Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-26
REFUSES IT
John P. Reese Would Not Ac.
cept Commissionership.
WAS OFFERED POSITION
Rather, Was Sounded by individuals
to See Whether He Would Accept
Will Stand for Reelection as Presi.
dent of U. M. w. A. of Iowa.

/ dSiiI VI ". wi. w. =. OF iowa.
am going to stay with the miners,
ana am going to stand for a re-elec-
tlon as president of District IS, Uni
TED Mine Workers of America | am
sorry to have to make this last de-
claratlon, but on account of the re-
ports that have recently been circu-
lated about me going with the opera
tors l am forced to ask for another
term, in order to show exactly where
stand. These were the words with
which John P. Reese prefaced an in
terVleW with a Courier representative
at the Ballingall hotel last evening.
From their tone it can be readily seen
that Mr.. Reese's interests are with
the miners who work deep in the
earth, and that he cannot be tempted
away from them by the mere promise
| of more salary. OF late it has been
persistently reported that Mr.. Reese
was to accept position with the Iowa
! coal operators as commissioner at
salary over double that which he was
getting from the mine workers or
ganization, but this declaration puts
an end to that talk
Was Approached.
Mr.. Reese, We're you not asked to
accept the position as commissioner
for the operators asked the report
| er. Well said he, Il was asked by
several individual members OF the as
sociation if | would accept the place,
but have never been approached in
an Official manner, as told those to
whom | talked that | would not
take the place under any considera-
t1on. Since the matter has
reached such gigantic proportions
may as well tell you just where |
stand 1t has always been my ambi-
tion to reach place on the national
organization of the mine workers. To
this end ! have directed my energies.
well understand that I have served
two terms and | could not ask for an
/ other as president of District 10. Now
since the report has been given such
wide circulation that was going to
the operators, / have decided that i
would make an effort to serve as presi-
dent for another year of the miners as
sociation, and to that end am now di-
recting my labors. The different To-
calls are now nominating officers for
( those places, you will understand the
election at the annual meeting is made
Il by referendum vote. | have not re-
signed my position as president of the
miners, nor will | do so unless | am
asked. am going to serve out my
term to the best of my ability. and
am going to keep on doing my best to
advance the interests of the miners.
90, rno =. ,,,l,
interest lies. | have been a laboring
man all my life and | always expect
to be, and just so long as l am labor
ing for my fellow men, just SO long
will | keep on trying to advance their
interest. | would not resign posi-
tion before my term expires to accept
another directly opposite to the inter
ests of those l had been serving for all
the money in the United States. Of
course would like to have an increase
in salary, We all want all the money
We can get, but the magnificent pro-
position that has been held up to me
supposedly by the Iowa coal opera
tors association does not tempt me in
the least.
Will be Satisfied.
Now if l can be elected to another
term as president of District IS, even
though the emoluments are much less
than what should get from the op-
orators, shall be satisfied, and l shall
have feeling that | have done my
duty.
Not be Offered.
"I have indicated to the operators
that | should not accept their PROPOSE
ton, and it will not be offered to me
at the committee meeting which will
be held in Des Moines Friday | have
reason to believe that should l have
not declared myself. the position would
have been rendered me, as | under
stand every member of the operators
committee except one was in favor of
me, and that one mans position was
taken for the same reason that my
own was, he did not feel that | could
consistently leave the miners at this
time.
Have Confidence.
81 will give you another reason why
would not accept the position for the
operators. A man to make a success
of that place must have the absolute
confidence of both the miners and op-
orators. Should l leave the former at
this time, their confidence in me would
be greatly shattered. ] can say this
much for the man that does get it, he
must combine these two qualities, or
he shall make failure of his position.
Highly Honored.
81 feel highly honored that should
have been considered in connection
with this most important position. 1t
pleases me to think, that after | have
given several years of my life to the
mine workers, the operators should
have the confidence in me to trust
their interests to me, AT the same time
do not forget the men whose interests
| have SO long tried to serve and if
they are willing, am more than will
ing to stay with them.
Was Out of State.
81 am sorry this report has been Civ
en- such wide circulation. Had been
in Iowa when it started would have