Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-29
Union Labor Problem Likely
to Interfere with st. Louis
Exposition Schemes
LABOR FEDERArloN's DEMANDS
Resolutions Passed Last Summer De-
manded Employment of Only Union
Labor in Construction of Buildings
for Iowa Exhibits and Some Altera
ton of Plans Now Seems Necessary.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
! Des Moines, Dec. 29.-The problem
| of union labor in connection with the
building of the Iowa state headquarters
and offices for the Iowa commission at
the st. Louis exposition is beginning
to cause some worry among the persons
| interested In the work. 1t will be re-
called that the state federation of labor
at its session last summer passed
resolution demanding that only union
labor be given employment by the Iowa
commission at st. Louis or in con-
nection with the preparations for the
| Iowa exhibit. A copy of this resolution
was sent to each one of the commits
| sioners at the time and it was stated
| that every one of the commissioners,
| with the exception of one, had replied
| to the communication in way to In
idicate that they would be only too glad
| to comply with the request. Now that
the commission is about to let con-
| tract for the Iowa building at St Louis
! the matter comes to an acute point,
The labor union leaders are insisting
THAT the contract shall go to an Iowa
Imam and that he shall be required TO
lemploy only union labor In the con-
lstruction work This is something
(which the architects did not figure on
when they made the plans for the
building. They are required to secure
| a contract within the limit or the work
Twill go to other architects. Now the
lduestion is whether, with the imita-
| :ions proposed, the contracts can be
|let unless the plans are materially al
| tered. 1t has been suggested that the
| the plans Will have to be altered some-
what at best. They were prepared af-
| ter consultation with different members
| OF the commission as to what they de-
| sired in the way of offices, parlors, re-.
ception rooms, etc. and yet the UNDER
! standing was that some alterations
might be made under the direction
/ OF tile building committee. But it re-
mains to be seen whether any Iowa
contractor will undertake the work
| fer the price named by the commission
under the restrictions. Unless sorGe
contractor assumes this risk the plans
| of the commission win be greatly up
| set.
! At the time of The selection of plans
for the building an interview was
printed in a local paper with Leroy
Palmer one of the commissioners,
which has aroused some criticism here
He expressed surprise at the excellence
of the plans presented by Iowa archi-
tects and said he was not aware that
Iowa had such profusion of archi-
tectural talent. But he added that in
the matter of decorations of course
the commission would have to go out
side the state as we have no artists
here, or words to that effect. Professor
, Charles A. Cumming, OF this city, who
was appointed by Gov. Cummins on the
capitol commission because of his ac-
lKnowledged great ability as an artist,
felt that this was a direct slam at those
Of his profession in Iowa who are try
ing to uphold art here to as high q
standard at least as architecture is held
in this state. Tt seems to me-, said
Professor Cumming. that Palmer
should have not thus deliberately closed
the door for all Iowa artists without
further comment or investigation. He
confesses he did not know anything
about the merits of Iowa architects
he probably knows as little about ar
fists in this state. 1t IS true he has
dabbled in art himself painted few
pictures on onnibuses and the like.
but that might not have fitted him
to condemn off hand all Iowa artists.
For instance, there is an Iowa artist !
who has just won the prize for the
design for the exposition medal. 1 am
or h11t fhaf have artists n11it . |
capable of doing the decorative work
on the Iowa building in a manner TO
compare favorably with the architec-
ture AT least / feel that there was no
occasion for condemning in advance
all Iowa art and passing over as un-
worthy all Iowa artists"
1t seems probable that Jasper county |
is the one that will be awarded the |
Tippecanoe banner this year by the
Veteran Tippecanoe club of this city. |
This banner has come to be much |
priced in Iowa. 1t goes to the county
which has made the best gain in re-
publican majority over the previous
year. This is computed on the head of |
the ticket each time. Then there is
prize flag to the second best county.
This latter is likely to go to Cerro
Gordo county, tho the order by be re-
versed when the final figures are made.
The Tippecanoe club will have COM
mittee appointed at its first meeting In
january to figure up the returns and |
see which county of Iowa did the best.
About the first week in February the
presentation will be made.
The returns from the banks which
are coming in at the present time will
show that there has been a substantial
decrease in the business during the
past three months. Deposits have not
grown as they We're growing before and
may in fact show an actual falling off |
in the totals. The figures Will not be
complete until after the new state audi
tor gets into his office next Monday.
There is practically nothing being
done in regard to the latest insurance /
scandal, that of the extortionateI