The wageworker., 1910-03-05

(Frank kennedy in Western LabOrer.)
We have heard so much talk about
Lincoln's new Labor Temple that we
went down to see it last Saturday. To
say We were surprised at what the
capitol city union men have done
would not at all express our feelings.
1t is the same old story we have told
ever done by union men for them
selves are the things that are done for
the love of the cause and not for pay.
Two years ago a few enthusiastic
souls among Lincoln's probable two
thousand union men began the agita-
tion for a Labor Temple. After two
years of effort 5000 was raised. Last
fall these brave and courageous pro-
moters ran into a building bargain. 1t
was a two-story brick building about
44x90 in part of the city that would
be about where the Burwood theater
is situated in Omaha. The building
was run down some and it's outside
appearance Is not so very handsome.
The price asked by it's owner was $780,
900 for building and ground. The pro-
moters of the Labor Temple consid-
cred the matter awhile and concluded
to risk the chance of the union men
backing them up, so they borrowed
800 and. with the 5000 they had on
hand, paid $1,000 down to bind the
bargain. On December / they were to
pay $4,000. How the committee was
to raise that money was not dreamed
of when the first payment was made.
The Lord being on the side of the just
and brave, in due time light came to
the committee. They took the bit in
their teeth and went out right square
up to the business men of Lincoln and
said: Gentlemen, we have paid
$1,000 as our first payment in buying
home for labor. We have agreed to
| pay $4,000 for it. We must raise
| $4,000 by the first of December We
want you to buy $1OO worth of stock
in this building, with the distinct I'M
| derstanding that we can buy back the
stock from you when we are in shape
to do SO. The building and ground
are worth $4,000. You can't lose.
Give us lift
| In five days this voluntary commit
tee raised $4,000, enough to meet the
December and February payments.
Then the next thing was to make
the building habitable. The Plumbers,
Electrical Workers, and Painters and
Decorators agreed to do all the work
of their line free if the material was
furnished. The business men in those
lines furnished either free or at half
rate all material for repairs, decorat-
ing and painting. The committee was
SO pleased to be able to meet in a
building which was their very own
acted their business in the directors
ROOM
| The electrical workers, plumbers
| and painters set to work with their
hearts full of enthusiasm. The result
of their labor speaks for itself. The
halls in the Lincoln Labor Temple are
the most tastily decorated, the best
lighted the neatest furnished and
cleanest labor halls that we have ever
seen in any city we have ever been in
in the country. There is a row of
opera chairs around the hall with a
hat holder under each one. The altars,
secretary's desks and PRESIDENT S
chair and stand are in keeping with
the best furnished lodge halls in the
country. The banners and charters
are artistically hung on the artistic
ally decorated walls. The cuspidors
are new and Immediately clean The
ante-rooms are clean and furnished in
keeping with the halls. The plumbing
is up to date.
There are four halls, upstairs; the
directors room would remind one of
a bank directors room. This room is
used by the Typographical Union Aux
iliary and furnished by it,
On the ground floor is one large
room that is used for a dance hall
Next to that is the office of the Tenn
! pie manager, Mr.. O.. NJ. Rudy, of the