the government.
The fninr" q Germany must DE-
mand this. The house OF Hohan.
soifefn must deasnd n. too. Ia thls
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1908-11-06
WANTS MORE LOCAL
APPLE EXHIBITS

In a letter 10 George A houe.
secretary Of the Seattle Commercial
club. IL J. Nicely. secretary and
manager OF tho National Apple
show. which Will be held "a Spo-
kane December T.l2. Invites more
exhibits from Seattle aud vicinity
Nicely SAYS the Ahow a. the mu@t
important thing of the kind ever
undertaken In the Northwest. and
that President Roosevelt has heart
rs endorsed A. Railroads have
recognized is Importance aud made
reduced rates from all points la
the United States and Canada
Nicely states that At present thu
ahow has over 1000 exhibits from
all over the unitcd States. and that
North Carolina alone has reserved
5000 square feet Of floor space for
her exhibit
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1908-11-06
PLACE RENTON
IN new CLASS

A notice Of the advancement ~
the town OF Renton from the fourth
10 the third class was received by
the county commissioners office
thla morning The communication
states that according to special
census taken IN september. Rentun
has population ~ 1871, and AZ an
election held October 81, major
ny of the electors voted 90 make the
community a third class town. NY
this action the town now has power
60 take In outside territory, and II
ia probable that North khnt6n.
north OF the Cedar river. will soon
become a. part OF Ranton as a result
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1908-11-06
I..,.en.. VIII Manda~D'
s.hool Board If Law
/, Enforced.

.nAra az the Ahh N"N''
~ p'eaa '..' wlll bring mendaalu'
~ l 60 4 court next Tuesday
sss 80 es,enbers Of the hoard .,
% y appear tn court ana
aies why they should nor
ss ss' n whether they have
y ssss .asIesls or all the schools
y I'm, IA teachers read a le',
- ~ superintendent OF
ass s,cer announcing that ON
- =. .' sexs Monday NO children s
/ y. a .,.selyed at school who
- - vaccsnated. or who
n Y N sss,ors cersitieate show
.s -, attempts had been
=. ' ss.,eeelnalioa A doctors
d he stfees taa hat, me =,
- ,,osalsloa Of the child !. Is
80 -, ~ VACCINATION Is lnadvisa /.
N M slss y accepted = = '"'''
- 4 she vaccination
xsnns \. X a.ss cAllarea In school
isfa =. az ~ sAildrsn back to
- 's q russa.s sso'n .a%,s si'Ss
= v ssss "a =. .o n, Isissal
: rssl's y !. 'i ~ tor the man
- '.'.. ! j r Armstrong Of
-. 49, ssn y vi not have his
- - rsnlaaied. 7 do not be.
Z. ~ sAod ecafa has author.
!. x.rs any sach orders" he
- aaay. -and II they send
.slls,sn hone | intend TO send
8 ~ % school the next day
I .hsy arr refused admission
Z ssss 70 take steps to see
- my car legally be dc.
< ~ pFlrilege Of attending
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1908-11-06
COURT OF INQUIRY

NAVY YARD. PUGET SOUND
Nov. Sword has bNen received
here 10 tho effect that the navy
department haa called A court OF
Inquiry here soon 90 inquire into
the cause Of the death OF the two
general courtmartiai prisoners
who were entombed under an ava.
lanche Of falling earth hero about
4 month ago
The court 81 inquiry IA Ia consist
% Roar Admiral Henry NJ. MAJ.
ney. retired Capt Charles p. Per.
kins. assistant TO the commandant
II the Pacific naval dlatrict. Com
mander g. C. Rogers. commanding
The Milwaukee,. and Lieut.. Com.
mander W. v. Pratt. az the II.
Louis The latter win act a. tndg 20
advocate % the court.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1908-11-06
FATHER AND FRIENDS
GUARANTEED

Mildred Gordon. aged : years.
daughter OF Mr. and Mrs John. Cor
don OF 5Ie Rainier boulevard. died
last Monday from maglignant diph.
theria. An1 the nome has been
placed under quarantine by the
health department The father Was
away AZ the time the premises were
guaranteed. and a. he and two
friends entered the place later. they
were placed In custody Of the quar-.
antino guards The officials have
taken steps 10 provide the inmates
% tho house with food and pro
visions.