Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-19
CONVENTION CALLED
Union Men Receive Call for Meet
ing of State Federation.
MANY WILL ATTEND FROM OTTUMWA
Davenport Will Be the Mecca of Iowa
Union Men in May When Annual
Convention of S. F. of A., viii Be
Held-The Call in Full.

Union men in Ottumwa have re-
ceived the call for the eleventh annu-
al convention OF the Iowa State Fed
Grafton OF Labor which will be held in
Davenport. beginning May 10. Sec
rotary J. H. Strict of Sioux City, sets |
forth some very interesting matter in
the call. which has just been issued by
him. Much valuable data is embodied
in the call and Secretary Strict very
plainly tells the purpose of the conven-
ton and the representations allowed
by each union. Perhaps the most at |
which refers to the growth OF unions
! in the state and as Secretary Strict
says: the records show go local
unions in the state, with a membership
/ of 5000 The call in full is as FOL.
| lows:
To all State Craft Organizations, City |
Central Bodies. Local Trades Unions
! and Federal Labor Unions in Iowa
/ Greeting:
! In compliance with the constitution
4 of the Iowa State Federation OF Labor
notice is hereby given that the elev-
/ enth annual convention OF the Iowa
I State Federation of Labor will be held
in the city of Davenport, beginning at
! 10 O'Clock Tuesday morning, May II,
! 1903
/ Representation.
/ The State Federation is composed
| of representatives from state craft or
/ CARNATIONS, city central bodies and
/ local unions organized under the trade
/ union system on the following basis:
/ From local unions one delegate for
/ each 100 members or majority frac-
/ ton thereof; from state organizations,
! city centrals, building trades councils,
4 allied printing trades councils and met
al trades councils, three delegates at
large.
4 Where a city central organization is
/ affiliated with the State Federation of
Labor all local unions connected with
said city central organizations are also
affiliated with the State Federation of
Labor and entitled to delegates in the
4 convention.
Credentials.
i Credentials in duplicate are forward
ed with this call to all local unions
and other representative labor organi-
cations in the state. The original Gre
! dental must be given to the delegates
elect, who must be member III good
\ credential must be forwarded TO Secre
tary ]. III. Strict of Sioux City.
Il The committee. on credentials will
meet May II. and they will report inl-
mediately after the opening of the
convention.
Organization.
!, During the past year many new
locals have been organized in every
city OF the state. the demand for or
II GAMERS has exceeded the supply. and
the records show I20 local unions in
4 the state. with membership of 49,
900. The Iowa State Federation Of
Labor cordially invites all locals not
yet affiliated to send representatives
to Davenport. and join without further
, delay. Every craft should encourage
/ the formation of a state organization
SO that uniformity OF conditions. wag-
es and hours can be established, and
i by this means avoid dangerous and
| useless competition.
1t is suggested to all trades OF
: crafts interested that they take ad-
/ vantage of the convention meeting and
/ send delegates instructed to form such
state organizations so as to reap the
benefits of more thorough statewide
organization.
Railroad Rates.
n The railroads have granted a con-
. ditional rate of one and one-third fare
!. from all points in Iowa. on the certi-
, fed plan. On the presentation of 200
or more certificates showing a pur-
, chase of tickets at fare exceeding
so cents. the holder of certificates will
be entitled to return rate of one
third fare. Delegates must not forget
to call for a certificate when purchas--
: ing tickets. Failure to procure GER
tificate will invalidate any claim for
;, reduction of fare. Though this may
not greatly concern some of the dele
gates. they must keep in mind that
their certificates will assist in securing
rates for others who live farther away.
When the journey, is made over more
than one line it is advisable to pur--
chase local ticket and secure GER
: tificate from each line. This should
: be done whenever possible. A fee. of
25 cents will be collected by railroad
y agents signing certificates.
Resolutions and information.
Resolutions and proposed amend
ments to the constitution should be
furnished the delegates by their To-
Gals as all aid to quick and easy dis
patch of business.
Fraternally yours.
Arthur e. Holder,
President.
J. H. Strict, Secretary.
| Memorial Day.
4 The first Sunday in June was Sc
lected by the tenth annual convention
of the Iowa state federation of labor
> to be set apart as Memorial day in
Iowa. for the purpose of bringing all
e our living members in each respective
locality, and decorating the graves of
our deceased brothers and sisters as