Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-04-20
HUNGER 1O SETTLE
LABOR DISPUTES
Des Moines Labor Controversy
May Become Exciting In
Face of Real Hunger
WoRkINGMEN SHOW CONTEMPT
They Say There Are Enough Business
Houses Outside of the Organization
Arranged Against Them to Defeat
the Starvation scheme-Iowa SUI
preme Court Divorce Decision,
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times republican.
Des Moines. April 20.--The potency
of hunger as settler of labor dis
putes is to be given trial in Des
Moines. The appetites OF workingmen
and their families are to be made use
of rather than arbitration in disposing
of the question of differences in wages
and hours of employment. Thus far
the combined strike and lockout in the
building trades has been in good ma
ture and good temper; there has been
neither heated words nor hasty action;
both sides appear to be contented and
confident and neither in doubt as to
the ultimate conciusion--but in the
face of real hunger it is regarded as
entirely probable that the controversy
Will become more exciting.
The business men of the city have
been banded together in strong
league for protection. The plan has
been maturing many months for a fight
TO a finish against the labor unions of
the city. The city is known to be one
of the most thoroughly organized of
any In the west, and the Trades and
Labor Assembly has great majority
of the skilled workmen OF the city af-
fiIiated with it. But the business Mems
League, formed last year. has also got
nearly every business house of every
kind on its membership. The conflict
is regarded as inevitable and the test
of strength is known to have been long
anticipated by both sides. The busi-
ness men and the laboring men both
ave large funds accumulated for a
day af troupie.
The fight came on the building
trades. The electricians and the
painters have been maintaining a
strike for some time OH a,matter OF
ers have also had some difficulties.
The carpenters and masons refused to
take any part in the struggle. Then
the contracto and others announced
a policy of open shop" or employment
of non-union men at viii. Some men
were put at work. but still the carpen-
tiers and niasons did not strike. 1t is
surmised that the contractors hoped
the first break would come from the
workingmen. but they were playing for
sympathy and refused to quit because
of union men being compelled to work
with nom union men. Then the lock-
out was ordered.
The first step to make good the fight
against the unions was 10 prevent any
body from getting building material,
and the lumber yards and hardware
stores quit business. Even tools would
not be sold to workingrnen. The next
step was to have the grocery stores
and provision houses cease to sell to
laboring men who are not regularly
employed 1t is denied that this was
due to any pressure from the Business
Mems League but the action was con-
certed. It is also claimed that under
this guise practically any iaboring man
sympathizing with the workingmen
can be prevented from getting food for
himself and family, and that this Is the
actual effect of the order
The laboring men claim that the
business men will not be able to hold
together on the proposition of starving
the strikers into submission and say
that there are sufficient number out
side the organization to do the busi-
ness But it is the first time the ex-
pertinent was ever tried in this city.
80
A magnificent oil portrait of Rear
Admiral George c. Remey will soon
adorn the Iowa historical department.
1t was sent to Curator Aldrich from
Washington last week and will be
hung in a few days. The portrait was
painted by Harold J. Macdonald, in
Washington, and it has been very fa-
vorably criticised by the art experts in
the east. 1t is a full length portrait
and shows the veteran commander as
he now appears after his retirement.
The letters which Mr. Aldrich received
in the writing of Admiral Remey were
full of kind expressions toward him
and the people of Iowa. The portrait
is regarded as one of the most yalua-
BILE additions to the Iowa collection, as
he is certainly the most distinguished
loWan In his chosen field He gradu-
ated from the naval academy in 1859,
having been appointed a naval cadet
from Iowa. His wife was a daughter
of iowa. His services were distin-
guished i'm the civil war as he took
part in the siege of Yorktown, in COM
mand of the Marblehead. and later
took part in the bombardment of Fort
Sumter. He was at Valparaiso. Chilli
at a critical period He had charge of
the supply depot at Key West, while
others went to fight the Spaniards. But
he had the great honor of having
commanded the largest fighting force
In the world, when he relieved Admiral
Watson in command of the United
States, fleet in the orient. He had fifty
battleships under him and over 1900
men, including two regiments of ma
rines. This was an honor never con-
ferred on any American commander.
He was retired about a year ago and
lives in Washington.
nna ar the economies 2practiced by