The Oskaloosa herald., 1910-02-03
THE TRADES ASSEMBLY
The Open Session Last Evening 6
Gratifying Success.

The open session of the Oskaloosa
Trades Assembly held Tuesday even
ing in Assembly hall was a gratifying
success in every way and the man
agement is congratulated upon the
benefits that will result from the spe-
cial effort The attendance was large,
far in excess of expectations. The
hall was filled with an audience that
was representative of the, best ele-
ments of the city. The accommodate
tions first provided for the occasion
were insufficient and additional seats
were procured. The results of the
meeting will be highly beneficial and
organized labor is on a higher plane
today than ever before.
The meeting was called 10 order
shortly after eight O'Clock, by l.. M.
Fancher, president of the Oskaloosa
Trades Assembly, following number
of selections by a twelve piece orches-
ira directed by VIII d. Beckman. Mr..
Fancher stated the Objecr of the meet
ing,-an effort to show the people the
aims, the uses, the benefits and the
results of organized labor and to haze
better understanding locally and in
general. People sometimes misun-
derstand the purposes of the trades
organization and frequently the mem
bers of unions fall short of under
standing its foundation principles and
do not recognize the ways and means
of betterment made possible.
The program of the evening was
varied by the introduction of enter
tainment features that pleased all.
Mr. Fancher was followed by John E.
Cramer who gave a reading OF patri
otto character, The Death of Bene-
dict Arnold" Master James Hilleary
gave Barbara Frietchie" with char
aoteristic excellence, and another Sc
lection by the orchestra followed.
Senator John F. Ream of NDahaska
county gave an address upon topics
pertinent to the occasion. Mr.. Ream
is a good talker and he was both en-
pertaining and interesting last even
ing. He gave something of the his
tory of organized labor, the necessity
for it and told of its accomplishments.
1t has secured for the wage arner bet
ter conditions, it has taken the child
from the work shop and placed it in
the school, it has helped and educat-
ed the foreigner, it has raised the
standards of living and morality, it
has secured for work q just recon-
pense and has made the lahorer wor-
thy of his hire. Mr.. Ream also touch
ed upon the high price of living, the
ever present topic of the day, but
aside from an expression of opinion
he did not enter deeply into the sub
ject. He blamed combinations and
trusts for a part of the conditions.
James Hilleary favored the audi
ence with vocal solo that was fully
as good as his recitation had been.
He sang when We Were Boys" in a
manner that made the audience desire
to hear more and he responded with
an encore, I'm Glad Met You"
The principal address of the even
ing was by A. l.. Trick of Des Moines,
president of the Iowa Federation of
Labor, the state organization of the
laboring men. Senator Ream's talk
had been fitting Introduction for the
things that Mr. Urick had to say. He
is an excellent talker, earnest and
forceful. He Is thinker and always
says something worth hearing. In
treating OF the value Of organized la.
Dor Mr., uriok drew comparisons OF
other days, before Tie period Of or.