Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-05-07

tFrom fridays ,Daily.l
From information received from the
headquarters of the strikers in the b.,
c. R. & N. shops at Cedar Rapids,
great hopes are entertained that when
the board of directors of the railroad
meets this week a final and satisfac-
tory settlement will be made and all
the men will return to work. The
shops are practically tied up and the
strikers are standing firm. 1t is hop
ed that the company will consider the
appeals of the business men and UNI
ions of Cedar Rapids and make a final
settlement with the strikers
The Electrical Workers.
! The Electrical Workers met in reg
!, ular session last Wednesday evening
and transacted important business to-
{ ward the adoption of constitution and
= bylaws and otherwise perfecting their
organization.
q The Two Conventions at Sioux City.
The convention of the asPrinting
Trades association and of the Iowa
State Federation of Labor will meet
in Sioux City next Tuesday and We'd
City are all prepared to receive the
delegates and have prepared elaborate
entertainment for 10th conventions.
There is at present no candidates for
the officers of the State, Federation of
Labor, and it is the general sentiment
of the unions throughout the state not
to pledge themselves to support any
set of candidates, but rather let the
en- cal cot hn for no
ecntive positions, men who will do the
greatest good for the unions of the
state. The conventions will be largely
attended.
o. The Butchers.
Official notice is at hand from the
headquarters of the Amalgamated
Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen
that the trouble which has existed be-
tween Swift & Co.. packers, and or
ganized labor, has been satisfactorily
adjusted and the said firm is now up
on the fair list.
Why Is It?
Why is it that so many members of
unions fail to buy union-labeled goods
Is it carelessness, or shame of being
known as union man? Or is it be-
cause few cents or few dollars may
be saved, that union men 3 purchase
non-union products? In either case
the same is sufficient to bring the blush
of shame. And 1t not alone the luke
warm members who take little active
part in the union that transgresSes in
this regard. 1t must be admitted that
! it is usually the active, leading mem
Der of union that is elected as dele.
/ gate to the central body, the state
branch or the national convention. Yet
is has been found necessary for these
bodies to resolve against seating dele
gates who are clothed in non-labeled
and, therefore, non-union clothing.
Can anything be imagined that is
more disappointing, disheartening dis
gushing, than the sight of t"leader'
advocating the union label OF, his own
trade, while he wears non-labeled
clothing, uses non-labeled tobacco
rides non-labeled bicycle, or drinks
non-union beer?
When man presumes to accept q
representative position in trade I'm
ion, he should have the wisdom -o
realizing that he ought at least to be
consistent. If his union has label
or card, or stamp, or button that he
desires other people to patronize, he
ought to have sense enough to know
that if he would be effective he should
patronize those things himself. If {
man would be successful as a teacher
he must abide by the doctrines he ex
{ pounds.
1t is not sufficient that man should
possess a card that is lin date" to en-
title him to the confidence and respec
of others. A union card simply testi
fies to mans business instinct. l
is certificate that he has his owl
personal interests at heart and tina
he is willing to pay certain sum t.
his union for benefits that usually ia
exceed the amount. 1t doesn't follow
that he is any better than the ordi