davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The wageworker., 1910-04-29
AN UNFAIR DEAL.


President Gompers Goes Up Against
Premediated Plan Of Snubbinq.
When Samuel Gompers, president
of the American Federation Of Labor,
was invited to read paper before the
American Academy OF Political and
Social Science recently 1t was taken
for granted that he would receive gen.
tiemanly consideration from those who
invited him to the late session in
Philadelphia. But the treatment he
got has the appearance of being a
premediated move to give him offense.
We believe our people generally love
fair play. There has grown up in
America lately, howeves, q class Of
bat-eyed commercialists whose COM
ponents never slip a chance to be
mean, just because they know how
to be. These people do not observe
that the public is watching their do.
ings. It was written long ago that
such things as the ill-mannerly treat
ment of Mr.. Gompers return to plague
the Trades Union News.
The wageworker., 1910-04-29
WITH THE LIVE ONES

Of the state law. The attention Of
County Attorney Tyrrell will be called
to this violation of the law, and some
body will have to sweat for it.
Delayed trains are becoming more
frequent, and freight shipments are
being held up in desperate effort
tc get the passenger trains and mails
over the road. Nos. One and Three
and Two and Six are beginning to
show the effects of the strike by
growing late and later, while the
local passengers are as erratic as
cyclone.
Reports from other struck points
are to the effect that the men are
standing firm. Two "scab" boiler
makers sent to Ravenna were refus-
ed board and lodging by every hotel,
restaurant and private house in town.
AS result the Burlington had to
send bunk car and a cook to Ra.
VIENNA to supply the needs of the
"scabs.''
The wageworker., 1910-04-29
THE LEATHER WORKERS.
Lincoln Strikers Dance and Make
Merry Despite Their Trouble.

6uSOIi 0eTSNSTo DouCS anu MAKE
Merry Despite Their Trouble.
There seems to be NO change in the
strike situation among the Leather
workers on Horse Goods in Lincoln.
The strikers are still out and have
shown not the slightest inclination to
go back under open shop conditions
and at the same old scare of wages
and hours. If former employers have
made any effort to secure strikebreak.
ers they have so far managed to keep
the fact secret. And If they have
made efforts they have been unsuc-
cessful The strikers continue to
meet with regularity and do not seem
to worry over the outlook.
Instead of being downcast the strik-
ing Leatherworkers make merry. On
Tuesday evening Of last week they
gave a ball that proved unusually
successful socially and financially.
Strike benefits continue.
But if no gains are being made in
Lincoln there are gains elsewhere,
Denver reports three serious breaks
in the ranks Of the employers COM
bine, and a number Of men have re.
turned to work under the conditions
they demanded. One employer in
Kansas has been hailed into court for
requiring his employees to sign an
agreement not to join a union. Kansas
City reports several shops gained.
and scattering gains are being re-
torted from other sections.
The wageworker., 1910-04-29
THE MUSICIANS.

Lincoln Local Honored by the Span
ish-American War Veterans.
At the annual meeting of the Ne.
American War Veterans, held in
Grand Island, H. e. McGurrin, a
member of the Musicians Union OF
Lincoln, was selected as department
adjutant. Mr.. McGurrin has splen-
did record as a soldier of Uncle Sans
and in honoring him the boys honored
themselves.
Says the Kansas City Labor Her.
aid: Sixteen of the boys, selected
for their extraordinary lung capacity
have been doing duty under Ben Kend
The wageworker., 1910-04-29

Lincoln Central Labor Union, at its
meeting on Friday evening Of last
week, took cognizance of the fact that
Rev. Samuel Zane Batten is soon t..
leave Lincoln and take up his resi-
dence in Des Moines. Rev. Mr.. Bat
ten has for several years been fra
ternal delegate from the Ministerial
Association to the central body, and
has been a regular attendant upon
the meetings of the workers. The
resolutions adopted by the Central La
Dor Union-unanimousl and by ris-
ing vote-tell in good measure the
esteem in which the reverend gentle
man is held by the unionists with
whom he has worked and associated
for several years. The resolutions
we're as follows:
Whereas, Rev. Samuel Zane Bat
ten has been fraternal delegate to
this body from the ministerial Asso-
citation for several years, and
Whereas, Rev. Mr.. Batten has
time and again shown his zeal for
and devotion to the cause of the
toilers, and has demonstrated his a..
tive belief in the principles of trades
unionism and the work of organizing
the wage earners, helping us on mum.
erous occasions by timely advice and
by personal work, and
Whereas, 1t now comes to the
knowledge of this body that ou.
brother, Rev. Samuel Zane Batten, Is
about to remove from Lincoln and
take up his residence in another city
where he believes his sphere of in.
fiuence may be widened, therefor be
it
Resolved. That Lincoln Central La
Dor Union hereby expresses its regrc:
at the loss about to be inflicted upon
it and upon the whole body of orga.
nized labor in this community by the
removal of this good friend, eloquent
advocate and active supporter of tho
cause of organized abor.
Resolved, That this body take this
occasion to express to its brother and
tIaternal 1ela@d;e It's sincere thank
and appreciation of his many acts oil
friendly help, his many eloquent ad
dresses in behalf of the downtrodden
and the oppressed and his ever-pres'
ent help when the advice and counsel
of true friends were needed
Resolved, That this body tende:
also to Rev. Mr.. Batten the most EN-
phatic assurance of its good will and
hopes that in his future environment;
he may be able to continue, and tc
even greater advantage to the cause
The wageworker., 1910-04-29

The strike of the Printing Press
men and Assistants is still going on
and there is no sign of weakening
on the part of the men who are out
The managers of the strike keep ge.-
ting the "rats' away about as fast
as the employers can ship them in,
and as a result the struck shops are
alway Gin the air" Places have beel
found for a number of the strikers
and they are at work, but are handy
in case they are called back. There
have been no new developments dur
ing the past week.
One of the most interesting things
that has happened in labor circles for
a long time is the drastic action
President Berry of the International
took to maintain the reputation o.
the International for standing by It's
contracts. The spectacle of union
men striking, only to have their
places filled by fellow unionists at
the demand of the union officials IS
rather unique. The web pressmen Of
Chicago struck because former
platen pressmen was made foreman
of the Inter-Ocean press room. c. H
Rogers, formerly a member of the
Web Pressmen's Union, but later
foreman in fiat bed establishment.
was offered the foremanship Of the
Inter-Ocean. He went through th.s
necessary formalities in changing
from one local to the other, but
when he appeared for work in the
Inter-Ocean press room the web
pressmen refused to recognize his
card. President Berry Immediately
ordered Rogers to assume lis duties
as foreman, which he did, and there
upon the other pressmen walked out.
President Berry, having been warned
that such action would follow, had
prepared for it, and no sooner had
the pressmen walked out than he
had men there to take their places.
The web pressmen on the other daily
papers struck the next day, but Pres
ident Berry was ready for them. He
gave it out that a pressman's card
was good in any union office, ana
when union pressmen struck in viola.
ton of solemn contract with employ
ers and to keep out of recognizing
legally issued cards, he proposed to
take stand that would convince the
public that the International Printing
Pressmen and Assistants Union, was
not in favor Of upholding such action.
well stand by our contract If it dis
rupts a dozen locals" said President
Berry in effect.
This square action on Berry's part
will go a long ways towards COM
manding the respect Of employers
everywhere, and it will make the or
ganization stronger ana better ia
every way.
Denver is out after the next con-
vention and has the proper commit
tees at work framing up the cam
paign.
The wageworker., 1910-04-29
THE BoILERMAkERs.
"Scabs" Continue to Desert and Play
Horse With the Burlington.

If the Burlington management ex-
pected the striking Boilermakers to
weaken after fortnight of idleness,
then the Burlington management
guessed wrong. The Boilermakers
are standing as firm as rock, and
to date there has not been deser-
ton from the rangs. The pickets arc
constantly on duty, and as result
of their activity the Burlington brass
collars" find difficulty in shipping in
the "scabs" as fast as the union pick
cts influence them to desert. Fewer
than 14O Boilermakers went on strike
at Havelock, yet to date the Burling-
ton has shipped in more than 300
"scabs," and today has fewer than a
hundred in the shops. And OF that
hundred all but half-dozen are mere
Jokes as boilermakers. The average
"scab" knows as much about boiler
making as the average union boiler
makers knows about repairing
watches.
Last week Mayor Hinkle was in
duced to swear in a lot Of men as dep
uty marshalls, the men being selec.-
ed by the Burlington management. A
few hours later Mayor Hinkle was
shown that most of these special
policemen were non-residents and he
Immediately revoked their commits
sion. Yet it is a well known fact
that non-residents have been import.
ed for police duty in open violation
The wageworker., 1910-04-29
PERSONAL.

Mr.. and Mrs. o. c. Jones went to
Beatrice the first Of the week anu
spent several days visiting with
friends.
Mr.. and Mrs. w. j. Swihart and
daughter, Florence, of Fremont. were
the guests of relatives in Lincoln last
week. :
The wageworker., 1910-04-29

The Socialists will hold their usual
propaganda meeting at A. o. U. W..
hall, 1907 o St, next Sunday after
oonn at o'clock. Clyde J. Wright
will lecture on Industrial Concen-
tration." The usual musical program
will be rendered by Prof. Franta ana
Miss Smith. The public is invited.
The wageworker., 1910-04-29

Three strikes on in Lincoln, yet
there is no disorder, no rfoting, no
loud talk-nothing to disturb the
peaceful serenity Of the community.
Yet there is plenty of provocation. I'm
man of peace, and I deprecate trou-
The wageworker., 1910-04-29
BILLY MAJORS DOPE

ship in a trade union. You will find
more genuine nberality, more broad
mindedness, in a bunch of union men
than you can find in any other bunch
of men of equal size. 1 want to prove
my assertion by the action of the
Central Labor Union last Friday
night. BY unanimous vote the dels-
gates to that body adopted resolutions
commendatory of Rev. Mr.. Batter,
and assuring him of the friendship of
the members of that body. Yet upon
the floor of that meeting were men
who have been deprived of work by
reason of a crusade led by that SAFE
reverend gentleman. One of them is
a member of the Bartenders' Union.
Others are cigarmakers, whose en-
ployment has been curtafled in q
measure by the closing of the saloons.
Others differ radically from Rev. Mr..
Batten on some things. Yet these
men admire him for his courage, for
his willingness to talk for unionism,
for his willingness to help working.
men and working women whenever
he can. They laid aside their per-
sonal differences and paid deserved
tribute to a ministerial friend who
never hesitated to oppose them when
he thought they were in the wrong.
l insist that in adopting that Battsn
resolution unanimously the Lincoln
Central Labor Union made some
mighty good union history.
Five cents dozen for sewing the
buttons on the negligee shirts that
men wear! How's that for wages
20, that's not so bad-nearly half.
cent apiece for sewing on those III.
tie buttons" Wait a minute! No,
Ave cents dozen buttons, but five
cents a dozen shirts-four buttons to
the shirt. forty-eight buttons for a
nickel.
That's the wage paid button girls in
a shirt factory not seven million
miles from Thirteenth and o streets,
in the beautiful city of Lincoln. Nine
buttons sewed on for penny! And
the girls have to fold the shirts back
after they have sewed the buttons
on.
Some of these days I'm going to
present lot of facts to the ministers
of this city and then watch and see
if they can take their minds off OF
some things future and fasten them
on some things present for little
while. A year or so ago the Lincoln
Woman's Club listened to a series ot
lectures on "the art of caring for
Oriental rugs" Maybe that splendid
organization will condescend, some OF
these days, to give some attention to
the conservation and protection Of
girls who sew on shirt buttons at the
rate of forty-eight buttons for a
nickel. OF course Oriental rugs cos;
money, and girls are cheap-bu,
really we ought to begin thinking a
little bit more about the girls. This
country will need 'em- some of these
days.
The wageworker., 1910-04-29

The longer l association with union
men the prouder l am of my member.
The wageworker., 1910-04-29

We've got "art associations, -"
"civic societies." music societies"
and other societies of that class, to
burn, and we are always boasting
about our "culchaw" and refinement.
don't you know. But our park sys.
tenn is joke, our boulevards arc
seas Of mud when they are not hub.
deep in dust, and our street lighting
system Is archaic. The men who
ought to be taking the lead in remed.
ing these things are so busy at the
task Of splitting hairs Internally fine
and painting the continuity of sun
beams that they have no time for
anything really worth while to the
public at large. Mayor Love proposes
a city commission made up of men
who shall serve without pay, serving
because they are public-spirited. o.
tempore! O, mores! Judging the "
ture by the past, IL we are going to
put Lincoln into the hands Of such
men I want, when the thing is accom-
plished, to get a concession for balins
the hay 1 can cut from the city
streets.
The wageworker., 1910-04-29

Elsewhere in this issue appears a
story from Hampton's Magazine con.
cerning Clarence o. Pratt, well known
among the unionists of Lincoln, and
especially the street railway men. L.
is such a clever and fair story OF
Pratt that I know you'll enjoy it. And
hope a lot of anti-unionists will
read it and change their minds about
this "agitator." I'm going to ask the
publisher to send marked copies to
nv good friends. President Sharp and
Manager Humpe of the Lincoln Trac-
ton Company.
The wageworker., 1910-04-29

What's all this fuss about the Trac-
tion Co. paying the members of its
executive board $3.50 a month each.
I dislike hearing any union man kick
ing about it, for we union men ought
to be the loudest shouters for high
wages. Let's admit that the exec,,-
tive committeeman are worth the
$3.50 a month, and then insist that
simple justice demands that the mot
ormen and conductors are entitled to
at least rs cents an hour.
BILLY MAJOR.
The wageworker., 1910-04-29

The Parson, the Labor Official AMI
the Undersigned. went fishing last
Tuesday. and the three of us held
session from "a" to 81" on the labor
movement. the churcn-at-w0rk and
the politicians. l don't propose to
have it said that the Apostle Peter
was the only man that over told the
truth about his fishing trip, SO I'll
admit right here that the Parson, the
Labor Official and the Undersigned
didn't catch enough fish; to feed a
multitude, but we did have a bully
time. Maybe I'll tell you more about
it next week.
The wageworker., 1910-04-29
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, APRIL n

BILE, but I'll be darned if I have ever
been able to convince myself that It
is wrong to swat despicable strike
breaker over the head with a cobble-
stone-morally wrong, mean. I can
forgive the man who calls me a hard
name. 1 can forgive man who beats
me out of my hard-earned money.
can make allowances for the man
who lies about me. But I can't for
give the man who "scabs" on me
when I am striving to better my con-
dition and the condition Of those de-
pendent upon me. There may be men
lower in the social scale than the
strikebreaker, but I thank God w,
never met 'em.
The wageworker., 1910-04-29

or course there are those who are
knocking" on the suggestion that
the city buy Lincoln Park and add it
to the city park system. 1t com es
from two classes-the class that has
grown wealthy by the increase OF
real estate brought about by the labor
and sacrifices of others, and the class
that can always smell graft" II
every proposition calculated to ad-
vance public interests. 1 don't know
who owns Lincoln Park-and 1 don't
care a continental. If the city can
buy it at reasonable figure, 1t ought
to buy 1t. II knew the men respon
s!ble for blocking the effort to secure
Peck's Grove for park purposes I'd
take especial delight in grilling them
every week. They were guilty of lit
tie less than a crime against the citi
zenship of Lincoln.
The wageworker., 1910-04-29

presume some of these aesthetic
ladies and gentlemen would raise u
howl II somebody proposed to b':i!l
welcome arch" across q street, like
Denver has at her Union depot ana
like Omaha has at Eighteenth and
Farnam. Some months ago l read q
kick" in one Of our daily newspapers
on the fact that women going along
some of our business streets could
look into barber shop windows and
actually see men with lather all ovec
their faces. BY thunder, I'm expect.
ing every day to see an ordinance ell
acted prohibiting US working gents
from walking along the streets in
our shirt sleeves.
The wageworker., 1910-04-29

The First National Bank is about
to begin the erection of quarter OF
a million dollar building at the co.,
,ner of Tenth and o. Pending the
completion of the building the bank
will be located on South Eleventh.
Its president, s. H. Burnham, asked
permission of the city authorities to
put out a sign showing the temporary
location. Permission was refused
The refusal was based on an ordi-
nance enacted for the purpose of stop
ping some grave abuses, but I'm
blessed il can see the sense in max
ing it so almighty iron clad. The
attitude of some people in this town
reminds me of a story.
When Phillip d. Armour built
and endowed the Armour Institute in
Chicago he put at the head of it one
OF the greatest educators in this or
any other country, DR.. Frank w. Gun
saulus. One day DR.. Gunsaulus went to
Armour and outlined at great length
plan for enlarging the work of the
institute. Armour listened without
saying a word, and finally Gunsalus
finished by saying:
I'm afraid, Mr.. Armour. you think
I go around with my bead in tho
Clouds"
mo, I don't think that Doc" said
Armour, "but I do think you &,
around a lot with your feet ID
long ways from the ground"
have come to the conclusion that
there are a lot of civic leaders in
Lincoln trying to enforce their way
Of doing things and their ideas Of
how things ought to be done, WHO
are going around with their feet i
. id long ways from the ground.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-13


put II there Why, the snow plOws Of
the railroads open up traffic for
wagons, too All Of the suburban traf-
fic follows the car tracks"
one Of the most seriously hurt Of the
ice victims now n the city's hospitals
Is Judge +. G. billiard, a prominent
Chicago railway lawyer. He is al
Providence, where he Is being treated
for a compound fracture Of the leg re-
ceived last Saturday. The judge was
leaving the Willard Hotel when he slip
ped and fell.
Anton Miller, Of New York, wso is
seventy-fOuT wears old. is thought 10
be in a serious condition By reason Of
q fracture of the collar bone, which
because OF his advanced age may prove
troublesome Mr.. Miller Is al Emer-
FeIcy Hospital
AT that institution IS also William II.
Stephens. Of III 3 street southeast He
Is suffering from a fracture Of the hip
The break occurred so far Up that the
physicians fear complications may set
IN while the fracture is healing
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-13
Passengers Saved;
Olympia Total Loss

VALDEZ. Alaska. Dec. 13.-AH the
passengers and c-ew Of the Alaskan
Steamship Company's vessel Olympia
have been rescued. but there Is no
hope today Of saving the vessel.
which lies on a reef on Bligh island.
Prince William sound. The cargo
will be total loss. as the vessel has
a big hole IL her hull. and at last re-
ports was rapidly breaking Up-
The passengers and most Of the crew
have been brought here, several mem
bers of the crew remaining on board
the vessel waiting for her 70 break
up. Several tugs are standing BY,
ready TO take of the sailors.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-13
WORK. OF CLEANING
STREETS STOPPED
Depletion of Funds and
Lack of Laborers Given
as Reason.
Continued from First Page.)

generous TO the District to the extent CT
allowing $4,000
Including a new machinery equip
ment. this appropriation was used only
10 the extent OF S5.S26. the machinery
having approximately cost the District
5000.
Learning OF this. Congress ordered re-
turned to the Treasury the entire sur
plus at the end of that year, which
amounted TO nearly $4,000 They then,
on the basis OF expenditure. fixed the
present appropriation at SI0.O00 despite
the wish of the District officials TO re-
tain the residue Of the $4,000 and use il
until il was depleted
At the time the $1,000 appropriation
was made, which is the ono under
which Superintendent Wood. OF the
Street C,aaning Department, IS now
working, Henry L West. then the Com
missioner under whom this branch Of
the District government fell, appeared
before the Committee on ApprOpria-
tons
Too Economical.
At this time, Senator GalIingsr, who
was largely Instrumental in advocating
the passage OF the previous appropria-
ton Of $500 told him that had the
District been less economical. they
could have hoped for more consideration
at the hands Of the committee.
The amount expended from the pres
ent appropriation has been varfoUsly
estimated at~frOm $3.50 TO $500 and
besides a shortage Of funds, Superin-
tendent Wood urges as a reason for
the unsightly and dangerous rendition
Of the streets, his inability to obtain
Isborers willing TO stand IN the snow
throughout the day for a wage Of s1.5Q
At the present time he has but 80 OF
these extra men at work where 1.O00
at least are needed.
A canvass of the hospital bIotters for
the past week shows an injury roll Of
twenty-five persons due to the slippery
condition Of the pavements- Of these.
several have sustained serious injuries
and az least I'VE Of them A. Stin Ia
the hospital superintendent Wood to-
day said that during the hold Of the ice,
pedestrians themselves should be care
his department could do nothing more
while the cold held the ice fast TO the
paVements-
Under such conditions as these" he
said, the force at my command is woe
fully inadequate"
Car Companies Part
Superintendent Wood. however. does
not look 70 the street car companies
for any aid IN removing the unsightIy
Ice hummOcks from where they paraIIsl
the railroad rights OF way n fact.
the superintendent thinks the car com
panies in running their expensive snow
plOws over their tracks, are doing
enough.
1T costs the comp mics a lot Of
money" said Nj Wood, when asked
his opinion on the suggestion that the
car companies care for their own rights
Of way. then you know the
car companies VIII do anything to serve
the public first, and in cleaning their
tracks they make possible the running
Of cars You know the snow is sent
by the lord The car companies don't