Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-04-24
A LABORER'S UNION
Ottumwa May Soon Have Orgapi-
cation for Unskilled Workers.
CALL FOR CIGAR MAKERS STATE MEET

Local Trades and Labor Assembly to
Hold Important Meeting This Even
ine-Journeymen Taiors' Union En-.
joying an Era of Prosperity.
[Tt, matter published in this col
umn is furnished by the officers OF the
Federation of Labor.
| LFrom Wednesdays Dailyl
Efforts are being made to organize a
common laborers' union in Ottumwa
wherein all unskilled day laborers may
| be permitted to join union. This is
an opportunity for all who desire to
become members of a union and it is
anticipated that with but nttle effort
| an organization of at least 800 mem
bers can be established. Recent eXpe
riences in this city show necessityof
such union for the protection of the
home labor. AS from a report of the
statistician of the trades and labor as
sembly it has been shown that outside
labor is being employed OH some of the
improvements while the labor in the
home market is compelled to lay idle.
| This is food for thought for all labor
| ing men and should have their earnest
consideration. A meeting will be call
| ed in the near future for the purpose
of completing this organization at
which every laboring man is invited to
attend.
Cigar Makers State Meet.
A call has been issued by the Cigar
Makers union No. Ill of Des Moines
for state meeting of the local unions
of that craft for the purpose of bring
ing about consolidation of union la
bel agitation for their blue label. The
meeting is to be held in Cedar Rapids
on May 10, day previous to the annu-
al convention of the annual meeting of
the state federation of labor. In all
probability the local cigar makers
union will be represented.
Miners.
The Imprisonment of John Haddow
for an alleged contempt of an injunc.
ton of a federal judge in Virginia calls
to mind the fact that there is before
congress at the present time bill de-
filming conspiracies, so that in cases
like John Haddow's a judge cannot use
his own volition to discriminate
against labor in favor of capital To
those who have any real interest in the
release of John Haddow, they should
first write the President an appeal So
Letting his pardon and then insist on
their organization drafting strong res
lolutions to send to the congressman in
support of the antiinjunction bill as
: drafted by the attorneys of the nation
al federation of labor.
Journeymen TaIors' Union.
Secretary, treasurer and organizer
Chas. Gustaveson, of Ottumwa, made
a visit to Fairfield on Monday evening
for the purpose of organizing the tail
ors of that city. He reports the per
fecting of the tailors' union and a
great awakening in Fairfield of the
, working people in the interest of the
union movement. A large open meet
| ing was held at which plans were dis.
cussed for the formation of a local
trades and labor assembly Altogeth.
er the outlook is very encouraging for
: Fairfield to be thoroughly organized
, The union movement is also branching
out to Eldon and Hedrick
: Bartenders' League.
President John ]. Queeney, of the
bartsnders' league reports that that
organization will send delegate tc
the state federation of labor with the
view of establishing bartenders
leagues in all the principal cities OF
Iowa. The progress made by the bar
tenders of this city has set an exam
pie for and given encouragement tt
all members of that craft in the state
to organize. In all probability this
will be accomplished within month
after the meeting of the federation.
Must Join the Union.
The city council of Des Moines has
unanimously adopted resolution re
quiring all the employees of the city tt
join the unions of their respective
= crafts. The board of public work was
+ instructed to make request of the
. shcvelers, hod carriers and men of al
lied occupations. The city council de
= clares that the city employees are reap
. ing the benefits of the everyday worl
done by the unions in orgaizing labor
. raising wages and reducing hours
therefore they ought to be required t,
, | contribute W tue SuppuIl VI Tue uuluu
i Here is pointed issue which coult
, well be taken in hand by the cit,
council of Ottumwa. The unions o
;. this city have continuously worked TO
a better condition of the city employ
es in all branches. Particularly tn
day laborers should be members of tn
union, because Of the fact that the
T are receiving the shorter work da
and the increased pay through the e1
forts made by organized labor Ye
the percentage Of membership of thes
Il men in the union is so small that
;, does not represent even sprinklins
l. That men should in some way contrib
it ute to the support of societies tina
k have brought them such large benefit
1t goes without saying and there come
g time in life when men who do nc
:. know their duty must be told of it.
IS is now up to the city council of Ottun
d wa to follow the good example set
n the council of Des Moines.
e Notes From Labor World.
v Manv of the happenings and event