Omaha daily bee., 1910-10-23
The Interest Of Labor.

Inc interest OF L3DOT.
The Bee has said that it is support
ing Chester H. Aldrich, the republican
nominee for governor, not because he
is in favor of county option, but in
spite of it, because It believes that the
question of liquor regulation is a
purely local question and that Aldrich
as governor would more truly rep
resent all the varied activities Of Me-
braska and give the state a more eff
cient administration than his demo-
cratic opponent, who is merely the
special champion of the liquor people.
Similar considerations should ap-
peal strongly to the wage worker who
earns his livelihood by the sweat of
his brow. Labor is much more con-
cerned in having a man in the gov
ernor's chair for the next two years
who is fair and square and owned by
no corporation or corporate combine,
than In having q governor there tied
tightly with corporation strings, with
his hands free only far enough to veto
a county option bill which is not likely
ever to come to him.
If men are judged by what they do,
rather than by what they say, the rec
ord made by Mr. Aldrich in the state
senate is sufficient guaranty that he is
fair and unprejudiced as between en-
ployer and employe, whether organ
lied labor or unorganized labor. The
legislature in which Mr.. Aldrich par
ticipated enacted, with his help and
vote, measures demanded in vain by
wage-workers year In and year out,
and often promised by the democratic
lawmakers, but never delivered by
them when they had the opportunity
to redeem their promises.
That legislature, with Mr.. Aldrich's
help and vote, removed the $4,000
limit to recovery for death loss under
which widows and orphans of slaugh-
tered mechanics and artisans had long
suffered.
That Legislature, with Mr.. Aldrich's
help and vote, changed the follow
servant law so that manned workmen
could secure compensation for in
juries even when inflicted by the con-
tributory negligence of a fellow en-
ploye.
That legislature, with Mr.. Aldrich's
help and vote, enacted a law forbid
ding common carriers in Nebraska
from employing boys and girls under
age as night telegraph operators or
train dispatchers, putting in needless
jeopardy the lives of trainmen and
, passengers.
That legislature, with Mr.. Aldrich's
help and vote, passed law exempting
from attachment, execution and gar
nishee process the wages of heads of
families to the extent of 80 per cent
of the amount due.
That legislature with Mr.. Aldrioh's
help and vote, enacted a child labor
law prohibiting employment of boys
and girls under Is in any trade or &C.
cupation that would deprive them of
the schooling and education to which
they are entitled.
All of these laws were enacted in
the interest of labor and In response
to a popular demand that had prev
iously been ignored or defied. Would
1t not be good for labor to have a man
like Mr. Aldrich in the governors
chair whose attitude is reflected in
this legislation-a governor who
would be owned by neither labor OF
capital, but would treat both on their
merits, rather than man who
breaches about his love for the work.
ing man while doing the bidding OF
the corporations, who poses as the
friend of organized labor, but when a
strike is on throws them down and
sides in with their corporate EN-.
plOyers?