Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-09-05

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 IA
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 organi-
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 curtail 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 1900 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 hav-
ing failed or quit doing business dur
ing the same period on account of the
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 were walking along the hall John |
took a book out of his pocket and said: |
"Ive been looking up this matter of |
the condition of labor in the United |
States and l have here the statements |
made by Samuel GOmpers, president of |
the American Federation of Labor. |
who Is a Democrat. in regard to the
of labor in the Democratic
years of the past decade At the meet |
ing of the Federation of Labor con-
ventiOn held Dec. IL, 1898, after re-
ferring to the fact that probably fully
three million working men were out
Of employment in the United States,
Mr.. Gompers said:
What President Gompers Said.
"'Never in the history of the world
has so large a number of people vainly
sought for an opportunity to earn
livelihood and contribute to the sup
port of their fellows. I'm society
where such abnormal conditions pre-
vail there must of necessity be some.
thing wrong at the basic foundation
'On Jan. 1, 1898, Mr.. Gompers said
m signed article published in New
York:
"'That terrible period for the wage
earners Of this country which began
n 1898, and which has left behind it
such a record of horror, hunger and
misery, practically ended with the
lawn of the year 1897. Wages had
been steadily forced down from 1893
i'll toward the end Of 1895 and it was
estimated that between two
million and two and a half million
vage-earners were unemployed
"Dec. IL, 1899, at the meeting of the
American Federation of Labor at De-
roit, President Gompers had this to
'ay in regard to the continual i'm
)rovement of the conditions of the Ia
boring men:
The revival Of industry which we
lave witnessed within the past year
s one for general congratulation, and
t should be our purpose to endeavor
o prolong this era of more general
and industrial activity.
n this effort no power is so potent as
organized labor, if we but follow a
light and practical course 1t is be-
'Ond question that the wages of the
'rganized workers have been increased
md in many instances the hours of
abor either reduced or maintained
'MlOre than this" added John. "the
eports of the various labor organiza-
ions show great increase in members
md prosperity. The enrolment of the
american Federation of Labor on Jan.
!, 1900, was 1,O04. 900 and since that
ime there have been 100000 new ,
added. Last year the gain
n membership was 225.OOO.
you will admit. father, think that
he figures you have seen prove that ,
he laboring men not only of Iowa, but
f the entire United States are in
much better condition now than in
500, or in any of the Democratic years
hat preceded that year" II
Farmer Brown said the figures
eemed to be convincing. and thus
nded the third lesson.
JULIAN w RICUARDS ,