Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-02-13
ARE NOT PLEASED.
Operators viii Object to a Scale on
a Mine Run Basis.
MAY RESULT in SERIOUS RUPTURE.
Ream's Statement That Miners Would
Insist on Strict Compliance With
the Oskaloosa Resolution,
Arouses Objections.

Des Moines, Feb. 12.-If the United
Mine Workers insis1 upon fixing the
1900 scale on mine run instead of
screen basis, it is more than likely that
there will be a serious rupture be-
tween the miners and operators at
their conference in this city, and that
the operators will use every effort to
force a screen scale, even to that of a
lockout.
Operators who read the interview
with President Ream, of the United
Mine Workers, in which he said that
he thought the miners would insist up
on strict compliance with the resolu-
tlon adopted at the last convention in
Oskaloosa, not to waive their legal
rights and to demand mine run con-
tract, say that this is the first intima-
ton they have had that an adjustment
along present lines cannot be reached.
They call attention to the fact that at
the conference held in this city last
month to select delegates to the Indi-
annapolis conference, the Iowa operat-
ors' delegates We're instructed to stand
out against mine run scale and say
that there certainly has been no
change of opinion since that time.
The operators say that they will not
object to the mine run basis because it.
will require them to pay more to the
miners, but because the quality of the
coal provided is such that consumers
will not take it and prefer other coal
to 1T. This is especially true of the
railroad companies demanding screen
ed coal. One operator claims that in
two weeks trial given the mine run
basis under the contract he signed
with the union last year, his business
fell off IA per cent.
The miners, in answer to the ohiec-
ton, say thar the operators can pay
the mine run as the coal comes out,
and then screen it to suit themselves;
but the operators object to this, for
the further reason that in certain seas
sons of the year slack coal cannot be
marketed, and the result is they are
obliged to pay for a great deal Of ref
use from the mine. Still another OBJ
lection urged is That the miners work
ing on mine run basis are not as
careful as when they are paid only
for lump coal, and that the percentage
of slack coal and unmarketable pro-
duct coming from the mine will be
from 10 to Is per cent greater than
under the screen system.
SSNVldA opClslaoIS WIZ were 1uUeT-
viewed yesterday said they had no
doubt but what the state association
would vote to stand fight with the
union before it will consent to mine
run scale.
The operators say they realize what
strike on this account will mean.
They admit that the Iowa field has
been thoroly organized by the Mine
Workers. union, and that there. are
not a half dozen mines of consequence
in the state that are not union mines.
They estimate the strength of the
union in the state at $4,000 men, and
say that the miners are so thoroly in
command of the situation that it
would be a vast undertaking 10 try TO
fill their places, and that the result
would undoubtedly be a long drawn
out contest in which either the miners
or the operators would he forced to
grant concessions because of the eN-
haustion of their resources.
They hope, however, to be able to
induce the miners to see their way
clear to the signing of screen con-
tracts, and say that they are not
counting on strike at this time, but
regard it as one of the possibilities and
as almost assured, if the miners insist
on the mine run.