Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-02-26

strike in one district and you will find |
that the railroad facilities are such |
that the users of coal can ship it in.
Thus, as time went on, our leaders |
came to realize that they should adopt
different methods-that capital and
labor must come closer together and
must realize that their interests are
identlcal.
Idea of Conferences.
Then it was that they conceived
the idea of Interstate conferences be-
tween miners and operators. In 1890
they got together and the scheme
proved grand success in the central
competitive field. The conditions were
better. There We're better wages and
less strikes. But the miners failed to
get into their organization, and the in
terstate idea of SS5 and 1886 was al
lowed to fall thru by the lack OF in
terest on the part of the miners them
selves.
The Strike of '94.
$50 we found that after the inter-
| state movement of that time had fail
| ed, wages dropped, the condition OF
/ the miners grew worse. Then came
/ the time, in 1894, when the national
/ strike was called. We realized that
to make a success of the matter the
movement must be national, or at
| least thruout the central competitive
/ field. You all know what happened
The strike of "a was failure. But
we learned one thing. We learned
that we could call a national strike.
| Brought Capital and Labor Together.
THE strike of 1894 was a failure,
/ but in 1897 we called another strike.
The operators at that time thought
that they had us conquered so that we
could never do anything more, but
they were mistaken. You can never
put the miners down. We bobbed
! up, and our efforts were then success
! full We succeeded in again adopting
the interstate organization movement.
Now we are proud of the fact that we
are the most business like organiza-
ton, and employ the most business
like methods in settling our troubles,
OF all the organizations in the United
States. We have brought capital and
labor together, and now the employers
and the employees come together and
discuss the questions which arise for
!, their consideration. They stand side
by side to determine the matters
which shall govern their actions.
Methods Employed.
Nov a word about the methods Wa
employ. You realize that a majority
does not rule in these joint conyen
lions, but that unanimous vote is re
CURED for decision. One miner car
defeat a measure. One operator cal
defeat measure. Absolute unanim
ity is required.
I'm 1899 we met face to face with
the operators at Pittsburg, but the
! conditions We're against us. We were
! unable to prove to the operators tha
; we were entitled to an increase il
. wages. But did we strike? No. The
= men who represented thousands o
homes of laboring men, the men whit
, represented millions of dollars, all re
allied that the condition of the mine
:. could at that time be bettered and 81
: we accepted the Chicago agreement.
: Again, in 1900, we met at Colum
= bus. Then we knew we had argu
:, ments in our favor, and we got tn
!, increase-all except Iowa. | wa
: about to include Iowa, but it is true tina
q this state did not get the increase tina
!, was given the other miners. Never
, theless it was victory. The cond
= ition of the miners were betteret
!. This was not done by strikes, but b
y intelligence The miner and the o!
: orator met on the same platform an
we convinced the operators that w
:, were entitled to an increase and W
: got it.
The Columbus Settlement.
= There are a great many miners /
y Iowa who think that the settlemer
!. in Columbus a few years ago was Ill
p fair to them, but this is not right. LIE
= me tell you that the outcome of tn
- joint convention in Columbus was th
=. best thing that has ever been done ye
for the miners. And why? A yea
:. ago trade conditions in this countr
- were good. Coal was up, prospect
20 were good, whereas this time W
=; found change. Coal was down TIL
- - operators made grand fight for
- reduction, but we succeeded in CO.
- vincing them that we were entitle
to last years wages. and we got VIII;
we asked for. Therefore | claim thu
Dr. your condition is as good is it ht
re ever been made by the United Mil
a Workers of America.
is Why Iowa VIII Get No Raise.
~ There is one thing to which l wal
-, ~ to draw your attention in regard
- the organization in the east. Pc
Il haps Iowa felt that she was not beiI
:. treated fairly at Columbus. "
- must realize that Pennsylvania w
=. not organized. But they had to COZ
-, pete with Ohio, and with Indiana al
90 West Virginia was on the other sid
AS long as this condition exists y
cannot get raise in Iowa. The be
d. thing to do is to work for the contr
at of Pennsylvania When we get &C
IN. troll of Pennsylvania and of Mr.. Re
/. a bins, of that state, then Iowa may {
- pect better condition.
No Reason to be Discouraged.
: do not be discouraged, but do 20
best have heard that there a
IN some of the Iowa men who have
- come discouraged, but you have
reason to be so. AS long as the agr,
al. ment with the operators comes ba
. to the miners for ratification YOU ha