Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-05-10
IOWA LAB0RING MEN
ARE IN CONVENTION

power OF 1n1UnCtiOn 10 al fsNleIlt lieN'si
before contemplated by any judispr'l-
dence. With all the persuasion ana
cajolery at the command of the traie
union opponents and obstiuctionists II
was learned that the union movement
could not be induced to accept either
that misnomer of arbitration, so-cailed
compulsory arbitration, nor it's drastir
but sugar-coated mate Voluntary
Incorporation. 1t was also found that
regardless of the ever increasing rigt'rs
of the injunction. the labor movement
was making rapid progress, and that
therefore some means must be sought
by which public sentiment that was
continually growing in favor of the
unions could be hoodwir ked and ca
joled into opposition
1.-The particular euphona selected for
this mission was the president of the
Nation Manufacturers Association,
and who with his monitors and satei-
lites later organized the Citizens In
dustrial Alliance, who. because of his
blatant harpings against the labor
movement, had acquired notoriety
sufficient to attract national attention,
and was therefore well qualified as
the fitting instrument OF fanaticisnl
such as is now sweeping the country.
"The foreshadowings OF these oms-
nous measures appealed to your ex-
exutive officers as being a time not
for any great agitation to form new
unions. but to use all available time
and opportunities to perfect and dis
cipline the organizations that had been
formed during the past several years
| Il x.,I, l,,,I rnrf Jx, ha,H
the experience of reac ton in in,ius-
trial activities, nor had ever been un-
der extreme assaults from our oppo-
nents. 1t was considered the height
of wisdom to guide these in manner
that they would in NO way become
radical in any of their actions. thus
placing them in a position to resist any
ordinary aggression.
For two years prior, the spirit of
organization seized upon the wage
earners to an extent beyond all ex-
pectatiOn. The seed of education along
trade union lines, sown during the
early nineties, and which had been
stunted ard was lying dormant during
the great Industrial depression. bios
somed forth into luxuliance. marvel
Gus to it's friends, but striking con-
sternation to its enemies
"The experience of the last great
industrial depression fully demonstrated
that when confronted b., a great indus
trial reaction alone, the newly formed
unions were the first TO suffer, and
that the unions of a more perfect. dis
cipline and well filled treasures suf
fered least and some OF them priictic.
ally came out of the depression with
out any material injury. With the
great perfections in the affairs CT the
various national and International un-
ions during the so-cs.lled period of
prosperity, and the great influx Of new
| MEMBERS whose power of consumption
had so materially increased thru the in
fiuence OF the labor movement, It was
evident to your officers that the reac-.
ton setting in could neither be as
long continued nor ast extreme in its
results as former ones except In the
event that the onslaught OF our eni-
mics should be successful in i.s fanat-
ical crusade to crush our the union
movement.
ITO prevent this n, opportunity was
lost in advising n closer cooperation
among the unions. showing the necti
of greater concentration of efforts.
and the necessity of avoiding any ae
ton that might re.lae. upon any lti,t
of our movement. The great alaonnt
of intelligence acquired Ivy greater OPP
portunities for improvement. arai more
hours of daily 'o.i has made Iowa
unionists the most con ;e,vat'v. Of any
In tie world, but AZ the Same :im.e as
= t., a
interests as any to he found.
las a. result to bring into greater
harmony those uniorts already in ex-
istence. the number of new unions
formed during the year is not nearly
so large as during any of the several
years preceding. yet Notwithstanding
| this. the membership Of the unions i'll
affiliation with. the state federation
| increased by about 5000.
Dubuque Streei Car Strike.
ut will be remembered that during
the time of the last convention there
was then in progress a strike of the re-
Gently formed street railwaymens un-
ion in Dubuque. Tie strike was pri-
marily caused by an arbitrary man.
ager first denying the right of organ
ization to the employees, anc. after
wards, when he discovered that the
employees had organized without his,
knowledge, proceeded to make things
unpleasant for the men by invoking
means and tactics tending to disrupt
their organization.
When the report reached me that
four companies of militia had been sent
to the city under the representation
that there was grave danger OF the en-
Interview was at once had with the
governor, after which State Labor
Commissioner Brigham and myself
proceeded to Dubuque. Upon reaching
there Sunday morning, we found the
city perfectly quiet, the militia labor
iously travelling their beats and the
street cars without passengers, run by
strike breakers, furnished by Chicago
agency.
"The same old tactics We're in evi-
dence to an unusual degree. For in
stance, the arbitrary manager had been
made a deputy sheriff, and after the
company had secufe ed "a temporary re-
straining order. wa, given the notice to
serve both upon former employees and
citizens known to he in sympnthy with
the strikers. When the strike breakers
were brought to the city they We're at
once taken to the mayors Office, sworn
In ass special officers and furnished
with firearms
cor the Tuesday evening before our