Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-05

lleSJ convention Oh the state FeQerd-
ton of Labor, which will be held in
Davenport next May The meeting
promises to be one of the most i'm
portant in the history of the organiza-
ton and many important questions
will come up for consideration The
Ottumwa members of the State Fed
Grafton are greatly interested in the
question of the adoption of the doc
trines of the socialist party by the
convention and strong fight is to be
made in this city against such
course.
There are rumors throughout the
state that the socialists are actively
engaged in an effort to control the
convention of the State Federation.
Their efforts to secure delegates sufti-
cient to have the federation indorse
their political platform has become
very active. While the delegates who
have been selected so far have been
in the majority trade unionists with
out any socialistic tendencies, yet it
behooves the trade unionists of this
city to be careful in the selection of
such delegates who will represent the
union movement and nothing else.
WIN iNOI ENDORSE FdTty.
Without questioning the sincerity of
the socialists in their efforts to benefit
humanity, yet there is imminent dan.
ger in entering into their doctrines
as political party to proceed along
political lines. The labor movement
cannot endorse the socialistic party
any more than it can the republican
or democrat parties and if it did in
dorse any political party it would be
treated as a political organization and
be subject to the same abuse, same
misrepresentation and in the end find
its grave in the same manner that all
labor organizations have in the past
which were foolish enough to let poll
tics enter into the workings of the or
ganization. The trades union move
ment is large enough and its princi-
pies are broad enough for any man
that believes in unity to follow.
Through the union movement the
hours of labor have been shortened,
wages increased and conditions of la
Dor made 100 per cent better for the
entire membership. And with conserv-
alive action, good judgment, and level
headedness. ten fold more benefits are
coming to all those who belong to the
union. The socialists are composed of
sincere men whose objects are hon
est and they believe beneficial to the
working classes. The labor organiza-
lions do not object to any of their
members joining the socialist party
or any other political party, but expert
ence has taught organized labor
that politics and unionism will not go
hand in hand.
Team Drivers.
Organizer Donahue of Des Moines,
has been actively engaged for the past
few days in Strengthening out affairs
for the local team drivers. The organ
ization reports bright prospects of COM
ing to an agreement with all the coal
operators of the city. Local SIT of the
Team Drivers union held a special
meeting last night at labor hall to rati-
fly the action of the organizer.
Butcher Workmen.
Reports received from Cedar Rapids
show that the entire Sinclair Packing
company has been organized in the
union from top to bottom, the company
conceding all reasonable things to the
men. In this institution the skilled
labor is formed into union by itself
the common labor into a federal labor
union and the other trades have Joined
the organizations of their craft. The
national organization of Butcher Work
men is displaying much interest in the
packing plants of Iowa, and is meeting
with wonderful success in gaining the
recognition of their union and cement
ing the good feeling between employer
and employe. President M. Donnelly
of the national organization, will prob
ably visit Iowa next week.
Journeymen TaiIors.
The Journeymen Tailors met al
| Labor hall Monday evening. There
was large attendance and an enthu
siastic meeting was held. General Or
ganizer G. A. Gustaveson was present
and explained the growth of the or
ganization throughout the west. Mr.
| Gustaveson left Tuesday morning fol
st. Joseph, Mo-, and from there viii
go on an organizing tour through
Kansas.
Trades and Labor Assembly.
| The following notice has been sen
out by the officers of the Trades ant
! Labor assembly:
Notice is hereby given to all dele
gates to the Trades and Labor asesm
bly,, to be present at a special meet
ing to be held at Labor hall, Thurs.
day evening, February 5, as bushes!
of Importance in the interest of one
of the affiliated organizations will be
taken up by order of
&c. A. Hagberg, president; J. F
| Byrne, secretary"
The regular meeting of the Trade.
and Labor assembly will be held a
Labor hall Sunday afternoon, Febru.
airy s, at $3.50 o'clock. ALI delegate.
have been requested to attend.
To Have Organized.
Samuel Gompers, president of tn,
A. F. of L., has offered to place al
organizer in Iowa for three months
commencing March 1, 1908, and tn,
selection of such organizer has beer
left to the executive committee of thu
Iowa State Federation. A decision
from the committee is expected sool
with a strong possibility that T. P
| 1e