Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-10-27
STATE FEDERATION is uNALTER.
ABLY OPPOSED TO WORKING
OF YOUTHS.
IMPROVEMENTS WANTED
Efforts VIII Be Made During the Corn
ing Session of the Legislature to Sc
cure Laws Beneficial to the Workers
-Affiliation With Central Body.

Dss Moines, Oct. 26-The child la
Dor question will be held OF prime i'm
portance in the effort to secure 1egis-
latiol at the next session of the gen
eral assembly by the State Federation
OF Labor. This was decided at the
m Getting mere of the executive commit
tee of the federation Sunday. Presi-
dent A, L. UricB OF the federation stat
ed that an effort would ne made to Sc
cure the adoption of amendments
which will insure the better enforce
ment of the child labor laws now in ey-
istenee, and to secure new ones.
To Protect Miners
President Urick stated that an effort
would be made to include the gypsum
miners under the same law with the
coal miners, as regards safety appli-,
ances, provisions for pure air, etc.
| There are great many gypsum miners
| in the state, especially in the neighbor-
hood of Fort Dodge, and the passage
! of the suggested LEGISLATION is esteeni
/ ed Of high Importance by the fedora
| ton
Measures of Safety.
I These two recommendations will be
chiefly urged before the legislature by
/ the federation. Others in which the eX-
ecutive committee is strongly i'll favor,
will not be especially pushed at this
time, unless proper opportunity offers.
I Among them are laws governing boil
er inspection and slight changes in the
requisite protection to the worlunen en-
4 gagged in the performance of Is contract,
and who are owed wages.
Fire Escape Law.
4 The committee is also on record as
desiring legislation to provide for ade-
quate fire escapes. IF the attempt
which is now being made 10 show that
Y The lasy is unconstitutional is SUCCESS
endeavor to have another measure
passed embodying practically the
same provisions. as well as laws for
the protection of laborers who are US
i ing dangerous machinery
r. j. Evans Resigns.
i The resignation of II. j. Grant, for
merly of Muscatine, a member of the
Legislation committee of the federation
who has left the state was accepted,
and L. 3. Gardner of Council Bluffs.
was elected to fill the vacancy.
Mineworkers Present.
Edwin Perry of Osllaloosa, presi-
dent; L. p Joyce. of Des Moines, vice
president, and John p White of 0s-
lzaloosa, secretary and treasurer Of the
Estate organization Of mineworIers met
: with the executive committee on sun
day morning and matters of interest
were informally discussed. The mat
ters up before the meeting We're said
to be of a technical character and de-
void of any general interest.
Whites instructions.
Secretary White of the mineworhers'
union, is q delegate from the Iowa
federation to the meeting of the Amer.
! lean federation, which coHvenes in
Boston on November 8. Mr. Whites
instructions are in favor of an attempt
tc secure action making the support
{ of the state federations. which are
5 branches of the national organization,
, mandatory, rather than voluntary on
, the part of the labor unions of the
different states
!, The committee empowered President
Urick TO visit the leading cities of tho
state, with view to securing Il closer
affiliation between the different union2
and the federation. President UrieH
will start on his trip immediately af-
ter election. The officers OF the nine
workers, union will act with Mr.. Trick
! in visiting those localities in which
miners are numerous.