Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-07-25
State Federation Of Labor.

passed resolution requiring the use
of the union label on all printing done
for the city. Five union men in the
city council. There's reason.
On June 2Sth all of the machinists
of the Great Western shops at Oelwein
went on strike because of the discharge
of seven members constituting their
grievance committee. This committee
had been trying to adjust some differ
ences of minor Importance with the
management. An agreement was
reached onS 1.-THE following Saturday on
all matters at issue, including the
reinstatement of the members dis
charged.
The miners of Coin organized and
secured an agreement in accordance
with their state agreement.
Report has been receive: from the
Garment Workers Union of Ottumwa
that their difficulty with the Hardsogo
Manufacturing Company has been ad-
justed, and that the firm is again us
ing the Garment Workers Union Label
on their products. No agreement has
yet been reached with the American
Mining Tool Co. recently removed
from What Cheer to Ottumwa. Nego-
tiations are however, under way and
the hope is expressed that all matters
will be agreeably adjusted.
The strike of the Des Moines Timers
for an increase of wages and begin
ming June 1, is still on. Seven firms
have up to this time signed an agree
ment. A committee from the Busi.
ness Mems Association has been very
busy trying to induce and in several
cases attempted to intimidate firms
having signed into breaking their
agreements by locking out the men in
their employ.
The Ottumwa Trades and Labor
Assembly have a committee at work to
raise funds for the construction of a
Labor Hall. The building in con-
temptation is to be A by 132 feet, three
stories high. The ground floor is to
be used for store purposes, while the
second and third floors are to be arran-
ged for offices and meeting rooms. A
central location is at the option of the
committee. and they feel highly
jubilant over the encouragement so far
given. The Painters and Decorators
of Ottumwa have lately reorganized.
A new agreement was entered into
between the Davenport Street Railway
Employees Association and the Tri-
Citv Railway Company of Davenport,
Rock Island and Moline. The agree
mept is to apply from June /, 1906, to
June /, 1908. Under its terms new
men will start at 20 cents per hour
instead of Is cents as under the old
agreement. The second year they
will receive 21 cents, the third 90 cents
and thereafter 23 cents per hour.
Those who had been in the employ of
the company for one year at time of
agreement are to receive % cents per
hour for the second and third year
of service and thereafter 90 cents. The
regular working hours are to be ten per
day, and 20 cents per hour shall be
paid for all overtime.
Local unions should get copy and
study the new Child Labor Law that
went into effect July4. The duty of
enforcing its provisions devolve upon
the Labor Commissioner. Violations
of the law should be promptly
reported to him by our members, but
the greatest caution should be ex-
ercised against reporting either trivial
or technical cases, or cases that have
their origin in spite or prejudice. The
| commissioner can be relied upon to
do his duty and our membership should
seek TO aid in the proper enforcement
of the law rather than make the duties
incident to enforcement greater.
Ii there are any weaknesses in
the law that need correction, a faith
full and conservative policy of enforce
ment will soon bring them to light.
Fidlar and Chambers of Davenport,
one of the largest job printing esta-
blishments of the state, signed the eight
hour agreement with the Topographic
cal Union. The controversy with this
firm had been on since March l. This
clears all eight hour difficulties of the
printers in Iowa with the exception of
Des Moines. where the same condition
prevails with reference to printers,
book binders and book folders that
has prevailed for several months.
Many of the state reports, Including
the important Insurance, the State
Board of Con troll and the Railroad
Commissioners reports. that should
have been ready for distribution upon
the convening of the Thirty first
General Assembly in January, are not
vet out. The delay in the issue of the
report of the Superintendent of Public
Instruction is said to greatly delay
work of organization for the coming
school year. The Official Register, that
should have been distributed in