Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-24


The strike of the telephone girls
and the linemen in the employ of the
Iowa Telephone Co., in Des Mofnes,
bids fair to be a success. 1t is now
an assured fact that organized labor
throughout the state will take the mat
ter up and place boycott upon the
telephones of this company Orders
have been issued by the Iowa State
Federation of Labor instructing all To-
cal central bodies to bring pressure
bear and use their influence to help
win the strike at Des Moines. The
justice of the cause of the girls and
the linemen is readily shown by the
long series of evils of employment
principally the extreme low wages
Many of the operators received but 8
cents per hour and their monthly wage
was from SIS to $26. In the Iowa com
pany eleven consecutive hours work
without time for meals was exacted
cents was paid. The girls had for a
long time attempted as individuals to
remedy their conditions, but the man
agement refused to listen to their ap-
peals and turned them down. The
Hnemen then came out in their sup
port. The management refused in
every way to give them recognition.
When it is realized that this company
has no franchise to do business in the
city of Des Moines and played with
technicalities in law to maintain their
interests there, it can be readily seen
that they are not only trying to bluff
the working people of Des Moines, but
all of its citizens. The battle will wax
warm for as long period as the Iowa
company holds the stand that they
have taken, and organized labor has
no fear as to the success of its final
termination in the interests of the
girls and linemen.
Allied Metal Mechanics.
The regular meeting of the allied
metal mechanics was held at Labor
hall on Monday evening. There was
splendid attendance and matters
We're discussed in the interests of the
organization. The prospects are that
this will be one of the largest organic
atoms in the city. And no doubt at
the meeting Monday night, between
thirty and forty. will be admitted.
Steam Engineers.
The organization of steam engineers
will hold their regular meeting next
Friday evening. A cordial invitation
is extended to all the members of this
5eraft who have not already joined.
Typographical Union.
The printers have issued circulars
in behalf of the union label They
have begun campaign for the label
OF their craft, and are seeking the CO.
operation OF all the business men and
organized labor. Things are running
pretty smoothly for the typos and at
no time in their history has such har-
mony prevailed in their ranks.
Electrical Workers.
The electrical workers met at Labor
hall Friday night and elected three
new candidates. The brotherhood now
controls more than four-ffths of the
electrical workers in the city, and has
tent electrical worker who is eligible
to membership. The boys are expect.
ing visit from General Organizer
Van Camp in few days. At which
time no doubt they will have social
saCneflng.
Retail Clerks.
The regular meeting of the retail
clerks will be held at their hall in the
Summers building next Mon
day evening. 1t is expected that
large class will be initiated and
there should be full attendance of
all members. 1t is gratifying to note
that the clerks are beginning to wake
up. mo fooling this time; folks, we
expect you to come"
Mission of Organized Labor.
1T is not organized labor that causes
the unrest, the discomfort, the strug-
giles Of the toilers to better their hard
condition. But it is organized labor
that seeks to control these movements,
lead them to peaceful, safe channels,
and away from the quicksands of yio-
Hence and the precipice Of anarchy