Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-31
ASSEMBL Y N E I
oTTUMwA TRADES. UNIONS HELD
sEMI.ArlNUAL MEETING LAST
NIGHT in LABOR HALL.
a. J. Barnum Elected to the Office Of
President to Succeed John w. kitto
Retiring Presidents Report Shows
Assembly in Good Shape.

Assembly IN Good shape.
From Thursdays Daily.
Officers to serve for the coming half
year were elected last night at the
semi-annual meeting of the Ottumwa
Trades and Labor assembly in Labor
hall. G. J. Barnum who has filled the
office of vice president for the past
six months, was chosen to succeed
John w. Kitto as president The other
officers are:
Vice president = August Dahlstrom.
Secretary = w. A. Whitney
Assistant secretary - Thomas
Binks.
Sergeant at arms = William Parker.
Trustees = James Huffman, w. H.
Murphy, H. G. West.
w President kitto's Report.
President John W. Kitto in retiring,
gave the following report of the work
accomplished by the assembly, during
the past six months:
ITO the officers and members of the
Ottumwa Trades and Labor assembly:
Fellow workers.: According to GUS
tom it becomes our duty to present to
you a short report Of the transactions
Of this body for the term about to
close. Numerically our standing is
about the same, as at the beginning of
the term. Financially we are stronger
than at any time in our history. We
regret very much that the Brick and
Tile Workers and Team Drivers No.
SIT failed to come to a settlement with
their employers and after a thorough
investigation find that both organiza-
lions were right in their positions.
The cause of their temporary defeat
was the treachery of two or three of
their members and the seeming ne
glect4 Of their district or state officials
to come to their aid at the proper
time. However we believe that at
the next annual meeting of the Brick,
Tile & Terra Gotta Workers Alliance
the matter will receive due considera.
ton and that Local No. 119 will again
resume operations. Team Drivers No.
SIT are at present better situated, hav-)
ing amalgamated with Team Drivers
No. 215 and at the expiration of their
contract. term we hope they too will
be able to effect an amicable agree
ment with their employers and again
take up their own trades autonomy or
self government.
notwithstanding the fact that Lo-
cal No. 767, Carpenters and Joiners'
Union, is conducting most successful
and progressive organization, some OF
the contractors of the city are still
at variance with that body, and insist
on the open shop; and as we have
both spoken and written during the
term on this subject will simply say
now that reduced to fine point the
open shop proposition means granting
the power to the employer to discharge
the father who is earning $40 a week
and replace him with his child for
SO: and if ever the history of the labor
movement in Ottumwa is written the
three locals have mentioned will be
entitled to the page of honor for the
perseverance and self sacrifice they
have displayed in fighting this attempt
to oppose human progress Two new
locals have been added during the
term. No $40. Bakers and Confection-
ers. and No. 2645. Rutledge Miners.
They with all locals not mentioned are
in fairly prosperous condition and
are working tremendously with their
employers. Right here l wish to say
that the Ladies Union Label league Is
doing good work and are entitled to
the support of every union man and
woman in Ottumwa.
According to the report of the Of
hcers of the American Federation OF
Labor, our power is increasing and
prospects becoming brighter at the
close of each year. If we experience
defeat las with the Butcher Work
men in Chicago) it is redeemed by a
victory of the Sheet Metal Workers,
of that city, who compelled their en-
ployers to pay fine of $500 for violat-
ing their agreement, and to discharge
the non-union men in their employ.
Another encouraging sign is shown
in the desire of those not in labor or
CARNATIONS. nor in the employing class,
to become more familiar with our OBJ
jects.
I'VE also appreciate the motive that
prompts the ministers to occasionally
refer especially, to labor organiza-
lions from the pulpit.
"Misunderstands exist between
a great many church-going people and
the labor movement, which might be
obviated if more ministers followed
the example set by Rev. w. H. HORNED,
pastor of the East End Presbyterian
church, in inviting the laboring men of
Ottunwa to hear him.
t'It is possible that the average work
ingman has some prejudices and the
churches have wrong Impressions; we
know there are some scriptural quota
tons and sayings, that are stumbling
blocks to the laborer. For example;
we are told to seek first the kingdom
of God and His righteousness and all
those things that are necessary for our
material welfare will be added This
we are told to do in view of the fact
that most of the necessaries, all of the
,r;a md oil OCT tho IILoa l4l,