Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-15
oBLENEss is ELECTED PRESIDENT
Trades Assemblies of Council BLUFFS
and Burlington Are Censured-Ot.
tumwa Men Prominent I'm tho
Convention-Resolu

missioner, was elected president, and
j. S. Nagle, of Dubuque, secretary
treasurer. Sioux City was selected as
the place for holding the next annual
convention. Severe censure was passed
by resolution upon the Burlington
and Council Bluffs organizations for
their action in opposing the Titus con-
tract labor bill, and minority report
of the grievance committee, favoring
the expulsion Of these bodies was vot-
ed, down.
There was spirited fight in the
convention in the closing hours over
the selection of the place for holding
the next convention, and over the Of
ficers. Sioux City, Cedar Rapids and
Muscatine were in nomination foN
next years meeting. After the first
ballot Muscatine withdrew, and Sioux
City won, with few votes to spare.
The contest over the presidency was
quite interesting for time. A. Z.
Urick, of Des Moines, who was promi-
nently mentioned the opening day Of
the convention, declined to run. O. p.
Beebe, of Sioux City, the retiring
president, withdrew. j. F. Byrne, OF
Ottumwa, also withdrew from the
race, and the contest narrowed down
to Mr.. o'Bleness and E. Perry, OF Os-
kaloosa. Mr.. O'Bleness was elected on
the first ballot. The secretary-treas-
urer, Mr.. Nagle, was reelected by ac-
clamatiop. IL 1
The following is the complete list
of the new officers:
". E. O'Bleness, of Des sloines,
president; L. NJ Jaeger, Burlington,
vice president; j. S. Nagle, Dubuque,
secretary treasurer; ". T. Stafford,
Sioux City, historian; Arthur e. Hold
er, Sioux City, delegate to the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor. gs Atssci
Legislative committee-A. L. Urick,
Frank Craig and John j. jacobson, Of
Des Moines.
Executive board-N. P. Collins, Des
Moines; c. S. Smith, Ottumwa; G. II.
Breckon, Muscatine; I. H. Collins, Os-
kaloosa; c. Evans, Cedar Rapids; John
Poster, Abba; Guy Harbaugh, Burling-
ton.
Before adjournment last night the
newly elected officers were installed.
Mr.. Beebe, the retiring president, in
a graceful speech, thanked the feder-
alton for the courtesies extended him,
and called his successor to the chair.
O'Bleness expressed his high appre-
citation of the honor conferred upon
him. On motion of Charles L. Brock
on, of Muscatine, vote of thanks
was rendered to Mr.. Beebe.
Revised Constitution.
/ The final report of the committee
lon law and constitution, of which
Charles 4. Breckon, of Muscatine was
chairman, was made and the revised
pconstitution was adopted. Some inn
portant changes were made. The
president of the federation is made
organizer for the state. He is to
serve as organizer to the extent of the
organizations ability to pay and is
to receive while acting as organizer So
per day and expenses.
TheJper capita assessment is fixed at
s cents, double what it was before.
The per capita is doubled 10
enable the federation to employ
the president as organizer to
a greater extent than hereto
fore. An organizer from the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, paid by that
body, will be brought to Iowa if pos
sible. Otherwise the state federation
will make stronger efforts than ever be-
fore TO push forward the work Of or
ganization effectively.
The executive board is limited to
seven members in the new constitu-
ton.
Changes We're made in reference to
representation at the state convention,
affecting mainly the miners unions.
Each central body or state body is al
lowed three delegates-at-large Bodies
affiliated with them are allowed one
delegate for every 100 members. The
miners of the state under this arrange
ment are entitled to about siNty-tiye
delegates.
The salary of the secretary in the
new constitution is raised to 500. Adj
ditional duties are imposed on him.
He is required to send out quarterly
to each union connected with the fed
GRAFTON, complete statistical report,
along with notices as to dues, and 9TH
err notices.
Resolutions Adopted.
A long list of resolutions We're
VIE VI lHc lHOSl
requested Samuel Gompers, president
of the American Federation of Labor,
to appoint national organizer for
Iowa for twelve months. w. E. O'Blen-
ess was recommended. The resolution,
introduced by Charles L. Breckon. of
Muscatine, and c. Evans, of Cedar Rap
ids, favoring open mass meetings at
which the organizer of the American
Federation of Labor and the local or
GAMERS exchange services, was adop-
ted.
The resolution of Charles A. Gustav
son, of Ottumwa, against sweat shop
clothing, was adopted. Another was
J in favor of putting the minimum age
of children employed in mines or else
where at IA years. AT present the
minimum age of children employed in
| mines is fixed at 12.
W. G. I. Smith, of Sioux City, and
M. Cunningham, of Ortumwa, secured
the adoption of the resolution de
nouncing the Clark law in connection
with the mulct law, and directing the
Legislative committee to draft meas
lure for its repsal. The Clark law is
iahe original prohibitory law, and is