The wageworker., 1909-10-16

some history At that meeting the di-
rectors decided to take the plunge
and either get a Labor Temple or die
trying. With that in view commit
tee was appointed to make the final
negotiations for the two-story brick
building at 217-219 North Eleventh
street, formerly occupied by the Wood
ruff Collins Printing company. Tues
day morning the committee met the
owner, Mayor Love. and made the in
itial payment, after agreeing upon
terms of purchase The consideration
is $4,000, on terms that will make it
easily possible for the trades union
lists of Lincoln and Havelock to own
a home of their own If they so desire.
The building in question is admir-
ably located for the purpose in view.
1t is near the business center of the
city and convenient to all the street
car lines, yet is not SO close that the
cars will interrupt any meetings that
may be going on. even though all the
windows are open. 1t will take some
money to remodel the building so as
to make it suitable for meetings and
occupancy for business purposes, but
already there is assurance that enough
rentals will be forthcoming to pay all
fixed expenses, all expenses of main
tenance, and leave a handsome bal
ance for the sinking fund. 1t is the
&c th, RI N
three union halls on the second floor,
leaving one large hall 50x60 feet, as
an assembly room and dancing hall.
One room on the ground floor will be
rented for some business purpose,
preferably a restaurant, and the other
will be used by. the association. 1t
will contain a billiard and pool room,
card room, cigar stand and Office for
the superintendent of the building. 1t
is figured that the cigar stand and bill
lard tables will pay the salary of the
Superintendent of the building. With
twenty-five unions paying rent, to-
gether with the possible securing Of
several fraternal organizations as ten
ants and the rental of the assembly
hall for dancing parties and public
meetings, there is no doubt that the
time receive a handsome interest on
their Investment.
No one has been asked to donate a
dollar to the association, nor will any
one be asked for donations. But stock
in the association will be sold at 81
per share, this stock being non-assess-
able. Every dollar paid in will be
represented by tangible real estate
values. Already several unions are
stockholders and have paid for goodly
blocks of stock. Enterprising and
loyal unionists as individuals have sub
scribed. and the initial payment was
enough to satisfactorily bind the bag
gain. 1t remains to be seen whether
the unionists and business men of Lin
coin and Havelock will come across
and make sure the purchase of the
building.
Originally. the Lincoln Labor Tenn
pie Association was organized with {
capital stock of $4,000. the intention
being to sell enough stock to purchase
a building site and erect a Labor TEN
pie thereon A number of things hap
pened to make this seemingly impos
sible, although there was some stool
sold. The money thus received wa
put in bank and remained there unit
Monday.
The articles of incorporation ar
such that the property, when paid fol
can never be alienated from its orig
inal purpose-that of labor headquaI
ters-saye by sale. 1t will be impos
sible for any one man ever to secur
a controlling interest, or for any sir
gle union or organization ever to Sc
cure control. 1t will remain Labo
Temple.
The building committee expects
begin right away the task of interes
ing union men and business men l
the project, and raise the money
pay for the property by the sale
stock 1t is not necessary for Tn
Wageworker to picture the benefits
Lincoln, to the trades unions and
the business men arising from pr
ject OF this character. 1t will provid
a home for the wage-earners of tn
city 1t will act as balance whe'
between wage Garner and wage payer
it will interest men more and mol
in Lincoln. 1t means social an
moral upAft in many ways. A Labt
Temple-a labor Northumberland
as is contemplated. and such as wi
be secured, will perform a distin