Encyclopedia Dubuque
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DUBUQUE TRADES AND LABOR CONGRESS
Being written
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) It also went on record in opposition to contracting out prison labor at the cost of fifty cents per day to make cooperage items in competition with regular labor. (3) In 1908 the organization asked the local board of education to provide free textbooks to students. The law stated that if the board refused to comply the issue would be put to a referendum of the voters in the district. (4) 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. (5) In 1922 the Congress suggested to the board of supervisors that bloodhounds be purchased to run down escapees county and city criminals. (6) 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. (7) 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. (8) The Trades and Labor Congress announced to the city council in 1938 that it was opposed to Daylight Savings Time. (9) Concerned that many workers were unable to get registered to vote, the Congress petitioned the city council in 1944 to allow voter registration at places of work. The only location then offering registration was the DUBUQUE CITY HALL. (10) The proposal of the Dubuque policemen and firemen for a 40% increase in pay was endorsed by the Congress and the Democratic Party Central Committee in 1947. (11)
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. (12)
Meetings in the early years were held at Eighhorn's Hall at 13th and Clay streets. (13) In 1915 meetings were held in the Labor Temple at 9th and Locust. (14) 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. (15)
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. (16)
The Dubuque Trades and Labor Congress moved into local politics. The Trades and Labor Congress and the Good Government organizations in 1932 endorsed Martin B. ANDERFINGER, Mark R. KANE, and Ardenal Thompson to the city council. (17) 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. (18) William V. TOEPEL and Bernard Schueller were not and were challenged by Clark and Wharton. (19) 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. (20)
In 1942 the Congress ran Elroy H. Grashorn.
In 1948 the Congress ran John Sherman and Lester Streinz on its non-partisan platform for city council. Both were defeated. (21)
Politics was not the only avenue of interest for the Congress. As a patriotic gesture, the trustees in 1945 endorsed the purchase of seven $100 War Bonds as part of the seventh war loan campaign. (22) In addition to its involvement in the annual Labor Day Parade, the Congress sponsored social events. In 1949 it sponsored Dodson's Imperial Shows which was claimed to be the largest outdoor amusement group on tour. Its equipment arrived in thirty-five railroad cars. Amusements included a wild animal show, scooters, tilt-a-wheel, and twin Ferris wheels. (23)
The 1950 election for city council saw the Congress and Democratic Central Committee endorse Ruben V. AUSTIN, Bart Kane, and Donald B. Bartch, Sr. (24)
The Dubuque Trades and Labor Congress passed out of existence after the merger of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the Congress of Industrial Organizations in 1953. It was replaced by the Dubuque Federation of Labor. The last president of the Dubuque Trades and Labor Congress was John GROGAN.
See: LABOR MOVEMENT
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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. "Organized Labor Protests," Dubuque Herald, August 15, 1899, p. 4
4. "Free Textbooks in Public Schools," Telegraph Herald, December 7, 1908, p. 8
5. "Explains Somers System," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, October 7, 1913, p. 2
6. "Courthouse News," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, March 16, 1922, p. 5
7. "City Council Proceedings," Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal, December 2, 1929, p. 13
8. "Local Unions Seek Housing," Telegraph Herald, December 7, 1937, p. 3
9. "City Council Proceedings," Telegraph Herald, May 2, 1938, p. 2
10. "City Council Plans Action on Labor Plea," September 6, 1944, p. 1
11. "Pat Boost Wins Labor Support," Telegraph Herald, July 20, 1947, p. 27
12. "Repudiating the Socialists," Dubuque Herald, July 18, 1904, p. 4
13. "The Trades and Labor Congress," Dubuque Herald, June 12, 1900, p. 8
14. "Labor Congress Names Candidates," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, January 5, 1915, p 11
15. "Labor Temple Planned Here," Telegraph Herald, November 9, 1934, p. 13
16. "Corn Belt Company and Union at Odds," Dubuque Telegraph Herald, August 3, 1920, p. 3
17. "Candidates Endorsed for City Council," Telegraph Herald and Times-Journal, March 27, 1932, p. 2
18. "Election Information," Telegraph Herald, March 22, 1940, p. 2
19. "Heavy Vote Expected at Monday Election," Telegraph Herald, March 24, 1940, p. 1
20. "Election Won by Schueller, Mayor Murphy," Telegraph Herald, March 26, 1940, p. 1
21. "Sherman and Streinz Trail Two Winners," Telegraph Herald, March 30, 1948, p. 1
22. "Labor Congress Buys 7 $100 War Bonds" Telegraph Herald, June 6, 1924 p. 28
23. "Unions Bring Carnivals Here," Telegraph Herald, June 12, 1949, p. 6
24. "City Council Candidates Tell What They Stand For," Telegraph Herald, March 19, 1950, p. 33