Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-05-13

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more goods sold, but a demand made
for better and higher grade goods.
Adds to Character.
"The reduction of the hours of labor
brings increased character, culture and
education Some claim that the man
who works eight hours instead Of
twelve spends that much more leisure
time in the saloons The opposite has
proved to be true. When a man only
works eight hours, he spends less time
loafing in the saloons, He has time
to go home and take care of his home,
family and property, whereas before,
his leisure minutes were so few he was
too discouraged to try to 90 anything
for himself
Mr.. Lennon then stated that the la
Dor movement was handling some
problems that the entire world ought
| to be interested in, regardless of la
Dor affiliations. These, he asserted,
were child labor and the women in the
shops and trades. The first, he as
serted should be stopped and instead
of apprenticing children, industrial
education, at the same time broaden
ing the young minds along other lines.
In regard to the women he stated that
nothing could keep them from work
ing, but that fair wages and good con-
ditions should and were being demand.
ed. He cited instances OF women
working in state and government posi-.
lions alongside of men doing the iden-
teal work for from thirty to fifty per
cent less wages, as an outrage to
| American mankind.
In Regard to Injunctlons.
| Il find that the labor people en-
masse do not understand this injunc-
| ton matter any better than some peo-
pie outside of the labor circles,' the
speaker proceeded. $50 l may be ex-
cused if l try to make it plain in a
few words.
| "We do not object to the use of In
functions in labor disputes; what we
do object to is an unfair use Of the
injunction. If one railroad enjoins an
.ls right of way, the work on that con
struction stops 1t is left alone and
that is all there is to it. Now, then
suppose q labor Injunction is issued.
1t restraints the workers from the prop
erty. That is all right 1t restraints
us from violence; and that is all right,
too. Butt goes further-it restraints
us from meeting and even talking over
our grievances so that we may arrive
at means to alleviate our disputes
Does an Injunction against railroad
restrain the officials from comforting
together and attempting to arrive at
some settlement? No. it does not We
are restrained from talking or publish
ing anything in connection with our
/ grievance. That's the abuse that we
do most emphatically object to.
Gompers' Case.
Gust a few words in regard to the
specific case against Brothers Com
pers. Mitchell and Morrison, to show
how discriminating a labor Injunction
u.s. Mitchell was found guilty of con-
tempt of court on one count, and SEN
fenced to nine months in prison. What
had he done? He had been president
of union that was represented at a
convention where a resolution was
drawn and passed, f1ning every union
man SIS who bought product of the
Buck Stove and Range Co.
"Gompers was found guilty of con-
tempt and got one year in prison be-
cause he, as president of the FEEDER
alton had merely referred to the Buck
controversary in one of his reports
Morrison got six months in prison be-
cause he, as secretary of the fedora
ton had published the minutes of the
meeting which referred to the Buck
dispute.
1--WE regard that as interfering with
the right of free speech and free press
and were going to fight it and win,
or else there's something wrong with
the constitution of the United States.
the fundamental principles on which
the Pilgrim fathers came to this coun-
try years ago and was one Of the basic
principles of the original constitution
of the country.
Mistakes Are Made.
'tThe union men frequently make
mistakes. Some labor men believe that
, because they cannot agree with the
employers on wage scale tnat they
should disagree with them in all mat
| tiers. That is not so. There are as
many points of contact as of diversion
| if we'll just get together man to man
, You don't need to give up your wage
fight because you get together anC
, discuss civic improvements and public
affairs. Your central committee
should get together with the CONNER
, cial association, the city official and
: the school board and not let your wage
differences ruin your, interest in YOU
city.
, How can we help? BY purchasing
goods made by union labor. 1t is one
4 of the essentials, if we are going tc
go on winning, that every union mar
J should demand the label on whatever
! he buys. Buy that which has demand
ed fair wage for its making"
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