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Encyclopedia Dubuque

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DUBUQUE TRADES AND LABOR CONGRESS: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:grashorn.jpg|left|thumb|250px|]]DUBUQUE TRADES AND LABOR CONGRESS. In one of its last efforts, the [[KNIGHTS OF LABOR]] led the efforts in forming the Dubuque Trades and Labor Congress, a citywide labor organization in July 1888. (1)
[[Image:grashorn.jpg|left|thumb|250px|]]DUBUQUE TRADES AND LABOR CONGRESS. In one of its last efforts, the [[KNIGHTS OF LABOR]] led the efforts in forming the Dubuque Trades and Labor Congress, a citywide labor organization in July 1888. (1)


In 1899 the Congress proposed municipal ownership of the water works. (2) After hearing a presentation on the Somers tax system which was gaining in popularity around the nation, the members announced that they would probably support it if it were introduced here. (3) In 1922 the Congress suggested to the board of supervisors that bloodhounds be purchased to run down escapees county and city criminals. (4) In 1929 the Congress requested that the city council send letters to state and federal officials requesting that they work for appropriations to establish the 9-foot channel in the [[MISSISSIPPI RIVER]] at Dubuque, building of grain elevators at terminal points, and inclusion in an appropriations bill for funds to add an addition to the [[POST OFFICE]] in Dubuque. This was approved by the council. (5) The Trades and Labor Congress in 1937 introduced a resolution asking for a five billion federal housing program that would help ten or more Dubuque industries. (6)
Over decades the Dubuque Trades and Labor Congress advocated for a wide variety of issues. In 1899 the Congress proposed municipal ownership of the water works. (2) After hearing a presentation on the Somers tax system which was gaining in popularity around the nation, the members announced that they would probably support it if it were introduced here. (3) In 1922 the Congress suggested to the board of supervisors that bloodhounds be purchased to run down escapees county and city criminals. (4) In 1929 the Congress requested that the city council send letters to state and federal officials requesting that they work for appropriations to establish the 9-foot channel in the [[MISSISSIPPI RIVER]] at Dubuque, building of grain elevators at terminal points, and inclusion in an appropriations bill for funds to add an addition to the [[POST OFFICE]] in Dubuque. This was approved by the council. (5) The Trades and Labor Congress in 1937 introduced a resolution asking for a five billion federal housing program that would help ten or more Dubuque industries. (6)


[[Image:notice.png|left|thumb|250px|1920 notice. Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald]]An editorial in the ''Dubuque Herald'' in 1904 concerned the control of the Dubuque Trades and Labor Congress by socialists. This, according to the editorial, had led many of the older trade unions to withdraw from the organization. Socialists, it was stated, were more interested in strikes "if it takes all summer" than participating where "give and take must be the policy."  
[[Image:notice.png|left|thumb|250px|1920 notice. Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald]]Reaction to the organization was often linked to being Un-American or socialist. An editorial in the ''Dubuque Herald'' in 1904 concerned the control of the Dubuque Trades and Labor Congress by socialists. This, according to the editorial, had led many of the older trade unions to withdraw from the organization. Socialists, it was stated, were more interested in strikes "if it takes all summer" than participating where "give and take must be the policy."  


                 Until his counsel had been rejected and settlement of the dispute (streetcar strike)
                 Until his counsel had been rejected and settlement of the dispute (streetcar strike)
Line 13: Line 13:
[[Image:vote.png|left|thumb|250px|1928 political poster. Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald]]Meetings in the early years were held at Eighhorn's Hall at 13th and Clay streets. (8) In 1915 meetings were held in the Labor Temple at 9th and Locust. (9) It was announced by officials of the Dubuque Trades and Labor Congress in 1934 that the second and third floors of the Facade Building would be renovated as a Labor Temple. (10)
[[Image:vote.png|left|thumb|250px|1928 political poster. Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald]]Meetings in the early years were held at Eighhorn's Hall at 13th and Clay streets. (8) In 1915 meetings were held in the Labor Temple at 9th and Locust. (9) It was announced by officials of the Dubuque Trades and Labor Congress in 1934 that the second and third floors of the Facade Building would be renovated as a Labor Temple. (10)


In 1938 four of the candidates for positions on the Dubuque City Council were elected with an endorsement of the Trades and Labor Congress. These individuals included [[THOMPSON, Frank W.|Frank W. THOMPSON]], and [[VAN DUELMAN, Frank|Frank VAN DUELMAN]], [[MURPHY, George R.|George R. MURPHY]], and [[CLARK, Carl|Carl CLARK]]. [[WHARTON, Albert|Albert WHARTON]] was elected in opposition to Congress candidates.  
In 1920 labor strife at the [[CORN BELT PACKING COMPANY]] led the Trades and Labor Congress to pass a resolution asking Commissioner Urick, of the state labor department to visit Dubuque and the president of the Iowa Federation of Labor to come to Dubuque to investigate the issues. (11)


The 1940 city council election pitted the Citizens' Party against the Trades and Labor Congress. In meetings with the Congress, representatives of the Citizens Party asked that it be able to name two of the five individuals to be elected to the city council. A majority of delegates to the Congress at one point during a special meeting voted against the idea of demanding to name four instead of three names. Even Arthur M. Bennett, a former president of the Congress, resigned from its committee believing the Congress position was unfair. When an agreement with the Congress could not be reached, the Citizens Party put forth a slate of five candidates. Albert Wharton, Frank W. Thompson, and Frank Van Duelman, three of the five, were endorsed by the Congress and the Citizens' Party. (11) [[TOEPEL, William V.|William V. TOEPEL]] and Bernard Schueller were not and were challenged by Clark and Wharton. (12) In the election in which a light turnout was a surprise, Schueller endorsed by the Citizens' Party and Murphy endorsed by the Congress were successful. (13)
The Dubuque Trades and Labor Congress moved into local politics. In 1938 four of the candidates for positions on the Dubuque City Council were elected with an endorsement of the Trades and Labor Congress. These individuals included [[THOMPSON, Frank W.|Frank W. THOMPSON]], and [[VAN DUELMAN, Frank|Frank VAN DUELMAN]], [[MURPHY, George R.|George R. MURPHY]], and [[CLARK, Carl|Carl CLARK]]. [[WHARTON, Albert|Albert WHARTON]] was elected in opposition to Congress candidates.  


In 1948 the Congress ran John Sherman and Lester Streinz on its non-partisan platform for city council. Both were defeated. (14)
The 1940 city council election pitted the Citizens' Party against the Trades and Labor Congress. In meetings with the Congress, representatives of the Citizens Party asked that it be able to name two of the five individuals to be elected to the city council. A majority of delegates to the Congress at one point during a special meeting voted against the idea of demanding to name four instead of three names. Even Arthur M. Bennett, a former president of the Congress, resigned from its committee believing the Congress position was unfair.  When an agreement with the Congress could not be reached, the Citizens Party put forth a slate of five candidates. Albert Wharton, Frank W. Thompson, and Frank Van Duelman, three of the five, were endorsed by the Congress and the Citizens' Party. (12) [[TOEPEL, William V.|William V. TOEPEL]] and Bernard Schueller were not and were challenged by Clark and Wharton. (13) In the election in which a light turnout was a surprise, Schueller endorsed by the Citizens' Party and Murphy endorsed by the Congress were successful. (14)
 
In 1948 the Congress ran John Sherman and Lester Streinz on its non-partisan platform for city council. Both were defeated. (15)




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10. "Labor Temple Planned Here," ''Telegraph Herald'', November 9, 1934, p. 13
10. "Labor Temple Planned Here," ''Telegraph Herald'', November 9, 1934, p. 13


11. "Election Information," ''Telegraph Herald'', March 22, 1940, p. 2
11. "Corn Belt Company and Union at Odds," ''Dubuque Telegraph Herald'', August 3, 1920, p. 3
 
12. "Election Information," ''Telegraph Herald'', March 22, 1940, p. 2


12. "Heavy Vote Expected at Monday Election," ''Telegraph Herald'', March 24, 1940, p. 1
13. "Heavy Vote Expected at Monday Election," ''Telegraph Herald'', March 24, 1940, p. 1


13. "Election Won by Schueller, Mayor Murphy," ''Telegraph Herald'', March 26, 1940, p. 1
14. "Election Won by Schueller, Mayor Murphy," ''Telegraph Herald'', March 26, 1940, p. 1


14. "Sherman and Streinz Trail Two Winners," ''Telegraph Herald'', March 30, 1948, p. 1
15. "Sherman and Streinz Trail Two Winners," ''Telegraph Herald'', March 30, 1948, p. 1


[[Category: Organizations]]
[[Category: Organizations]]

Revision as of 01:39, 9 April 2017

Being written

Grashorn.jpg

DUBUQUE TRADES AND LABOR CONGRESS. In one of its last efforts, the KNIGHTS OF LABOR led the efforts in forming the Dubuque Trades and Labor Congress, a citywide labor organization in July 1888. (1)

Over decades the Dubuque Trades and Labor Congress advocated for a wide variety of issues. In 1899 the Congress proposed municipal ownership of the water works. (2) After hearing a presentation on the Somers tax system which was gaining in popularity around the nation, the members announced that they would probably support it if it were introduced here. (3) In 1922 the Congress suggested to the board of supervisors that bloodhounds be purchased to run down escapees county and city criminals. (4) In 1929 the Congress requested that the city council send letters to state and federal officials requesting that they work for appropriations to establish the 9-foot channel in the MISSISSIPPI RIVER at Dubuque, building of grain elevators at terminal points, and inclusion in an appropriations bill for funds to add an addition to the POST OFFICE in Dubuque. This was approved by the council. (5) The Trades and Labor Congress in 1937 introduced a resolution asking for a five billion federal housing program that would help ten or more Dubuque industries. (6)

1920 notice. Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald

Reaction to the organization was often linked to being Un-American or socialist. An editorial in the Dubuque Herald in 1904 concerned the control of the Dubuque Trades and Labor Congress by socialists. This, according to the editorial, had led many of the older trade unions to withdraw from the organization. Socialists, it was stated, were more interested in strikes "if it takes all summer" than participating where "give and take must be the policy."

                Until his counsel had been rejected and settlement of the dispute (streetcar strike)
                made possible by any other terms than the complete surrender by the company on every
                point raised. (7)
1928 political poster. Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald

Meetings in the early years were held at Eighhorn's Hall at 13th and Clay streets. (8) In 1915 meetings were held in the Labor Temple at 9th and Locust. (9) It was announced by officials of the Dubuque Trades and Labor Congress in 1934 that the second and third floors of the Facade Building would be renovated as a Labor Temple. (10)

In 1920 labor strife at the CORN BELT PACKING COMPANY led the Trades and Labor Congress to pass a resolution asking Commissioner Urick, of the state labor department to visit Dubuque and the president of the Iowa Federation of Labor to come to Dubuque to investigate the issues. (11)

The Dubuque Trades and Labor Congress moved into local politics. In 1938 four of the candidates for positions on the Dubuque City Council were elected with an endorsement of the Trades and Labor Congress. These individuals included Frank W. THOMPSON, and Frank VAN DUELMAN, George R. MURPHY, and Carl CLARK. Albert WHARTON was elected in opposition to Congress candidates.

The 1940 city council election pitted the Citizens' Party against the Trades and Labor Congress. In meetings with the Congress, representatives of the Citizens Party asked that it be able to name two of the five individuals to be elected to the city council. A majority of delegates to the Congress at one point during a special meeting voted against the idea of demanding to name four instead of three names. Even Arthur M. Bennett, a former president of the Congress, resigned from its committee believing the Congress position was unfair. When an agreement with the Congress could not be reached, the Citizens Party put forth a slate of five candidates. Albert Wharton, Frank W. Thompson, and Frank Van Duelman, three of the five, were endorsed by the Congress and the Citizens' Party. (12) William V. TOEPEL and Bernard Schueller were not and were challenged by Clark and Wharton. (13) In the election in which a light turnout was a surprise, Schueller endorsed by the Citizens' Party and Murphy endorsed by the Congress were successful. (14)

In 1948 the Congress ran John Sherman and Lester Streinz on its non-partisan platform for city council. Both were defeated. (15)


See: LABOR MOVEMENT

---

Source:

1. "A Strike of Type Stickers," Dubuque Daily Herald, May 10, 1891, p. 8. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18910510&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

2. "City Council," Dubuque Herald, September 28 1899, p. 2

3. "Explains Somers System," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, October 7, 1913, p. 2

4. "Courthouse News," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, March 16, 1922, p. 5

5. "City Council Proceedings," Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal, December 2, 1929, p. 13

6. "Local Unions Seek Housing," Telegraph Herald, December 7, 1937, p. 3

7. "Repudiating the Socialists," Dubuque Herald, July 18, 1904, p. 4

8. "The Trades and Labor Congress," Dubuque Herald, June 12, 1900, p. 8

9. "Labor Congress Names Candidates," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, January 5, 1915, p 11

10. "Labor Temple Planned Here," Telegraph Herald, November 9, 1934, p. 13

11. "Corn Belt Company and Union at Odds," Dubuque Telegraph Herald, August 3, 1920, p. 3

12. "Election Information," Telegraph Herald, March 22, 1940, p. 2

13. "Heavy Vote Expected at Monday Election," Telegraph Herald, March 24, 1940, p. 1

14. "Election Won by Schueller, Mayor Murphy," Telegraph Herald, March 26, 1940, p. 1

15. "Sherman and Streinz Trail Two Winners," Telegraph Herald, March 30, 1948, p. 1