Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-28

fails to escape the observation of the
average labor veteran is the enthusi-
assn displayed at the institution of a
labor organization, the enthusiasm
with which a strike is declared, the
enthusiasm with which it is fought
for while, and then the lack of en-
thusiasm that brings it to a speedy
end
If defeat and disaster have to be
faced instead of victory, then the men
who were loudest in shouting for has
ty action, the men who were continu-
ally asking the more conservative,
What have we Joined this union for?"
are usually the first to allow their en-
thusiasm to wane, the first to declare
the organization no good and the first
to forget their obligation and desert
their comrades.
No one can successfully contradict
the truth of these statements.
Soldiers in war, when they encoun-
ter defeat, will strive to retrieve their
lost prestige by rallying and making
another effort. In SO doing they place
their lives in jeopardy, as well !. as
their honor, but in the Industrial war
fare for bread and butter, where no
lives are at stake, too many men seem
to be absolutely destitute of honor.
If there ever was a time when men
should be true to their organization it
is after their union has encountered
defeat. Then is the time that man
shows himself in his true colors and
demonstrates whether his unionism is
of the real kind or simply a feeble i'm.
itation.
Painters Union.
The painters will meet in regular
session Friday evening. The officers
desire the attendance of every mem.
Der on account of the instructions to
be sent with delegate Jones to the
convention of the Brotherhood of
Painters, Decorators and Paper Hang.
December 1. The painters organiza
ton is in the best financial condition
it has been since its existence and is
able to weather almost any storm.
Bartenders.
The Bartenders' league is progress
ing rapidly and will at its next regular
meeting take into it's folds every elig
ible bartender in the city.
Stone Cutters.
The local stone cutters union has
decided to join the Building Trades
council and are pushing matters right
along for that organization.
Don'ts for Union Members.
Don't say that you cannot go tt
your union meeting, as you have an
other engagement. You should have
no engagement that will hinder yor
meeting with your organization.
| Don't give as reason for falling be
hind with your dues that your frater
nal society takes all your spare cash
Were it not for the union the chances
are you would have no spare cash tt
pay into fraternal society.
4 Don't go back on your union because
you believe it is run by clique.
you and others like you do not inter
est yourselves in it, then all the more
honor to the Clique for running it.
Don't find fault because some crafts
man who is obnoxious to you has beer
admitted to membership. If a man i.
good enough to be a shopmate, ht
should be good enough to be fellow
unionist. :,
Don't unjustly criticise your loca
officers because they do not come vi
to your standard of excellence. The.
are workingmen and not angels, ant
all that can reasonably be expected o
them is that they do the est they can
Don't kick when yon do attend ;
meeting, unless there. is a cause TO
kicking, and you know what you ar,
kicking about. The members presen
may see through you and look upol
you with contempt.
Don't say the union has outlived it
usefulness if it ever had any. Thi
will be taken as evidence that you
usefulness has not yet begun.
Be man, tolerant, just, honest. You
may then become one of the most al
dent and useful champions of all TO
which the great trades union move
| ment stands.
coxey VS.. Steel Trust.
! Jacob G. Coxey. who headed al
army of unemployed men in thei
march to Washington few years age
has thrown down the gauntlet to tn
great steel trust. He recently sent
letter to Chicago announcing that e.
cry steel worker who had been black
! llotCu ny tliC+ s1tCSi VI ioL LILO pal
in the recent strike would be given tn
right hand of fellowship and job b
applying at Gen. CoXey's new stee
plant at Mount Vernon, Ohio.
Union Label Decorations.
Orders for the union label of tn
National Building Trades Council G
America were recently received fror
i the councils of Knoxville, Tenn, an
4 Cincinnati, Ohio. These labels wi
be placed on buildings erected excl,
sively by mechanics in possession 9
the working card issued from tn
\ National Building Trades Council b
4 the local councils of the cities named
Baker Has Disappeared.
/ w. H. Baker, who came here, prc
sumably from Des Moines, fel
weeks ago, and established a pant;