Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-05-16
TRANSFERS MOVE TO. AVERT =.
NEW INDUSTRIAL UPHEAvAL
Continued from Page y.
tional arrests are expected at any
Ice Drivers Against a strike.

Ice Drivers Against a Strike.
The danger of strike of ice wagon
drivers was ayerted when the union
voted to accept the same wages as
last year. The decision was reached
only after a long meeting at bricklay.
ers' hall which lasted four hours.
Many Of the men clamored for strike
to enforce the demands for an increase
in pay of $40 month. Agreements
binding the ice teamsters for a year
| probably will be signed today or to-
morrow.
Letter to Merchants.
Ten thousand copies of the follow.
ing letter are to be sent to merchants
throughout Chicago:
"As we, the undersigned are meet
ing with refusals from some of the
manufacturers, manufacturers agents,
importers and others, from whom we
have been regularly buying, to make
deliveries as usual, we feel it to be our
there may be no misunderstanding as
to the principles for which we are con-
tending
eff there has ever been time in
the evolution of industry in this coun-
try when employers have been right
and strikers clearly and altogether
wrong, that time is now, and this fact
is recognized not onl.- by the en-
ployers of labor in this city and else
where and by the great mass of the
general public not directly interested
in the controversy, but we think by
many of the labor leaders and by
most of the rank and file of the labor
unions.
"The issue cannot be mistaken: Are
the employers of Chicago, not we
alone, who are resisting, but your
selves as well and finally employers
of other cities throughout the land, to
be obliged to submit to dictation from
strike leaders, representing no griev-
ance whatsoever, as to whom we shall
do business with?
If tho issue we ha with the team
sters' union was one of hours or
wagesor was complicated by any COM
plant Of any kind, some of the bust
ness houses in this ci.-.- which have
been regularly supplying us with
goods, nigh now decline to do so, and
get off with their self-respect, If they
conscientiously believed the position
taken by the employers to be wrong;
but with the issue as i; is, one of indi-
vidual liberty, self-ii.terest and man
hood alike indicate the path of duty.
"The only issue is this: Are we en-
titled to free and unobstructed use
of the streets? Shall we surrender our
birthright to deliver merchandise to
any concern giving us an order? Shall
strike leaders be upheld in boycotting
those who deliver goods to struck
houses?
I'VE are not asking you to get into
the fight any way you can as has
been charged. We have not made
such a request. However, when in the
ordinary course of business you re-
ceive from one of your regular Gus
toners an order such as you would
have welcomed before this contro-
versy began there rests upon you a
responsibility which no honest man,
no freedom loving American citizen,
can delude himself into believing does
not exist You should live up to the
obligation you are under to your Gus
toner and deliver the goods, or your
influence has been lent to fastening
upon the business life of this city.
tyranny it cannot bear and live, and
which would deny to our business men
the rights guaranteed to all by every
principle of law. and Justice"