Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-05-13
MOVEMENT
is INTERPRE
J. B. LENNON, TREASURER OF A.
F. OF [, DELIVERS INSPIRING
ADDRESS AT ARMoRY.
OFFICIALS
DEFENDS
Declares That Court Proceedings
Against Gompers, Mitchell and
Morrison Are In Variance With
Constitution of United States.

Men and women who have had the
interests Of the trades union move
ment at heart were inspired to greater
efforts toward an ideal con-
summation of the conditions
desired and sought for and
those. who heretofore have not
been entirely partisan in their beliefs
were swung over to new line of
thought by the forcible address de-
livered last evening at the armory by
Hon. John B. Lennon. Only fair at
tendance was accorded the meeting,
but those that were present were in
tensely in earnest and expressed their
resolve to extend the messages
brought by the speaker, to all with
whom they came in contact
The meeting was presided over by
fC. A. Gustaveson, who spoke very
briefly, calling attention to the fact
that on the platform were representa-
tives from practically every local
union the state federation and ma
tional federation The evenings pro-
gram proper opened with a selection
by the Imperial male quartet. The
young men rendered Back Mid the
Glover and the Corn" as their first
selection, and despite the fact that
they sung without any accompaniment
their work was excellent. Their voices
harmonic beautifully and they sing
with expression. During the evening
they rendered several selections, COM
prising a program of considerable
versatility, and displayed the same
faulrless Interpretation and training in
the more difficult numbers that they
demonstrated in the simpler but more
appealing plantation melodies. The
men have been training under the
direction of James Swirles, Sr.
Rev. w. H. HORNED and Father
James Foley were both on the plat
form and were called on to speak
Each spoke briefly, stating that they
came ''to fish and not to fall in" They
were followed by w. G. Minnick, who
briefly went into an analysis of the
Trades and Labor assembly. He stated
that the assembly was composed of
delegates from each local lodge, for
the purpose of having one strong
united organization which would have
the interests of all trades at heart.
Following Mr.. Minnick, S. G. Turner, a
member of the executive board of the
state federation. in few words de-
fined the object Of the state federation,
(which, he asserted, was composed of
representatives from the various as
semblies for the purpose of drafting
resolutions and recommendations to
be presented to the legislators in an
endeavor to procure better laws which
would improve the conditions of the
labor men.
Two Great Questions.
In opening his address Of the even
ing, Mr. Lennon rapidly reviewed the
labor situation and it's history, bring
| ing it up to the present in a very few
words
There are two great questions be-
fore the civilized world said Mr.. Len
non. zone is the Christianity of Jesus
Christ and the other is labor. trust
that the time is not far distant when
labor becomes a part of the church
and the church becomes part OF
labor-for in my mind, they have
MANY things in common.
"This labor movement of ours came
into existence years ago when men
ceased TO work alongside of their en-
ploycs. When the employers retired
from the bench and watched the work
men from a distance the chasm was
formed and has gradually been widen
ing. The factory system then follow
ed and then came the labor movement
as we know it. 1t is hard to tell just
where it originated, but apparently it
| in III in he
factory system was INTRODUCED there
fearlier than anywhere else.
There is no need for pessimism
among the laboring men today. The
| trouble with those that are dscon,
tented is that they do not look at wide
enough horizon Look over the past
forty years! We are enjoying a broad.
er and more real freedom than ever
before. There is absolutely no sub
stantial reason for pessimism. We
need to be boosters instead of knock
ers. There is no place lin the labor
world for knocker.
To Protect Workers.
/ "Our organ came into existence for
mainly one thing-to protect the work
ing man in his wages. Men say now
as in the past, that if there is nothing
in this labor movement but question
of wages that there's not much in it
l | don't know about that.
Humanity itself depends upon {
decent wage. The man that makes ar
indecent wage is not able to have s
!, decent home, to clothe his family
decently, to associate with decent PEG
iple. The matter of wages has to d.
with everything that goes to make
men and women. The nation itself de
ponds upon the working people ant
the improved conditions of the labor
ing people means just that mucl
stronger and better nation. So sa.
that primarily, this labor movement
was started to get for that working
man what his labor deserves
when will we stop? When we have
justice for the working man. 1t ha
always seemed strange to me, the PEG
pie that are against this movement
The retailers that oppose this move
ment are the biggest fools this sid,
, of Hades. There is not class of pee
pie on earth that spend more none,
than the laboring people. The re
H., G~E- 4