Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-19
LABOR UNION news
The Unions a Factor in Promoting
Good Citizenship. Il
OTTUnWA ORGANIZATIONS PROSPER

Membership is Considerably Increased
Decision of Executive Board in
Case of National Building Trades
Council VS. the Schlitz Brewing Co.
ITEo matter published in this col.
umn is furnished by the officers of tie
/ Federation of Labor.l
From Thursdays Daily.J
Every member of any labor organ
lzation shold make himself so familiar
with the laws, rules and regulations of
his organization, and also with the
secret work of the order that he would
be in position to fill any officers
place with credit in the event of the
enforced absence of any officer of the
lodge. This subject is an important
one as much of the carelessness in at
tending meetings is brought about by
the work not being properly conduct
ed when the chief officer or his sub
ordinates are absent. A surgeon, who,
when the chief is out, is confronted
by the patient upon whom an opera
ton is necessary to be performed at
once to save his life, has no recourse
for delay or subst.tutions. The work
of the surgeon must be promptly and
efficiently rendered. The work of any
officer of any lodge of workmen should
be just as carefully and efficiently per-
formed upon all candidates
The Union Label.
There is no better way to help or.
gained labor everywhere, than by in.
sisting that everything you purchase
bears the union label. Do not be-
lieve the clerk when he tells you that
the goods he offers you are union made
if they do not bear the stamp of the
workers upon them. In the first place
insist that the clerk show you his card
showing that he is union clerk and
in good standing in his union Then
: if he misrepresents by telling you that
his wares are union made when they
do not bear the label, report him to
his union. In getting a shave pat.
ronize union barber shop. You feel
better than to have been scraped by a
butcher who prides himself that he
is independent and does not have to
join the union. If you will insist on
the clerks, BARRIERS, cigarmakers and
all kinds of workmen being members
any and all kinds of goods that do not
bear the label we will not have to lis
ten to the epithets heaped on unions
long, as all employers Ill of themselves
insist on their help being in good
standing in their respective unions.
Short Hours Bring Better Service.
i When the hours of labor are short
ened the workers perform their tasks
more cheerfully and rapidly and with
: more zest and thoroughness. The
i long hours of work are relics Of the
barbarous past. They are unneces
sary for the employers, generally
: speaking, and they are harmful to the
employee and deprive him needlessly
of time which he might better have
to himself. The fellow who has
something to look forward to besides
work is all the better workman be
: cause of that fact.
Unions Make Good Citizens.
Then good wages make good citi
r zens. Trade unions create goo6
wages and as a consequence are doing
more to make good citizens than al
other agencies combined. CheaI
wages breed discomfort, low ordel
of citizenship, vice and immortality. Az
a consequence of the foregoing truisn
: and economic fact no good Christian
| can afford to discourage the organiza
ton of the workers.
Unions and Compulsory Education.
y The compulsory education measure
: is strictly union principle and a:
such is fathered and is advocated b.
Q unionists all over the country. 1t il
I the hope of union people that the com
e ing Iowa legislature will enact sucl
| a bill into law. An effort should b,
1 made all along the line to bring thi
about.
! Bartenders' League.
The bartenders have plan on foo
to give a ball in the near future, thu
e funds from which will be placed il
D, the treasury to be used for the bene
z fit of sick and out-of-work members
/ This organization has within the pas
7 month put forth every effort to union
ize every establishment in the city.
Electrical Workers.
, The Brotherhood of Electrical
/ Workers are expecting quite an in
q crease in their membership on &C
. count of the improvements to be mad
: both by the telephone and street rail
s way companies. They are practicini
!. their new ritual of initiation and here
. after all new members will have t,
take the electrical degree.
: Carpenters Union.
g The Ca. enters union still con
= tinues to p. ogress and is fast gettin
t into position "'ere it will control al
0 who are c1ic.@lo 20 membership in tn
$ city. TIE treasury is in mos
prosperous condition and they are Of
q ficered by bright and intelligent men
! who are actively engaged in the labo
s movement.
. Union of Retail Clerks.
1t seems strange that so man,
= clerks enjoy the benefits of the uniol
y movement, yet still continue to sta
,, without its fold. A few years age
= when the stores in the city, were KEEP
= omen every night until 10 o'clock.