Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-12
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! IN THE LABOR REALM. +

1.-THE matter published in this col
umn is prepared by the officers Of the
Federation of Labor
Tie reports that have been circulated
to the effect that there will be gen
eral suspension of work in all coal
mines west of the Mississippi river, is
misleading. The rumors of the Strike
aver that the members of the U. AZ. w.
of y. will take this measure of securing
the release of John p. Reese, OF Abba,
a member of the national executive
board who was recently arrested and
sentenced TO three months, imprison-
ment at Fort Scott, Kan., ON the charge
of contempt of court, or for using NOR
al persuasion in inducing non union
miners employed by The NJ. X. 81 II.
Coal company to become members of
the union. The strike 5inaugurated at
the NJ. X. & I. mines was to secure the
recognition of the miners union ard
the eight-hour day. The strike has
been in force for over eight months,
and Mr.. Reese has been in that terri
tory since last June. The only posi-
BILE cause for suspension in the mines
west Of the Mississippi river, would be
the shipment of coal from. any OF the
mines in this territory to supply the
NJ. Il. q L. railroad or coal company.
In such event it is absolutely certain
that the miners will refuse to load the
coal. That there is a deep sympathy
for Mr.. Reese among the miners and
other labor organizations, there is no
doubt. He is we'll known and posi-
bly, the best representative of the ma
tional executive board of the U. N. w.
of A. 1t seems that the public mind is
kept in state of suspension or I'M
certainty by the reports of sensational
newspapers, which would make it APP
pear that the miners would violate
every agreement which they have hon
orably sanctioned. LIE it be said for
once and all, that unless called upon
by the national executive board Ga
thing that is not probable), there will
not be general suspension of work.
All miners honor John p. Reese, but
they realize that there is a third party,
the public, in this controversy, who
must be considered.
A general discussion of the effects OF
trusts on labor will be held at the next
regular meeting of the Trades and La
bor Assembly, Wednesday evening,
Dec. 10. All members of organized Ia
Dor are invited TO attend this meeting.
1t is not the intention to form an anti
trust league, nor TO lend assistance to
any that have been formed, but the
idea is TO get at the truth of the causes
of the formation of the trusts and to
discuss the subject in its various phases.
Politics will not be permitted to enter
the discussions.
Albert Thompson, formerly secretary
of the Printing Pressmen's union, No.
96, of this city, is now permanently To-
Gated a Davenport and has charge of
the press room of the Daily Times.
Ralph Lindsay has been elected to sue
coed Mr.. Thompson as secretary of the
union in Ottumwa.
1t is the opinion of all the city trades
and labor assemblies that are affiliated
with the Iowa State Federation of La
Dor that Davenport should have cen
trail body of its own, and withdraw
from the TRICKY Labor Congress.
The resolution adopted at the last
convention of the B. Of r. i. endorsing
the union label has been strictly adj
hered to by the members of the organ
ization with beneficial effect to or
ganized labor in general,
Typographical union, No. 70, met at
Labor hall Sunday afternoon and
adopted resolutions endorsing j. L.
Byrne for labor commissioner.
The Iowa Unioi,ist will resume publi-
cation at Des Moines, Dec. 10
I t b q i +