Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-06-08
Manufacturers Association at
Council Bluffs Hears Figures
on Industries
STATE HAS 5000 FACTORIES
Importance of Iowa as Manufacturing
Center Pointed Out by J. w. Van
cleave, President Of National Assoc
eiation-Leaders Of Labor Unions
Severely Denounced.
to rimes-Republican.

manufacturers from every ely III
state and some from other states, are
attending the annual meeting Of the
Iowa state Manufacturers Associa-
ton in this city. Interesting addresses
were made by a score OF speakers. An
address of welcome by Senator Saun-
ders was responded to by DR.. George
q Mclean, president Of the State Uni
versity OF Iowa. President Thomas b.
Carson Of Davenport in his address
dwelt particularly upon the necessity
as he saw 1t, for manual training IN
the schools, more particularly In their
relation to manufacturing. William
Louden Of Fairfield, spoke upon agrl-
cultural and mechanical schools IN
Iowa. w. r. Lane Of Des Moines had
an interesting address upon legitimate
competition. The principal address OF
the convention was made last night by
J. w. Van Cleave of New York, pres
ident OF the National Association OF
Manufacturers. Mr.. Van Cleave dWelt
upon the Importance Of Iowa as q
manufacturing state and he also ar
raigned some Of the leaders Of LABOR
unions. He said in part:
"Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen OF the
Iowa Manufacturers' Association: Inc
average eastern man might think that
the subject Of manufacturing would
have only an academic interest for any
sort OF an Iowa audience. In fact ne
might be tempted to say that the his
tory Of manufacturing In this state
could be made as short as that chapter
on the snakes in Iceland that DR..
johnson tells us about. There are no
factories in Iowa.
.But no western man, and especially
nobody who resides on the Mississtppi's
sunset side. will fall into any such err
ror. While we all know that Iowa
stands in the front rank among the
AGRICULTURAL states Of the country, we
also Know that there are only two
states west OF the Mississippi which
have more factories than Iowa. These
are Missouri and California. In 1907
Iowa has about 5000 mills and factor
les of the various kinds. reEresenting
a capital Of $115,000,0 900, employing 5o,-
900 persons. to whom $25,00o,0O0 will
be paid in wages this year. and whose
work will represent about $l70,OOo,-
900 in finished products.
Nor will I make the mistake OF sup
posing that race suicide has struck
Iowa That falling OF Of q few thou
sands in population between 1900 and
1908 does not mean a declinoin any sort
OF productiveness in this state. It was
only in the farming districts that.th
was any decrease. The manufacturing
centers and the cities in general. am
happy to say, made q handsome gain
in population as well as in the volume
Of their activities in the five years. 1t
is the old story, exemplified In every
country, Of the drift Of population from
the agricultural regions to the busi-
ness centers. Many persons moved
from the farms to the factories. Others
sold their farms and moved out OF the
state, buying cheaper lands in other
communities. Thus 1owa's farms will
have a larger average area IN 1917
than they had in 1900, but their ag-
gregate yield will also be greater.
II am glad to learn that the Iowa
Manufacturers association, altho it
has been incorporated only little over
three years, has membership which
represents q capital Of $S1,000,000, or
more than thirds Of the capital
employed in manufacturing in this
state. This shows that the Iowa man
ufacturers not only have q local pride,
but they have an intelligent regard for
their own interests. This is what I
would naturally look for In state
having the high place in the scale of
education and public spirit that Iowa
holds. My only surprise is that any
manufacturer In the state remains out
side of the association.
with our great army Of workers
an army six times as large in number
as the forces under Grant, Lee and all
the rest of the union and confederate
commanders com ined at Appomattox
and with the necessity which is be-
fore us of increasing this army con-
stantly and rapidly. all of US employ
ers have a vital concern in the labor
question. And this concern Is greater
than 1t ever was before 1t is greater
for several reasons. The labor unions
are becoming more and more auto
cratic. The supply of workers is fall
ing shorter and shorter as compared
with the demand. Notwithstanding the
1000, 900 immigration in 1905, the l.
100000 in 1906, and the 100000 that is
coming in 1907, all Of us manufacturers
have fewer workers than we could find
profitable use for.
"But, practically speaking, the entire
labor problem resolves itself into these
two words-labor unionism. We must
look this issue squarely in the face.
Take almost every troublesome fea-
,ture Of this whole question, in what
ever shape 1t presents itself to US, and
hunt 1t to its source, and we will find
that 1t runs up against some labor
union.
Now, Mr.. Chairman, want 1t I'M
derstood at the outset that we are
making no war on labor unionism as
such. the right to organize belongs to
workers as well as to employers. Some
of the unions have done a good service
not only to their members, but to the
community. The rank and file Of
many Of the unions is composed OF
Industrious, law abiding men. Some
OF their members are among the wor.
thiest of our citizens. I like to meet
all such men in a social and business
way. I stand ready at any time TO
aid them in every legitimate endeavor.
think can speak for the vast ma
jority OF the members Of the National
Association of Manufacturers in saying
Asst such men are always welcomed in