Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-10-18
A DISTRICT MEETING.
Plans of Organized Labor for the
Coming Year.
ORGANIZED LABOR and POLITICS.
Union Men Warned Against AffiIiat.
ing Their Organizations With Poll.
tics-BeIieve 1t Would Be Detri-
mental to the Former.

1.-THE matter published in this col
umn is furnished by the officers of the
Federation of Labor
The concensus of opinion as ex-
pressed by majority of the organiza-
tons in this section of the state, is
! that the executive board of the state
federation of labor should take action
IN the matter of locating the next con-
Ventlon at more central
point than Sioux City There is a
fear entertained by many that it will
be impossible to hold large conven.
tion-one that will truly represent all
labor organizations of the state. on
account of the enormous expense at
tached to sending the delegates such
a distance.
1sed to defray hotel expenses and rail.
road fare one way for all those COM
ing distance over two hundred miles
Ii this is carried out it might relieve
the situation, yet little energy on
the part of those who have charge of
affairs and with information from the
officers of the federation to the vari-
GUS locals, would, no doubt, bring
about the understanding necessary
for holding large convention, next
May.
Planning a Big Event.
1t was decided at meeting of the
trades and labor assembly, immedi-
ately after the street carnival this
fall, that, as a body. the assembly
would not participate in any more
carnivals or street fairs, but, will,
hereafter, celebrate the regular labor
day the first Monday in September as
separate and distinct holiday. Fur
ermore it was decided to hold a nam
moth labor day celebration in Ottum-
wa next year, and make it sixth dis
trict event. A committee, at future
meeting of the assembly, will issue in
vitations to adjacent cities and min
ing camps in the sixth congressional
district, asking them to participate.
1t is the intention to begin laying
plans about January /, 1901, for the
event the coming fall. Already ma,
jority of the union men adjacent to
this city have expressed desire that
such celebration be held here, and
there is no doubt but what the plans
will be carried to o successful ending
The Team Drivers.
The scale for the team drivers has
been adopted and endorsed by the
trades and labor assembly The driv
ers have been fairly successful in
having the scale signed. One r. rct
ing has been held with the mine ope
rators which ended very harmonious
ly and another meeting win be held
Friday night, October 10, at Labor
hall, to which all operators are espe
ciany invited.
| The BottIers.
| President Jones of the Bottlers
union, requests the attendance of all
members at meeting to be held at
LABOR hall, Sunday afternoon, at 2: &c
| o'clock
Politics and Unonism.
AS word of warning to union men
care should be taken TO keep politics
outside the confines of their organi
cation. Let every man vote as his
conscience dictates, but do not try to
force upon others of your craft 81
your own organizations your poitica
views. And, remember, that while :
political campaign extends over a pc
riod of three short monlns, that the
campaign of unionism is continuous.
Experience has taught that union
ism has accomplished more for thu
toiler in a few short years than has
peen gained thru politics in half {
century. Therefore, suck to you
union and vote as you please. The
day after election the excitement will
all be over and once more you vii
have to settle down to the usual rou
me of life and depend on your unio1
for whatever is accomplished for you
benefit.
Politicians as rule, when the,
seek to pledge the support of organic
ed labor, either in part or in whole
have an individual ak to grind, anc
after they have accomplished theil
selfish desire the union i.
cast aside, having, in reali
j ty, suffered from its associa
ton with a pretended friend. Main
tain organized labor where it stand,
today, separate and distinct from an,
political or party affiliations, and b,
thus doing you not only retain tn,
sympathy of the public in general .bu
you are at liberty to do as surround
ings necessitate and are not bound b,
any party or creed.
There is but one hope for the toile
to be benefitted-that is by the hell
of the trades unions.
| CLEVER WIRE TAPPING.