Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-17

the crime Of infant labor is permitted.
A crime which, IL not quickly wiped
out, will write itself large on economic
and industrial history to the everlast-
ing shame of the people of America.
There are 5000 children employed I'M
der the age of fourteen in the textile
mills of the south. Out of at least
1000 children employed in five mills
in Columbia. s. c., it is estimated that
four hundred are under the age of
twelve years Applying this proper
ton to the above figures would give
at the very lowest computation 5000.
little children, infants between the
ages OF 6 and IL years of age, as oper-
atives. In Georgia it is common
sight to see the children of cotton
operatives stretched on their beds,
dressed as they came from the mills
in the morning, too weary to do any
thing but to fling themselves down to
rest. Only few weeks ago l stood
at 1890 o'clock at night in q mill at
Columbia, S. c., controlled and owned
by northern capital, where children
who did not know their own ages,
worked from 6 p. m. to 6 a. m. with
out a moment for rest or food or a sin
gle cessation of the maddening racket
of the machinery In an atmosphere I'M
sanitary and clouded with humidity
and lint. The physical, mental and
moral effect of these long hours upon
the children is indescribably sad. 1
feel sure that the concerted fight to
free the children will bring many face
to face with industrial problems and
create more public sympathy for the
workers. And so, as in many times
in the history of the. world, common
love and pity for the little child will
prove the touch of nature that makes
the whole world kin"
Allied Metal Mechanics.
The Allied Metal Mechanics met at
Labor hall last Monday evening and
perfected their organization Thirteen
new members were taken into the un.
ion and the following permanent Of
ficers elected:
President-M. Nichols.
Vice President-W. Johnson.
Secretary-J. c. Carbon.
Treasurer-A. J. Miller.
Gusrd-C. o. Swanson.
The organization will meet again in
Labor hall next Monday evening. at
which time there will be admitted fif-
teen or twenty new members. All
members are requested to attend
Stationary Engineers.
The stationary engineers perfected
their organization last Friday evening
and elected officers The organization
starts out with the majority of the
prominent engineers of the city in it's
membership and with great hopes of
obtaining future benefits through their
efforts. There is perhaps no class of
working men who are entrusted with
so much responsibility as the engi.
neer. On him depends the continuous
operation of the factories, and his abil.
lily to keep things going is an assur-
ance that he will have the cooperation
and friendship of all the organized la
borers in the city. The organization
will meet again Friday evening at
Labor hall, at which time all engi
neers of the city are requested to be
present. The following officers were
elected at the meeting Friday night
| President. C. Hale.
| Secretary-Victor Wahle.
Treasurer-George Cramblett
Retail Clerks.
1t is surprising after so many prom
Uses and pretenses Of friendship to
ward the trades union movement that
after setting meeting night especial
ly for their benefit number of clerks
of this city fail time after time to ap
pear. 1t is regretted that an organiza
ton that has done so much in reducing
the hours and lettering the conditions
of the retail clerks should be passed
up by those who are enjoying all of the
| benefits without the expenditure of g
single penny, or the least effort to en-
trench themselves in a better condi
ton. 1t is surprising, too, that after
a majority of the merchants of the
city have openly expressed themselves
as in hearty sympathy with the retail
clerks protective association, that 6
number of these clerks still attempt tt
evade the organization. Some time
at day not far remote, when some Of
the present merchants or new estab
lishment enters the city, and opens w
their place of business at night, ther
/ these clerks who now refuse to joir
the union, seeing their present liber
ties curtailed will fly to the union fol
protection, but it will be too late
1 When that time comes the clerks tha
are now out of the organization, ant
whose employers have decided to oper
up will not be admitted to the organi
/ cation. Protection and shorter hours
will only be sought for those who have
proved themselves to be worthy of or
| ganized labor's support.
ILLINOIS MEETS ACCIDENT.
| Strikes Rnttnnn While Enferinn fhf