The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-09-04

sons. they could only be taken as an
average showing of the laboring men
of the state, but as such they were
valuable, as they We're made by the
laboring men themselves, and they
showed a great improvement in con-
ditions in 1898 over 1896. In regard
to the present year the commissioner
stated that the reports from the vari-
GUS institutions had not all been re.
ceived as yet, but that nearly all Of
them showed decided increase in the
amount of wages paid and the num-
Der of hands employed. This increase
as compared with the reports in 1899
was from 10 to 40 per cent.
Referring to labor organizations IN
the state, the commissioner called at
tention to the statement made by
former Commissioner O'Bleness, who
is at present the head of the State
Federation of Labor of Iowa. In his
report for 1898 Mr. O'Bleness, who
was at that time commissioner, said:
Iowa Labor Organizations In 1896.
During the extremely hard times
the past few years the labor organs
cations throughout the state suffered
to very great extent, both from a
numerical and financial standpoint.
Some found it necessary to absolute
ly disband, others to curtall expenses
in various ways and to amend their
laws to the existing conditions. The
past year has shown that they have
come out of the fire with almost all
the dross swept away and today are
stronger and better than ever.
"There are more and better organi-
cations in the state now than ever be-
fore. Better judgment and care is be-
ing administered in the laws by
which they are governed. They are
more anxious than ever that all diff
culties shall be settled by any other
means than the strike
In the report for 1896 the following
statement appears:
"About 1880 firms corporations and
individuals have made reports show
ing that they employed only from two
to four hands during the years 1895
and 1896, and about $50 reported hay-
ing failed or quit doing business dur
ing the same period OH account of the
1 hard times
After securing this information the
two babe the commissioner good day
and started to pursue their investiga-
lions in the other departments AS
they We're walking along the hall. John
took a book out of his pocket and said:
"I'ye been looking up this matter Of
the condition of labor in the United
States and have here the statements
made by Samuel Gompers, president OF
| the American Federation of Labor.
who is a Democrat, i'll regard to the
condition of labor in the Democratic
years of the past decade. At the meet
4 ing of the Federation of Labor cons
vention held Dec. IL, 1898, after re-
ferring to the fact that probably fully
three million, working men were out
Unemployment in the United States,
Mr.. Gompers said:
What President Gompers Said.
"'Never in the history of the world
has SO large number Of people vainly
sought for an opportunity to earn
livelihood and contribute to the sup
port OF their fellows. In a society
where such abnormal conditions pre-
vail there must of necessity be some
thing wrong at the basic foundation
| ION Jan. 1, 1898, Mr.. Gompers said
in signed article published in New
York:
That terrible period for the wage
earners of this country which began
in 1893 and which has left behind it
such a record of horror, hunger and
misery, practically ended with the
dawn of the year 1897. Wages had
been steadily forced down from 1898
till toward the end of 1895 and it was
variously estimated that between two
million and two and half million
wage-earners Were unemployed
"Dec. II, 1899 at the meeting of the
American Federation of Labor at De-
troit, President Gompers had this to
| say in regard to the continual i'm
provement of the conditions of the In
boring men:
The revival of industry which we
have witnessed within the past year
is one for general congratulation, and
it should be our purpose to endeavoj
to prolong this era of more genera
employment and industrial activity
In this effort no power is so potent d
organized labor, if we but follow
right and practical course 1t is d
yond question that the wages of ii
organized workers have been increas
and in many instances the hours
labor either reduced or maintained
More than this" added John, q
reports of the various labor organl
! tons show great increase in lnemt
and prosperity. The enrolment of
American Federation of Labor on
| /, 1900, was 100000 and since
time there have been 3O4 1000
members added. Last year the
| in membership was C9S 00S