Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-16
SOCIALISM IN LABOR
Report of Iowa F. OIL. for Novem-
Der Mentions it.
PROGRESS OF LABOR IN THE STATE


Des Moines, Tells of the Conditions
of Unionists in Various Parts of
lowa-An Interesting Budget.
1.-THE matter published y. this col
umn is furnished by the officers of the
Federation of Labor.]
There has been general tendency
to overestimate the Importance of the
vote which the resolution for socialism
AS is has been interpreted by the
press in general-received in the New
Orleans convention of the American
Federation of Labor. The resolution
as amended, was not a clear cut en-
dorsement of the socialist party, al
though supported by the socialist dele
gates. The resolution, as amended,
reads as follows:
Resolved, that this twenty-second
annual convention of the American
Federation of Labor advise the work
ing people to organize their economic
and political power to assure for la
Dor the full equivalent of its toll"
Although the resolution was defeat
ed by narrow margin it is interest
ing to note how the various delegates
representing national and internation-
al unions voted on the proposition:
ADMINISTRATIONS, 100; bakers, 1902;
blacksmiths, 81; boilermakers, 95;
boot and shoe workers, 146; carpen-
tiers, 1874; cigarmakers, 260; clerks,
300; coopers, 81; team drivers, 1856;
coal hosting engineers, s; steam en-
gineers, 65; stationary firemen, 60;
garment workers, 1872; hatters, so;
hotel and restaurant employees, 149;
fathers, %; laundry workers, 40;
leather workers, 81; longshoremen,
347; machinists, 355; metal workers
66; iron moulders, 259; musicians, 55;
painters, 34S; piano workers, %,
printing pressmen, 80; street railway
employees, Sc; printers, 295; tailors,
70, theatrical stage employees, %, and
woodworkers, 1873. For the resolution:
Carpenters Brotherhood, 666; Car
penters, Amalgamated, 80; carriage
workers, 81; car workers, "a; cigar
makers, 81; brewery workers, 1911;
clothing makers, 60; electrical work
ers, II; garment workers, 121;
| garment workers, ladies', 81; horse
shoers, IS; iron, steel and tin work
| ers, 100; leather workers, 21 metal
workers, united, 43; mine workers,
1854; musicians, 80; railroad tele-
srapnefs, 80; pattern makers, %;
piano workers, 20; plumbers, 1913;
printing pnessmen, 80; street railway
employees, 80; tailors, SO; theatrical
stage employees, %; printers, 49, and
| Woodworkers, 46. The Massachusetts,
| New York, New Jersey, and Ohio
State Federation delegates voted
against, while the Alabama, Illinois
and Iowa representatives voted favor.
| able to the adoption, as did also the
only Iowa delegate representing a
city central body, that of Clinton. The
contest in the convention was suffi-.
GENTLY close to warrant a general in.
vestigation of the trades union move.
ment as relates to political questions.
From the Battlefield.
After protracted conference the
stereotypers of Des Moines have Sc
cured an increase in wages from SO
and $11 to S13.50 per week for the first
year, Sl4.50 for the second and SIS
for the third year. Foremen's wages
were increased from SIG to SIS per
week and an agreement signed for
three years.
Since organization the car.
penters and joiners at Waterloo have
increased wages from S1.50 to $3.50
| per day and reduced the hours of labor
one per day.
The stonecutters at Creston struck
On November 10 for an increase from
forty-five to fifty cents per hour. Re-
suit unknown.
Two representatives of the striking
Union Pacific employees secured 5000
in contributions from Sioux City
unions, the result of four days work.
At Fort Dodge 420 gypsum miners
and mill workmen have been on strike
since November 81. President Holder
was called to attempt to adjust the
| grievances, but without avail, al
though the matters in controversy are
| trivial
In General.
The secretaries of the various unions
throughout the state are again re-
quested to forward to Secretary j. H
Strict, Sioux City, the monthly re.
ports mailed them, adding such items
of interest as may be of value for the
/
ment in Iowa. The monthly reports
are now published in twenty daily and
weekly papers in the state and the
more perfect and reliable these re-
ports can be made the greater theiI
value for interesting the toilers, espe
lcially in the smaller cities, in the need
of the hour that of organization
Every secretary can assist in encour
aging this effort and to neglect it il
to neglect one of the best opportuni
ties for increasing the strength and
efficiency of the movement in this
state.
The International Typographical
union, by a referendum vote, has de
cided to send the Typographical Jour
nal to each one of it's members, some
10000 being required. The Journal is