Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-13
ORDER IS OUT.
Word Goes Forth for Anthra-
cite Miners to Strike Monday.
PRES. MITCHELL'S EDICT.
Says All Efforts Were Made to Secure
Peaceful Settlement, But Without
Successful Issue-142,ooo Men Will
Be Affected.

Be Affected.
Indianapolis, Ind, Sept. 13.-The
United Mine Workers of America last
evening declared strike in the an
thracite region. The strike is to begin
next Monday morning and it is ex-
pected that 142.O00 men will walk out.
The order to Strike was issued by
President Mitchell, as follows:
TO the Officers and Members of the
United Mine Workers of America. and
All Other Miners and Mine Workers in
the Anthracite Region of Pennsylya-
MIA. Greeting:
AT the convention of the miners
and mine workers of the anthracite
coal fields held at Hazelton, Pa, Aug
ust II, 1900, a resolution was adopted
asking the national executive board of
the United Mine Workers of America
to endorse the proposition for strike
OF miners and mine workers in the an
thraclte region, in accordance with
the laws of our organization, provided
certain wages and conditions were not
granted by the coal companies within
ten days.
"The national executive board was
called together for the purpose of con-
sidering the situation and after a
careful examination of the facts in it's
possession, it's members are unani-
mously Of the opinion that strike
should be ordered at once, and our
hopes of improved conditions are
staked upon the outcome.
Action Was Delayed.
During Saturday, September 8,
while the board was still in session,
information reached this office that
outside influences were being brought
to bear upon the coal companies to
bring about satisfactory settlement
of the questions in dispute, without
resorting to a strike. Knowing from
wide range of experience the far
reaching results of prolonged strike
and the injurious effects it would
have upon the great commercial and
industrial interests of the country, we
felt that we should not be justified in
ordering strike while there yet re-
NAMED the slightest hope that it
could be averted, and the grievances
of the anthracite miners satisfactorily
adjusted by more business-like meth
DDS. We, therefore, issued circular
asking you to continue work a few
days longer and hold yourselves in
readiness to cease work Immediately
upon the ending Of the present nego-
tiations, when if settlement was
not reached, an official endorsement of
the strike would be sent out by this
board. The negotiations mentioned
are at an end and a settlement has not
been reached. You are, therefore,
hereby notified that the application of
the anthracite miners to strike, in ac-
cordance with the laws of the United
Mine Workers of America, has been
endorsed, and in accordance with this
endorsement, all miners and mine
workers in the anthracite coal region,
whether members of the United Mine
Workers of America or not, are in
structed to cease Work on Monday,
September II, 1900, and to remain
away until the demands of our con.
vention have been acceded to by the
coal companies.
Lawful Conduct Advised.
"Be law-abiding, self-respecting and
quiet; do not allow any person whose
interests it may be to do SO to pro.
woke you into quarrels and violations
of peace. That is one of the most
common methods used by large EN-.
ployers to destroy public sympathy
and defeat our cause. With thoroly
aroused public sentiment behind us,
the cause of justice which cannot be
successfully questioned, and the mine
workers united and determined to
stand until their many wrongs have
been righted, we have supreme faith
in the ultimate success of our cause
"By order of the national executive
| board. John Mitchell,
president.
"W. B. Wilson,
stSecretary- treasurer,