Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-01

tiers will be sent to the business men
of Ottumwa to ascertain their views
with regard to holding a celebration.
The Ottumwa unions have been invit-
ed to several cities to take part in the
labor day celebrations, among them
being Centerville, which is already ad-
vertising the event. Plans will be laid
tonight at the assembly meeting for
the appointing of committees to look
after this years celebration.
Cigarmakers' Union.
| The annual financial report of the
Cigarmakers' International union is
wonderful lesson in the trade union
movement. 1t presents an array OF
| figures that is instructive and interest
Ing showing, as it does, the total cost
for the maintenance of each depart
ment and each benefit. A reference to
the totals will show that the aggregate
financial transactions amounted toover
$1,000,000, the largest single expendl-
ture was for the death benefit, which
amounted to $13S.456.SS. This shows
an increase over the year of 1901 OF
$40,165.3S. The second largest eXpend-
iture was for sick benefit and amount
ed to $134,614.11. The third largest
was for strike benefits. amounting to
| $105.215.71, which is $3,607.52 less
than the expenditure for a like pur-
pose in 1900. The amount for out-ot-
work benefits was $27 ,0S3.76. To the
studiously inclined and to those not
acquainted with the system of the
I. cigarmakers, let it be said that the
i $4,000 outstanding loans to members
/ is now included in the balance on
hand. The report is referred to the
careful study and consideration of all,
giving as it does a fair idea of the
vast financial transactions of the cigar
makers union. 1t is believed that 1T
will give a clear knowledge to all OF
the magnitude of the International
Cigarmakers' union.
Street Railway Employees.
, The local street railway employees
will meet in regular session next Sun
day morning at Labor Hall, at which
time every member should be present
as there will be important business tC
. transact that will require the earnest
consideration of the entire member
ship. 1t is expected that some of the
, international officers will be present
President w. D. Mahon of the Anal
gamated association reports that the
big street car strike that was inaugur
ated last October in the city CT Scran
ton, Pa, was settled last week; the
Street Railway Employees Union get
ting everything they asked for Thous
l ands of union men, women and theil
friends who had not rode in a car TO
months, demonstrated their aprecia
ton of the occasion by showering con
: gratulations upon the union motormel
and conductors.
: The long drawn out controversy be
I tween the Jamestown, N. Y. street
I railway employees, division No. 1873
) and the St-.=et Railway Co., has beef
3 settled satisfactorily. This trouble
!. commenced May so. 1901, when tn
1 men quit because they were refused
. an increase in wages and shorte
e hours. They issued a. circular lette
Z calling the attention of organized la
y Dor and it's sympathizers to the just
D ness of the cause The union was o.
" ganized May Is, and the company o
Z learning of the movement immediate
p ly discharged four members of the ur
/ ion, including the president. TIL
= good Offices of an international office
i were enlisted and the result was tina
: all opposition to the union was with
: drawn. This, however, did not las
: long, as the company soon broke thei
7 agreement and now say that they vii
y reinstate the men only as individual
y and never as members of labor o.
ganization. Division No. 1SS, has SUI
. ceeded in having this unfair" stree
II railway company placed on the 'ul
/ fair" list of the American Federation
t of Labor and it so appears in the Eel
ruary issue of the Federationist. The
asked their friends for immediate a
ID sistance in this matter and the loyt
,r manner in which they were supporte
D. has brought about the speedy settle
IS ment of the difficulty to the satisfa
J. ton of all concerned.
70 District No. 10 U. M. w. A.
e The United Mine Workers of di
III trict No. 13 is the largest labor orga
+ ization in Iowa, numbering over 1906
u members. 1t is no exaggeration to SO
u that it is the best managed, both
u regard to economy and the wisdom
it's general policy, of any union in tt
state.
The many men who act as represen
'e alive officers would grace the best a
le semblies of citizens in the state wit
n credit, there are so many of them TIL
a. it is impossible to mention one tn;
e. would not detract in some way fro
lie the prominence of the others.
"a The greatest advantage which hi
re accrued to the coal miners of low
in was when they instituted the eigt
in hour day in 1899 There is only or
a other organization in the state b
IS sides the miners who enjoy the eigt
CHI hour day throughout the state al
o. that is the cigarmakers, but the san
re credit cannot be given to the cigarma
to ers as applies to the miners, first, b
&c cause the cigarmakers have been {
to ganized for years and yet have no fot
re hold SO that they can control the
er business in many of the towns whe
N the craft works all kinds of hours, b
ge the miners work the eight-hour day