Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-05-10
OVER 100 DELEGATES
Iowa Federation Of Labor Holds Keys
to ottumwa-Waterman Makes Ad.
dress Of WeIcome-President Urich
Responds - Business Transactions
Begin.

The fourteenth annual convention of
the Iowa State Federation of Labor
opened this morning with over 100
delegates present in the A. o. u. w.
hail. The meeting was called to order
by L. Lightner, president of the OF
tumwa Trades and Labor assembly,
who in few chosen words welcomed
the delegates to Ottunwa in behalf of
the assembly. Hon. H. L. Waterman
followed with an address of welcome
in behalf of the city Of Ottumwa and
the trades unions. A. L. Urick, presi-
dent of the state federation responded
happily with a few encouraging re-
marks. Mr.. Urick dwelt upon the
earnest welcome expressed by Mr..
Waterman feelingly, referring to the
speaker as one of the largest employ
ae17.ss- ST -erggani Esd eabor IN the state and
one with whom the federation had al
war-s gotten along well. He closed
with mention of the fact that the
city OF Ottumwa expects certain things
from tho visiting delegates, and ex-
pressed assurance that the men gath
cred in the fourteenth annual conven-
ton would leave the city with the
good will of everyone. Both Mr. Water
mans remarks and those of President
Urick were heartily applauded.
Address of Welcome.
The address of welcome of Hon. H.
L. Waterman is complete as follows:
'sMr. President and Representatives
of the State Federation of Labor
At the request of the mayor and the
local representatives of your Fedora
7 70
ant duty of bidding you a hearty well
come to our city, trusting that your
stay with us may be pleasant, your
deliberations harmonious, resulting in
much good to the cause you represent.
wish you success in every proper eff
fort to better the condition of your
membership, individually and collect
lively.
Possibly the suggestion for me to
extend this greeting arose from the
fact that have sort of af1liation
with the U. M. W. of A., District 10,
one of the members of, your fedora
ton.
zone Of the salient features of such
affiliation is that it was involuntary on
our part in the beginning.
"But on the whole the miners and
operators of Iowa, have gotten along
very well, indeed.
81 want to bear witness to he fact
that when an agreement is once made,
the miners officials are invariably
fair and use their best endeavors to
see that the same is lived up to.
Such officials are men taken from the
ranks, know the details of the bust
ness and partake of none OF the sup
posed characteristics of the so-called
walking delegate.
Naturally, being a representative
of the employing class, have viewed
some of the questions, affecting labor,
from a different standpoint from your.
selves.
at would be wholly out of place,
even if / were so disposed, which
am not, to say anything on this occa-
sion in the way of criticism, except 1t
be for the purpose of increasing the
efficiency of the Individual member
and thereby strengthening your organ
ization
aIn line with that thought, in my
estimation the greatest enemy In the
world today, to the wage-earner, is the
u.ink habit 1t is altogether too prev
alent, benefits no one and exposes
everyone who INDUCES to the danger
of poverty, distress and moral ruin
1 should rejoice to see every member
Of your federation take positive
stand against this evil
There is undeniably much objeo'
ton to trades unions, but think it is
not SO much an opposition to the prin
ciple of organization as to some of the
methods employed to obtain the OBJ
jects sought, and a belief that in
many instances it decreases the eff
cheney of the individual. Unquestion
ably the organization of labor has re
suited in increasing the wage scale
shortening the hours of labor, and bet
tering working conditions.
"Bnt thara Ia a limit in the matter