Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-07-12
UNION MAN HEARD.
Carpenter Believes Commercial Club
Could Have Settled Lennox Strike.


Editor Times Republican: In the
issue Of the T.-R. of the 9Th appears
an interview between President Crick
Of the Iowa Fedora ton of Labor, and
a representative Of the Register and
Leader in regard 10 the labor cond-
irons in Marshalltown and the atti-
Jude of the business men toward the
unions. Mr. Trick. is quoted as saying
that most OF the business men are op-
posed TO organized labo..
While It IS true that some Of the
business men. who are int .ested In
factories or shops. are opposed to or
ganized labor there are many business
men in the city who are not Mr.
Tricks statement that the trouble was
imaginary is true. and the prominent
business man who told Mr.. Urick tina:
Marshalftown would sacrifice all of its
factories before it would recognize the
onions has the same ear marks as the
nan who told a carpenter Of the city
that he would be working for 20 cents
per hour within g year.
This man Is prominent member OF
the Commerce. Club. bus he writer
does not accepe the statements of this
man as representing the genial fa-i-
II g of the club. but should the cluo
sanction his statements by their 81
lance. of course the unions will have
to accept il at its face va,ue. If the
club, as Whole> would drop even a
part of the existing prejudice and meet
organized labor on anything like equal
footing they will find them not as bad
as they seem TO think they ace
We very much regret the conditions
as they exist and have been for some
time. and the union men set the foot
of disapproval on all violence and de-
struction Of property, but the universal
rule of condemning the whole for the
nisdeeds of the few is worked TO the
limit in this C:ty Al the expense Of
organized labor There have been but
very few cases who're arbitration has
failed But the first move in this city
is to run in STRIKE breakers anf refuse
to arbitrate. Just as long as this is
done there Is hound 10 be trouble.
AS to the Lennox machine shop
strike, in commenting on the case you
say that the strikers killed the goose
that was about to lay the golden egg
Now can not fully agree with YOU on
that point. altho they did start the ball
rolling Laying the blame on their
shoulders, and giving mere handful OF
men credit of beating out million
dollar corporation is putting it rather
| strong and is giving them credit OF
more power than any union man ever
dreamed Of. Had the booster club
( taken the matter up without prejudice
and dealt fairly with those men. there
is no doubt but the case would have
been settled long ago. But it seems
as they state, they would rather see
/ the factory leave town than to try tc
settle the difficulty. When the unions
refuse to arbitrate there might be some
1 excuse for blaming them for the condi.
| ton. We realize that we have the
! proveroial black sheep in our flock. W.
also believe that all other hocks have
! the same affliction. therefore we do no
condemn all others on that account
1 Now / consider that if the comm erca
club is not in sympathy with state.
ments as to the factories and the un.
ions they should say SO in an early is
sue OF your paper If they are NJ
statement from them is necessary, be.
cause the statement is very power.
| full kick backwards and would take {
I long time to forget
G. D. SWEENEY.
July II 1910