Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-23
in LABOR REALMS.
Circular In Behalf of Employees on
Colorado and Southern.
MUST ATTEND 7. & l. ASSEMBLY
Csei Operators setsa Good Example
Organized Labor in Iowa-Gen.
aral Labor News Note.
of Interest

from Fridays Daily.]
The matter published in this col
umn is prepared by the officers of the
Federation of Labor.]
That troubles never come singiy is
again manifested in the dl1ticulty
which has sprung up between the
Colorado and Southern, line that
runs in northwesterly direction from
Fort Worth, Tex, to Fort Collins, Col,
and the telegraphers on the line. Be-
sides the fraternal interest which oper-
ates in this ard adjoining cities will
have in the case, added interest is
evolved from the fact that President
Powell has sent to each coupon ticket
agent, including those in Ottumwa, a
circular letter in which the agents are
requested to lend assistance to the
fight which is now being carried on.
Tn this letter is set forth the cause.
& of the trouble 1t is stated that when
the road was placed in the hands of
receivers the difficulty originated. One
of the first things done by the new
i management was to practically make
horizontal reduction in the salaries
OF the station employees, and in addi-
ton thereto, compelled them to per-
form additional services and to work
long hours without extra pay. Under
the circumstances, remonstrance was
useless, and the station employees eth
er locned for other positions or waited
for the turn of the tide in the
fortunes of the Colorado and South
ern railway, hoping that when it
came, they would share in the pros
perity. IS ;
President Powell goes on to say that
the prosperity came in '99, and com
nlittee Of station employees went to
Denver for the purpose Of amelierat-
ing their condition of employment, but
without success. The general super
intendent promised to do things later
on, but he did not keep his word and
st was impossible to secure a meets
ing with the president of the road. A
poll was taken among the operators
and it was decided to strike. Two
paths were open, either to reconyene
the federation or go before the tele--
graph membership and friends and
ask their support. The latter course
4 was chosen. President Powell says in
cohclusion: "Wes trust that it will
be entirely consistent for you, to in a
quiet way, by peaceful and lawful
methods, to influence our friends and
Others to travel and ship their freight
via lines other than those OF the Colo
RADIO and Southern railway. This re-
Guest is made wholly to protect and
benefit our membership. The Denyzr
and Rio Grande railway, Santa .Fe
\ railway, Missouri Pacific railway and
Union Pacifc railway have thus: far
always shown ready disposition to
meet and treat fairly with their sat
ton employees, and there is no rea-
son why the Colorado and Southern
railway should receive any encourage
ment or assistance from our friends,
soElong as it maintains its present att
tIde towards us. The station employ
ess OF this country have the power in
their, own hands to right their wrongs
ina peaceable way. if that power is in
teIligently and Systematically used.
Will you not contribute your influence
to5our organization in its efforts to adj
vance the interests of the station en-
rlpyes on the lines of the Colorado and
Sdnthern railway.