Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-09-08

the field. AS an illustration take the
cooperage trade. Employers of free
labor have almost entirely abandoned
the making of that class of goods made
in the penal institutions. The sama
is true IN the manufacture of the
grades OF chairs made in the penal in
sittutions and also in the manufacture
OF agricultural implements made in
one OF our state institutions. A few
years ago the button cutting industry
was introduced in one of our prisons.
but only on a small scale, being limit
ed Immediately upon the advent of
this industry i'm our prisons. The state
federation of labor was able to use it's
influence to prohibit the further enter
ing into or 'enlarging of contracts IN
this line. Yet it is fact that while
the usages of other industries are con-
tinually advancing those in the import
ant button industry in the state of
Iowa are gradually being reduced,
The state federation therefore pro-
poses to use its influence in having a
law passed similar to that in the state
of New York, under which the labor of
the convicts Isl used in the making of
articles for the state and county insti.
buttons. While the volume Of labor IN
thus not decreased at the same time
the products of such labor does not
come. in competition with the products
OF free labor in the regulation of the
product or the price of labor entering
into the product.
Free From Labor Disputes.
"The state ofIdwa has been unusual
ly free from labor disputes. Employ
ers as rule have been broad enough
to concede to labor the right to or
ganize and bargain for the price of
their labor and the conditions under
which it shall he performed. Our
labor organizations have been con-
sentative and intelligent enough not
to make any unusual demands upon
employers with the result that our
state has been UNI sually free from la
Dor disturbances.
A Disturbance Probably.
This condition of things is appar-
emily to be disturbed through the in
fuences of the manufacturers associa.
ton headed by D.. M. Parry, whose
agents have been through the state
agitating the formation of associations
OF employers with the object of not
comforting and entering into contracts
with labor unions and to gradually
discourage and eliminate the labor
movement from the industrial field.
The labor organizations have no objec-
ton to the formation Of organizations
of employers. In ihct they prefer to
deal with such organizations when
formed for reasonable purposes deny
ing to no man the right accorded to
him by law and public sentiment. The
object of this association, however,
appears on it's face to be the denying
OF such rights to labor and placing it
in the condition of the feudal period.
We believe that the good sense Of
the general public will condemn and
drive out Of existence any movement
having for its object discord, strife
and desire to deny the rights given
by law 1t should therefore be the
policy of organized labor and undoubt
eddy will be to go on in the even tenor
of it's way, never seeking or welcom-
ing trouble with this organization,
but on the contrary whenever a quar-
rel is forced upon it to take care OF
itself in the same effective way that
has been promotive Of the best inter-
ests Of the laboring classes hereto
fore.