Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-02-19
MINERS MAKE PLANS
Entertainment Committee for Con.
vention Has Nearly Finished.
ICE HAULERS LACKED ORGANIZATION
Otherwise They Might Have Won
Their strike-F. p. Bear for Re-
election as National President OF
Clerks Union.

election as National President OF
Clerks Union.
1.-THE matter published in this col
umn is furnished by the officers of the
Federation of Labor.]
The joint committee on entertain
ment of the delegates to the miners
convention, which meets in this city
next Thursday, has about completed
the work, with the exception of max
ing final plans for reception commit
tees, etc, and closing up the little de-
tails. The committee will meet Sun
day afternoon at Labor hall, after
which the program will be made pub
lie.
Team Drivers Union.
The recent strike of ice-haulers en-
ployed by Baker Bros. shows the ne
cessity of all teamsters becoming
members of the Team Drivers union.
The men who went on the strike were
not union men and no blame can be
attached to the Team Drivers union
for the impulsive action of a few men
who probably showed more selishness
than good judgment. Were all team
drivers of this city members of the I'M
ion, there would be no necessity for
strike, as an agreement would be
reached long before the ice harvesting
season began, between the teamsters
and the ice packers. AS it was in this
case, it is so in similar cases, the. men
who impulsively strike without con-
sideration and lacking organization,
have lost before they enter into con-
troversy of this kind.
The purpose of unions is to bring
about agreements and understandings
| between employers and employees,
sary and peaceful and amicable set
reached. 1t is the purpose of the UNI
ions to avoid strikes and substitute
arbitration for them.
Bartenders' League.
The bartenders, in conjunction with
the Foresters of America and the An
cient Order of Hibernians, will give a
benefit ball Tuesday, February 10, the
proceeds of which will be used for the
benefit of the family of the late Mich
ael O'Connor, whose death occurred
recently. The dance will be held at
the Armory hall and music will be
furnished by Schwabkey's Union or.
chestra.
Trades and Labor Assembly.
A very lengthy and enthusiastic
meeting of the Trades and Labor As
sembly was held at Labor hall last
Wednesday evening. Among other
instructions to the labor committee to
form resolutions mapping out the cam
i paign for organized labor in the com
ing city election. The committee will
meet Sunday afternoon and prepare
! the platform.
The Clerks Union.
The candidates for delegates to the
annual convention of the Retail Clerks
i Protective association which will be
held in Buffalo in July, are hustling
for votes. There is large number of
A candidates from which three delegates
will be selected. President F. P. Baer
is candidate for reelection as head
of the National organization, and OF
Itumwa delegates will go instructed to
use every honorable means to secure
his reelection. He has the endorsement
of majority of clerks organizations
in the west, and also the support of all
other labor organizations and it is the
earnest desire of all to see him re-
elected. Since ne became president
by both the ardent work of himself
!. and Max Morris, general secretary and
treasurer, there have been nearly 15C
additional local unions, and this alone
should insure Mr.. Baer's reelection.
Gompers on High Dues.
President Gompers is the author OF
many excellent articles, but we ven
. ture to say that he never wrote tru
er and more opportune bit of logica
advice than the following, which is
taken from his report to the twentieth
annual convention of the A. F. of L.
every national international and
local union should make provision fol
and payment of sufficient weekly o.
monthly dues, preferably weekly. 81
that it's treasury may sustain its mem
bers in cases of strikes and lockouts
J pay death benefits, funeral benefits
disability benefits, out-of-work bene
fits for the unemployed members, ant
such other benefits as may special,
apply to the trade or calling. 1t is al
: incontestable fact that those unions
which have established these feature
: have grown most steadily, and hav,
: suffered least from losses in member
: ship.
!. This question of high dues, iarg
. . treasureries in the unions, and bene
! fits to the members, is one which. al
! tho it has made considerable progress
is not generally understood or intro
: duced; and it is. Therefore. urged upo
: all organized labor to take this matte
= under advisement, in order to max
= provisions on the lines indicated
! There is no factor as largely contribr
!. tory to the progress and advanvemen
!. of the labor movement. the protectio
} and promotion of the interests of tn
!. workers, and the incubation of tn
I principle of fraternal unity, as thes
features in the trade union NOV
ment."
Old Soldiers Experience.
n M M. Austin, civil war veteran