Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-07
TO BE BIG MEETING.
Eleventh Annual State Labor conven-
ton Next Week,

one week from today, in Davenport,
the annual convention of the Iowa
State Federation of Labor will be in
full swing and as the time approaches
the local unions are taking a decided
interest in the selection of their dele
gates. Already seven representatives
have been elected to represent the diff
ferent locals in Ottumwa and before
the end of the week no doubt the num-
her will be increased to twenty or
twenty-five. In a letter to the secre
tary-treasurer of the Ottumwa Trades
& Labor assembly, State Secretary
Streif, of Sioux City, announces that
en- even 10 credentials had been re,
ceived up to May 5. This repre-
sents about one-third of the number of
delegates that will be in attendance.
The officers of the state federation will
make an effort to have every local in
the state represented.
Preparations in Davenport.
The Davenport Trades & Labor as
lions for the convention and has is
sued the following circular letter
which has been sent to the various To-
Cdt IlloilEllout iOWds
To Organized Labor of Iowa:
The eleventh annual convention of
the Iowa State Federation of Labor
will be held in Davenport May - to
Is, and the unions OF this city, which
will have the honor of entertaining the
delegates, are making arrangements
for the accommodation of the largest
attendance of any convention in the
history OF the State Federation. There
is every reason to believe that this
convention, in numbers, interest and
enthusiasm, will surpass any previous
gathering of labor union men held in
the state.
The unprecedented growth in the la
Dor movement in our own state and
throughout the country, as well as the
stirring events which have transpired
during the past year, have enhanced
the responsibility, as well as the prlvl-
| leges, of every member OF labor
union, and its delegates who have been
| chosen to attend this convention
should exert every possible endeavor
to be present. New and vital prob
lens should be presented for solution,
and important business must be tran
sacted. 1t is impossible to overesti
mate the importance OF such gather
| ing to laboring men. 1t will be repre-
sentative of the character and intellect
of labor unionism in the entire state
and you will not only be remiss in
your duty, but also loser of incalcu
able benefits, if you fail to send a rep
resentative
But aside from the more serious
| features of the convention, abundant
preparations are being made for the
entertainment and amusement of the
delegates, so that the four days spent
here may be long cherished in the
memory for the pleasures which they
afforded as well as for the renewed in
| terest in the labor movement which
they awakened, The city of Davenport
is especially noted for it's interesting
and picturesque surroundings. Locat
ed on the Mississippi river, and con
nected by street car and ferry with thu
cities of Rock Island and Moline, Ill.
it is one Of the most interesting anC
lively cities in the Mississippi Valley
A visit to the renowned and historic
Black Hawk Watch Tower, and tril
to the central armory of the Unitei
| States, (the largest arsenal in tn,
world, will be among the many pleas
ures participated in by the delegates.
Z Members Of the committee will b,
at all trains and will direct the dele
gates to the hotels. Members of tn,
committee will be identified by an ap
propriate badge.
The railroads have granted condi
tional rate of one and one-third far,
IRON all points in Iowa, on the certifi