Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-10-24
PEOPLES PULPIT.
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Hats Versus Hats.

Hats Versus Hats.
Editor Courier-The hat illustration
used by Mr.. Sullivan in his speech |
Saturday evening brought at once to
the writer's mind the fact that he had
heard the same article of apparel used
as an illustration in a lecture on the
same subject by a speaker some TWEEN
ty years ago.
When in college course of extra |
evening lectures was furnished on
political economy subjects: Free
Trade" and Protection We're both de-
Tended by able men. One of the pro-
tectionist speakers was a visiting pro-
fessor from Pennsylvania from the
university of that state, if / recall cor
rectly. He was of Irish birth and
during his lecture stated that he must
admit some prices We're higher here
in the protected country, than in Ire
land, the free trade country; that he
had been able to buy a hat for twenty
five cents in Ireland for which he had
to pay one dollar here; the trouble he
had experienced, however, was that
While he had been readily able to earn
the dollar here, in Ireland he had not
been able to raise the twenty five
cents.
Does Mr.. Sullivan believe that the
United States would occupy their
present position of commercial or even
agricultural prosperity had free trade
principles been in effect the past fifty
years?
Mr.. Chamberlain, who is trying to
combat American commercial success.
in his Glasgow speech said: "Ameri-
ca is the strictest of the protected ma
tions,' and has profited enormously"
from its tariff" American.
Organized Labor and Its Mission.
Editor of Courier.-The question is
asked What is organized labor striv-
ing for? In answer to this, among
the objects enumerated in the consti-
buttons of trades unions are, the regu-
lation of wages and hours of labor. the
| Improvement of conditions of labor to
remedy the question of child labor and
| in fact the correction of evils that bear
| heavily on the workers and that is not
amenable to law. This is 4 Stupen-
dous task and undertaking, but is bet
ter appreciated when we consider the
constant agitation. education, invests
| CATION and energy necessary to correct
| a single evil, from which any consid-
cradle number derive profit or plea
| sure.
Any organization committed to the
| reformation of existing evils, inter-
/ woven with the every day affairs of
life, must be prepared to accept the
RESPONSIBILITIES of such an undertake
4
1 ed parts of our institutions cannot be
suddenly snatched out without causing
disturbance of business, followed by
/ widespread disaster and great hard
| ships to the masses who must bear the
brunt of hasty. ill-advised action. AS
| to those resolutions gotten up by the
| Chicago Federation of Labor it mat
/ tiers not whether it takes place in
i Washington, Wall street or in the
councils of labor. this task begets high
er than legal responsibility. 1t entails
/ great moral obligations which must be
steadfastly and resolutely carried
out to win the desired aims of organ
lied labor.
Through the press, the public is
kept acquainted with the true state OF
affairs and the minds of the workers
are gradually being freed from petty
and local prejudices. Fear to be
known as members of labor organiza-
tions is disappearing, also the belief
that trade unions are of no value and
do not accomplish anything which
heretofore has greatly retarded organ
i lied progress.
The trades union movement has
advanced step by step from the local
to national organization. This was the
end of the first step taught, the neces-
sity of organizing the workers as con-
sumers to be essential. Before the
power of organized producers could be
effectively directed this led to the
adoption of the union stamp or labe
of the different trades unions ane
marked an era in the progress of the
trades union movement never APP
preached in accomplishments before
The introduction of the trade mark OF
trades unions brought about new rela,
lions and business relations with thu
manufacturer and to lesser extern
. with the wholesaler and retailer.
The establishment of the unior
stamp or label logically led to the max
ing of contracts between employers
and trades unions. The preservation
of trades union contracts impose:
new and vastly greater responsible
ties which must be wisely and honest
ly fulfilled
The writer has passed the half cen
tury mark and more on the journey o
!, life is a union man at heat, worket
in the interests of organized labor be
i fore many of the present day labor ad
d vocates We're born. In every case
!, have endeavored to be governed %.
t reason and lazy. 1 therefore beliey
that trades unions never did and new
:, er will accomplish anything by fore
: or revolutionary methods, as all tina
has been gained has been along peace
:. full and economic lines.
h r. Williams.