Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-30

~ \ ti< NOuItfSI ~ III ISCtlpI Oh u COIns
munication from R. Williams, promi-
nent miner at Foster, in regard TO an
advance in the wage scale of miners.
The communication is under the cap
ton, "a Word to the Miners" and is as
follows:
A Word 70 Miners.
With proper management along con-
sistent business lines there can be no
reasonable argument advanced against
the theory of a substantial increase in
the mining rate at the next annual con-
vention of miners. The coal business,
generally speaking, is in healthful.
with nothing to indicate but that they
will continue SO for some time to come.
There are no alarming clouds visible
on the mining horizon, for either min
er or operator, if fairness and q sense
Of justice is permitted to reign at the
Indianapolis meeting. Let us hope the
meeting will be conducted on business
principles, pure and simple, with no
element of bluff or show that has SO
conspicuously characterized the OPEN
ing OF former joint meetings. That OPP
orators will endeavor to obtain as IA
yorabie settlement as possible goes
without saying, yet they realize that
certain business principles must be adj
hered to in order to produce some kind
OF good results for both. Therefore let
us hope that their meeting with the
miners will demonstrate their appre-
citation and regard for this principle
which Should be uppermost in the
minds of both miners and operators.
From a miners point Of view there
neve was convention. Of greater inn
portance to the craft than the one now
approaching. Questions of vital inn
portance will have to be decided at this
meeting. They will spring up momen-
tarily and must be met, as the decis-
ions will reach far into the future of
American mining. In my opinion, they
will go into history, making an indeA-,
BILE impression for either good or bad
upon The pages OF opportunity, there
to ST nd either as blessing or dis
grace for future years. Our extended
scope and increased numbers add great
ly to the Importance of this settlement
Ia far greater prestige than could pos
sibly be attached to our former meet
Ah$5Ss A1SSuucC Va tAAa hAOAC AiuhAhC0 rep
resentation and corresponding numbers
the coming convention is bound to be
one in which miners will need an array
of wise, cautious, conservative talent
to guide them over the waves of oppo-
sition and safely land them in the har-
Dor of advance.
There is an abundance OF such men
in the miners ranks, yet there is also
a great number who are not suitable
characters to conduct the important
business of such convention. This
lis neutrality-suspicious. to the rank and file
Of miners, hence it is urged upon them
| the necessity OF selecting calm, thought
full and conservative men as their
Representatives, in whom they have con-
fidence, and who, it is certain, are fully
qualified. 1t does not necessarily fol-
low that a man who has radical ideas
or positive convictions will make an
ideal delegate, but the man who possess
es reason and intelligence, and who
successfully manages his own personal
affairs, can generally be relied upon to
look after the public welfare. Miners
will know that there is such thing
as spending unprofitably the strength
Of q anarantion. which usually occurs