The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-07-08
Communication from Mayor Elder Re-
sardins Matter That Has
Been Subject Of Consider
able Controversy.
LABEL is NOT BARRED
Only Left off Where 1t Might Detract
From the General Appearance Of
the Printed Matter-Let-
ter Approved.

Inc Gdte City Co., CITY, Gentlemen:
There have been so many mis-state-
ments by the press relative to the re-
moval Of the union label from city
blanks and protest from the unions
about some actions Of the council that
it would seem desirable to publish
a statement of facts, which is set
forth in my letter of May 18th to the
Typographical union.
We have no fear that our action
may be misconstrued by the large
body of union men nor will the &C.
ton of their representatives or the
misstatements of the press prejudice
us against union labor
Yours very truly,
J. F. ELDER, Mayor.
May 25, 1910
Albert Kiefer, Curtis Koepf, J. G.
Stepler, committee from Topographic
cal Union No. GO, City. Gentlemen
In reply to your resolution, protesting
against the removal of your union Ia
by yourselves to the commissioners.
Your resolution states that the COM
missioners of the city of Keokuk
have barred your union label from
their printing. We desire to inform
you that the commissioners have not
| barred your union label from their
printing, nor has the city council TAX
en- any action bearing on this ques-
| ton. The only action of the city coun-
Gil to bring forth the various items
in the newspapers and your resolu-
ton of this subject was the action Of
| the mayor in cutting out, from a sin
gle blank, the union label for which
action he is ready to assume the re-
sponsibility.
Your protest and request rather
] forces the city council to take some
ion or at least express their posi-
/, Ion. The leaving off of the label on
/ city stationery seems in Itself a very
simple matter and something that
would not be objected to by any
i member of the city council except in
some particular instance where the
appearance of the labe! would de-
tract from the general appearance of
the printed matter or give wrong
impression to the general public, On
the other hand should all unions
want their label or brand on every
thing produced by them for the city,
| Eve believe they have the same right
to make this request that you have)
such practice might become NUS
ance Nor would the council by leav-
ing the label on all blanks desire to
indicate by SO doing that they were
subservient to dictation from the
unions.
The city council, in their official
capacity, have no occasion or is 1t
/ their duty to commit the city to a
policy or line of action for or against
any political party. church, society
organization or other social body ex-
cept as the action of such body is
detrimental or of benefit to the city
and then only so far as the interests
of the city shall require. AS aptly ex-
pressed by one of your committee
who felt that any man who was not
(aggressively) in favor of the unions
was against them. We imagine that
many of you have the same feeling.
This is a proposition we could not
agree to.
We shall make no objection to your
union label appearing on portion OF
the blanks required for the use of the
city but reserve the right to remove
it whenever or wherever it seems OBJ
/ jectionable to any of us.
Yours truly
j. F. ELDER, Mayor.
/ With approval of council.