Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-04-01
GROWTH OF UN|OK|SN.
More Than Usual Progress Made
In Organization of Labor
In Past Year
NUMBER OF UNIONS INCREASED
Record for the Past Year
Shows Great Advancement in Men,
haaship, Good Order, and Good Feel
nOssioux City Union Of Stationary
Firemen Pleads for Investigation.
Special to Times-Republi

Special to Times Republican.
! Des Moines April 1.-When the
lIowa state federation of labor meets in
Davenport in May the officials will
make reports that will show that the
/ federation has made greater relative
progress the past year than ever be-
/ fore, that the number of unions has
greatly increased and the membership
/ as we'll, that there has been good order
and good feeling everywhere In trade
| and industrial circles, that the union
movement has the Wholesome respect OF
the conservative business men Of Iowa
and that in moral standing aswell as in
material matters the federation has
4 been making substantial gains. There
has been more or less increased activ-
lity in trades that have not heretofore
entered the union movement. For in
stance, in this city, there has just been
organized union Of the traction en-
| gineers. or those who are engaged In
drumming thresher engines and similar
machinery. This is to include the
large number of men who are in the
employment of the engine companies
as agents for the purpose OF setting
up and showing these engines. one
company alone is said to have in the
| state nearly $50 of these agents or
employees. There are about 5000 per-
sons in the state eligible to this union.
The movement to organize these people
proceeded entirely from them. They
tlnade inquiry as to the various unions
land found none that were Just to their
Hiking. So there was organized in Des
Moines union which has applied for
| a national character direct from Presi-
dent Gompers. 1t is not yet known
whether charter will be granted as
there is no such union organized any
where. The possibilities of the union
lin the western states Is great. 1t will
rbe in fact the first union that reaches
right out into the rural regions and
takes in persons who work on the
farms. The occasion for the formation
of this union is that great many in
competent persons are engaged In
handling these engines. that as re-
suit accidents are frequent, and that
in the setting up and repair of the en-
gines there has been some lack of skill.
Those who are forming the union hope
to remedy some of these things by
insisting on the best skill possible. II
the charter is granted this will be one
Of the brand new unions represented at
the state federation meeting.
*
The condition Of affairs among the
stationary aremen in the cities of the
state is attracting some attention.
There has never been but two of these
unions formed-one in Sioux City and
one in Des Moines. The men are scat
tered, one in place, and as they work
long hours and in a way that makes
lit hard for them to get together the
conditions Of labor in this trade are
not good. Recently in Des Moines the
firemen got together in two big estab-
jlishments in Des Moines. the street
railway station and the electric light
station, and by making firm stand
secured an S-hour day instead of a r.
hour day. But those who attend the
boilers are generally working 12 hours.
In the last report of the state labor
a report was made from
the union in Sioux City, in which it
was said:
This union pleads for legislative in
|vestigation showing the conditions un
der which stationary firemen are work
ling at present-overwork. long hours
continuous duty. Sundays included
with great care and undue RESPONSE
bility coupled with lack of sufficient
knowledge in many cases. which con-
|stitute serious risks Ito life and prop
erty. An act Of the legislature regu-
lating conditions under which station
ary fireman are employed is an i'm
mediate necessity"
No legislative action was taken. 1t is
stated here that in no trade or calling
is there such general lack of interest
and incompetency as in that of those
who handle the boilers in factories and
Office buildings and who have thus a
great responsibility for the lives of
many people. 1t is probable that at the
Davenport meeting something will be
done looking to systematic efforts to
have these stationary fremen organized
so that their condition may be anchor
ated.
There is one thing about the coal
settlement by the commission appointed
ty President Roosevelt" said A. f.
Holder, president of the State Fedora
ton of Labor, last evening-"one thing
that appears to have escaped the atten-
tion of many people, but which l regard
as the most important thing accom-
plished by the commission. That was
the decision that the men who handle
the boilers shall go on an eight hour
shift in all the anthracite region. This
is Very important natter. Hereto
fore in all that region the firemen
worked twelve hours a day. Their work
is not In the least easier than that OF
the coal miners. They work in dark
holes or underground or he hind the ma
chinery, and when they lave toiled for
twelve hours increasingly they are COM
pletely exhausted AS result they are
not fit for their duties. They have
great responsibility and ought to have
hours that will make it possible for
every one to get at his work fresh and
re ady for his best efforts The lives of I
the miners are in the hands of the men
who handle the machinery and boilers |
and the strike commission did we'll to |
insist that these men shall not be over-'