Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-08-20

THE matter published in this col.
umn is furnished by the officers of tie
Federation of Labor
[From Fridays Daiiy.l
Elaborate preparations are now be-
ing made for the greatest labor day
celebration ever held in Ottumwa. The
committees are all hard at work, and
from reports received from cities ad-
jacent, Ottumwa will have an unusual
ly large number of visitors upon that
day. The greatest difficulty the COM
mittees have to contend with, is the
securing of railroad facilities and
rates, to accommodate those who con,
template celebrating the day in this
city The business men should take
hold of that portion of the work and
if possible secure rates and accommo-
dations. The committee urges each
business man to write personal let
ter to every railroad company enter
ing the city and make a great united
effort to secure better rates.
The celebration will be held at
Manning's Grove, which will be beau
titled in every possible manner and all
arrangements will be made to look af-
ter the comfort of the big crowd which
Will be in attendance.
The industrial parade will take place
at $50 o'clock in the morning, and in
which 43 different and distinct labor
organizations will take part. There
will be at least three bands of music
in the parade, which will be augment
ed by number of handsome floats.
Rev. John O'Farrell, pastor of St. Pat
nil e, in oh no n
principal speaker of the day. Those
who have heard the eloquent words
from the lips of this distinguished
speaker know that the speaking is in
capable hands. 1t is the intention of
the labor organizations to make al
rangements for big basket picnic on
the grounds, and all those contemplate
ing celebrating are invited to make
preparations to spend the entire day
On the grounds.
Entertainment will be provided from
10 o'clock in the morning until 5
o'clock in the evening, and it will all
be of high class. Every man, wom-
an and child in the city can partici-
pate in the celebration and can go
home well pleased with what was done.
Gompers on Labor Day.
President Gompers in the American
Federationist says:
Indications are that throughout the
country Labor Day will be universally
celebrated in one form or another.
Each year adds dignity and impressive
ness and honor to the labor cause The
better we are organized the greater
our opportunity to inform the public
mind as to the wrongs which labor
has endured from time immemorial.
and the rights to which it is entitled.
| This vast and imposing celebration
of Labor Day appeals to all classes of
people. 1t is in truth national holt
day. The spirit in which it is to be
observed this year shows that the
wage workers are full of courage and
hope.
| We are at present confronted by a
number of new conditions; but the
workers are demonstrating that they
are ready to meet them. They are
convinced that their chief hope for
present and future protection of their
rights lies in complete and thorough
organization in. the unions of their
trades and callings, ana the combina-
ton of all under the banner of the
American Federation of Labor.
The Steel Strike.
The many phases of the steel strike
situation as they present themselves
from day to day in the newspaper re-
ports of the struggle between the steel
workers and the steel trust only tell
of the battle and the movements of the
two forces, and do not in any manner
touch the vital points that led up tc
the great conflict that is the daily Cos
sip or all citizens.
The situation as it presents itself
today shows that the iron and stee
workers have held their own and made
considerable Roadway The only pos
, sibility of defeat lies with the mem
, bership of the Amalgamated Associa
/ ton itself The refusal of the Chica
go lodges to enter into the struggle
was cowardly and for the time beinE
| may discourage some, yet the battl,
will be waged on until the final end
AS the entire membership of the labo
organizations of this couptry realiz,
, that it is a battle of life or death will
the Amalgamated Association ant
/. will welcome their appeal for financial
, and moral support all along the line
II
ton of the general public to state tina
i the trusts have as much to lose in thi
! struggle as the Amalgamated Associa
4 ton. Unless an end comes to tn
/ struggle it is a foregone conclusion
i that ,here will be no dividends paid t
q the stockholders of the trust for som
J. years to come. Speaking for the OIL
q ganization and its side of the battle
+ the public must bear in mind that tt
a day the only concerted action that ha
n been actively engaged in combat wit
n the combined capitalists of the worl
+ is the Amalgamated Association {
- iron. steel and tin workers. No othe
4 effort has been made directly or ind
). rectly to stop the entertainments {
i -
8 ~ h0XL, AZ ~