Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-16
had all they could do to look after
their Pennsylvania brethren.

had all they could do to look after
their Pennsylvania brethren.
The United Mine Workers local No.
553 has purchased list of fifty books
on economic and political topics and
presented them to the Drake library
at Centerville. In the list are the fol-
lowing well known publications:
Child Labor in America" by w. F.
Willoughby; Labor Movement in
America" by Prof. R. T. Ely; Wealth
VS.. Commonwealth" by Henry D.
Lloyd; "Co-Operative Commonwealth"
by Laurence Gronlund; Progress and
Poverty" and five other volumes, by
Henry George; Government Owner
ship the Solution" by Walter Vroo-
man; Capital" by Karl Marx; Lock
ing Backward" and Equality" by Ed
ward Bellamy; Evolutionary Politics
Influenced by Enlightened Labor" by
Walter Thomas Mills, and a complete
file of the american Federationist,"
by Samuel Gompers. No better in
vestment could be made by trades
unions than to purchase similar books
for circulation among their members.
Charles A. Gustaveson of Ottumwa
one of the pioneers of the labor move
ment of the state, has been elected as
general organizer for the Journeyman
Tailors. His commission will date
from December l. This speaks well
for Brother Gustaveson and he is en-
titled to every favor that can be shown
him.
The request is renewed by the Pres
ident for copies of the convention pro-
ceedings previous to December 10, for
the use of the congressional librarian.
Any reasonable charge will be paid for
this favor.
Open meetings for the discussion of
the labor problem are being arranged
for in various parts of the state in or
der to attract the attention of the pub
lie during the winter months. Jeffer-
son held the first in that locality No
vember 90 A large attendance was
present and considerable interest was
manifested.
Considerable interest is being taken
among the members of the various
crafts throughout the state looking for
labor legislation by the next general
assembly. Many of the unions are al
prospective candidates and secure
their pledges that they may secure at
tention of a successful character.
Charters have been issued as fol-
lows:
Federal Labor Union No. 9937, Cory
don.
Painters and Decorators. No. 735,
Newton.
Painters and Decorators, No. 900,
Mason City.
New organizations have been form
ed as follows:
oelwein, Retail Clerks and Meat
Cutters.
Creston. Team Drivers and Machin-
lists.
Des Moines. Glove Workers.
State. Organizer Mention has recent
ly visited Centeryille. Mystic Seymour,
and Corydon, and reports the unions
| in those places in good condition. He
has just started on ai-trip to the south
eastern part of the state, expecting to
visit Davenport, Burlington, Muscatine
Keokuk and Fort Madison. Another eff.
fort WILL be made to organize a cen,
trail body at Davenport, December11
Six months having elapsed since the
convention of the State Federation, it
is well to make an accounting of what
has been done in the way of organi
cation throughout the state. Ninety
three unions have been reported to the
president by the several secretaries OF
central bodies and the local and dis
trict organizers as having been organ
lied. Those localities which show nc
credit have ommitted making any re
ports. The following cities report the
growth: Boone, 10; Burlington, L;
Cedar Rapids, 10; Clinton, O; Council
Bluffs, 0; Davenport, 0;Des Moines, O;
Dubuque, O; Fort Madison, 0; Fort
] Dodge, 8; Keokuk, 2; Marshalltown
6; Muscatine, 3; Madrid, 2; Mason
City, 8; Mt. Pleasant, 1; Mystic, 1;
Newton, l.; Oelwein 8; Ottumwa, o;
Oskaloosa, 0; Perry, L; Sioux City, 8;
| Waterloo. s; Creston, s; Centerville
2; Corydon, q; Jefferson, 2; Iowa City
z; Iowa Falls, /; Knoxville, l.; Cher
okee, l.
Arthur S. Ireland, special organ
izer for the machinists, has been in the
state working for the interests of the
metal workers and has been very sue
cessful. He reports splendid assis
lance rendered him by Vice-presiden
Jaeger and others.
LOST THE DECISION.
4 l1iuh School Bows Defeated bv Revea