Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-05-12
GROWTH OF FEDERATION
Organized Labor Regarded With
Increasing Favor Owing to
Methods Pursued
HIGHER THAN EVER IN IOWA
Much of the Credit For the Work of the
Federation, Belongs to President
Holder, Who Attributes 1t to No One
Man, But to the Many-Blatant Asi-
tators Scored.
Special to Times-Republlean.

| Davenport, May lZ-Ine eleventh
annual convention of the Iowa Fedora
| ton of Labor is being held in Daven-
/ is also deputy commissioner of labor
statistics, came to the meeting direcf
from Detroit where he attended a ma
tional meeting of the machinists' union,
lin which he is prominent. President
| Holder in his year of incumbency made
! a great record of work for the FEEDER
alton and the growth of the order has
been greater than in any previous year.
| The work of organization has been car
ried on actively under state organizers,
and it is the general comment among
all classes that organized labor is now
are not of the organized classes than ut
any time in the past, largely because
of the conservative and sensible meth
DDS pursued by such leaders as Mr..
Holder and those who are associated
with him. President Holder has made
free use of organizers in the state and
has made many personal visits to diff
ferent parts of the state in settlement OF
labor troubles. 1t was thru President
Holder that conference was arranged
which resulted finally in the settle
ment OF the telephone strike in Iowa.
and he was instrumental in arranging
meetings in number Of other cases
OF strikes and labor disputes. Not less
than 175 new locals have been organ
lied during the year just closed. Our
movement" said Mr.. Holder, Stands
higher than ever before and every in
dication points to this estimation being
retained. In fact, while our members
develop the high standard set for their
Iown individual and collective conduct
1T will command respect from others
regardless OF whether our critics under
stand az approve of the movement
Mr. Holder does not take the credit for
himself nor give it to any man but
says it belongs to many. He delivered
his annual address in Davenport to the
State Federation meeting and among
other things said:
"OrganiZed labor has nothing to fear
from blatant agitators like the unfort-
unate Parry who is allowed by the Ma
tional Manufacturers association to
roam at large. While it would be more
charitable on their part If they would
select discreet guardian to pilot this
gentleman's utterances and his other
wise wild career, yet as long as they see
fit to employ such an erratic and an
archistic leader they contribute largely
to our interest by keeping our beloved
labor question prominently before the
public in such a commanding way it
would be impossible for us to attain
until we learn the are of securing wider
avenues of publicity. In spite of this
detractor we believe that trade union
ism is still the highest form of CO.
operative effort-it is Self-help. Con-
certed action on the part of the wage
earners will ultimately secure for us
larger measure of individual and in
dustrial liberty. Trades unions prevent
the strong and the unscrupulous from
taking advantage of the weak and con-
fding. They stand boldly for higher
education, believing that education is
the real factor and first principle of
civilization. and without it no material
progress can be made. We righteously
demand greater equality of opportunity
so that the individual may with fair
chance render his services to society
with this guaranty that not only part
but the entire product of his labor
shall finally be his.
Taking for basis the results organ
lied labor has secured in the past we
look forward with great hopefulness to
the future, when the social differences
now existing shall pass away; when
ignorance will be regarded with shame.
and poverty be a memory: when the
idler will be disgrace and those who
render wholesome service to society
will be the most honored: when chill
dren shall be precious heritage and
true womanhood shall find its greatest
joy in ministering to the child's de-
lights. The path to this goal has long
been strewn with many sacrifices, but
the objective point is still our beacon
light. Honest endeavor and unity
steadily improves conditions and as
sures us of our ideals in the not distant
future. Work then for more organiza-
ton, more education, and more unity.
Organized laborers have nothing to
fear; nothing can restrain them but
their own apathy and Indifference. AT
present there is little indication to show
that this exists, but whenever that
danger threatens, new features should
be introduced to employ the activity
and thought Of the members In the
several localities affected
There is trinity of dogmas now be-
ing urged by people who perhaps mean
well but whose doctrines are repugnant
to the spirit of freedom and justice.
They are all the outgroWth OF the
spirit of greed that has dominated the
and the governing class, and
who tenaciously cling to the fond de-
lusion that labor must be subjected to
force or necessity in order that those
who have the power may eN-
ercise it, and those who can
will retain this power as long as we
are willing to tolerate them. This
unjust overlordship formerly extended
to the prison cell, the lash, the hang
mans rope and the bullet, but as reason
and intelligence advanced these harsh |
and brutal, measures to restrict the
growth and self reliance OF me Ia
borers have gradually been discarded,