Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-03-27

AoISu. AlSO, L want 10 say ludl VIII
not tolerate, nor stand by, nor permit
SO far as my powers and opportunities
may afford, that the rights of the weak
est OF our fellow-workers shall be tram
pied upon. There is in our time, If
not harmony of interests-which |
snail not attempt to discuss at this
time, because there is divergence OF
opinion upon that subject-yet GER
tainly community of interests, to the
| end that industrial peace shall be
maintained. | will not JONI have
not joined-in that hue and cry against
is matter Of economy and develop
ment and strength. But I do say, and
l might say it parenthetically, that l
object to the organizations of capital
popularity known as TRUSTS" when
| they attempt to interfere with the po-
litical affairs of our country, and par
ticularly the judiciary. am speaking
of them from an industrial and not
from commercial point of view.
want to see the organization of the
wage-earners and the organization of
the employers, through their respect.
i've representatives, meet around the
table in the Office of the employers or
in the office of the union, if you please.
or, If that be not agreeable to either,
then in an office or room upon neu-
trail ground there to discuss the ques-
lions of wages and hours of labor and
conditions of employment and all
things consistent with the industrial
and commercial success of our country
that shall tend to the uplifting of the
human family. One difficulty has been
that employers of labor have turned
their backs upon the workers because
the latter organized and attempted to
secure recognition of the fact that they
are basic elements in the production
and distribution of wealth.
Development of Industry.
''In our new twentieth century we
are living in an era of the highest de-
velopment of industry. Concentration
of wealth and power is in the direction
of the securing of the greatest produc-
ton by the fewest possible factors.
| What are these wonderful productive
forces? The improvement of machin-
cry, the division and subdivision of la
Dor, the application of new propelling
forces of steam and electricity and wa
ter--all these great powers and mo-
tives and influences converge to the
point of increasing the production Of
wealth by the workers. Let me say to
you, my friends, that even with that
picture in mind, there are still some in
our day who speak of the individuality
OF the worker. / grant you that where
economic and social conditions admit
of individual action, that is the ideal
situation. But when we find on the
one hand great concentration of
wealth and power, accompanied by a
marked concentration of industry with
the direction of the great Industrial
and distributing forces placed in the
hands of few, it is as idle for the in
dlvidual worker to attempt to obtain
redress for bad conditions as it is for
vessel to survive hurricane with
out rudder or seamen to guide her.
What is necessary is that the workers,
so far as consistent with their social
and political liberty, shall merge their
economic interests with those of their
fellow-workers. and by that method
endeavor to obtain consideration for
the rights of both the elements in pro
duction.
We want better relations with the
employing class. We are contributing
our quota toward that desirable end
But we claim, even if it be not gener.
ally recognized, that there is no fac.
tor in our behalf so potent to secure
consideration at the hands of our EN-
ployers or fair agreements from them
or faithful adherence to the terms
of the contracts or agreements, as a
well-organized body of wage-earners in
the unions of their trades and callngs
these combined in the national unions
and still further associated in a thor.
ough federation OF all organized work
ers.
Future of Organization.
MY friends, | came here directly
from the twenty-first convention of the
American Federation of Labor, the
highest and best organized and most
thoroughly federated effort of the
workers of the world that has ever ex
listed. Coming from their ringing ap
peals and their arguments and theil
philosophy and the warnings and ex
pressions of hope, as well as their com
plants OF errors and wrongs of the
past; let me assure you that the organ
lied workers of America have no feal
for the future, whatever may present
ITSELF
Ant-Injunction Bill.
Advices received from the headquar
tiers of the American Federation of La
Dor notifies all unions affiliated TO senG
resolutions of remonstrance to theil
senators against the anti-injunction bill
as amended in the United States sen
ate and to insist on the passage of The
bill as originally introduced. A.
amended the bill would create more
hardships in the way of injunctions
and give more power to the courts
than they have at the presnt time. AL
members of local unions and secreta
ries will take notice and govern them
selves according to instructions from
headquarters.
Journeymen TaiIors.
Secretary Chas. Gustaveson, of tn,
Journeymen Tailors' union has return
ed from a trip in the northwestern
part of the state in the interest of his
craft. Mr.. Gustaveson reports the or
ganization of the tailors at Britt anc
2 Marshalltown with prospects of plac
ing organizations in Ft. Dodge ant
Boone. This is the beginning of thu
11c IL.