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

good work has been done between the
Two conventions in the interest of the
elght-hour day. On converting, Presi-
ntReam said the purpose of the meet
ing was to secure an eight-hour day.
and after long and tedious session
among themselves and with the op-
orators, the meeting failed in it's OBJ
lect and adjourned to meet on call
The call was issued for February 25,
1889 to further consider the eight-hour
DAY, and the operators, after meeting
among themselves, agreed to meet in
Joint convention with the miners
and consider the matter After much
discussion the operators conceded the
elght-hour day and the scale of wages
was adopted. The cardinal principles
OF organization. so far as the miners
We're concerned had been accomplish
ed. The next annual meeting was
held in Oskaloosa. The organization
had now became aggressive, and men
who were inspired by the rapid strides
and success of the craft had readily
seen the benefits to be gained thru or
ganization. Thru the personal leader
ship of their president John F. Ream,
they looked forth to victory, and after
three days session, much important
business having been transacted, Ma
tional President John Mitchell adj
dressed the convention and received a
hearty welcome.
President John T. Ream was re-
elected by reclamation. Joseph Shoop
was made vice-president, and John P.
White, in recognition of the ability
and unselfish interest he had shown
In his work, was chosen secretary
treasurer for the second term Exec.
utive xboard-L. P. Joyce, Daniel Sex
ton, Edwin Perry and Thomas Adam
son.
The Present Board.
The meeting adjourned to meet in
Des Moines February 10. President
Ream called the meeting to order and
after four days session they adj
lourned to February 81, to meet the
operators There were over one hun
dred delegates present at the session,
which was the largest session in the
history of the reorganization of Dis
trict No. 10, and shows much mature
thought in the agreement reached as
to the scale of wages and condition OF
mining that was signed by both OBJ
orators and miners after much debate.
The officers at this convention raised
the bright and tireless worker, John
+. Reese, from the vice-presidency to
the presidency, Edwin Perry, vice
president, John P. White, secretary
treasurer and l.. P. Joyce, Thomas
Adamson, A. d. Burke and F. T. Rom
esburg, executive board. Burke and
Adamson resigned, after which II.
Reed and William Heslock were APP
pointed by the executive board.
Thus is presented brief history of
the reorganization of the miners of
District No. 13; the trials and strug-
giles of its officers and the glorious out
come and the final triumph over all
the difficult problems that burdened
its officers at the beginning. The his
tory of the grand organization is re-
plete with self sacrifices by both off
GERS and members, and membership
IN the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea is symbol of honesty of man to-
ward man.
John P. Reese.
The subject of this sketch was born
IN the state of Ohio, Jan. IA, 1877. He
left school at the age of nine years
and entered the mines to help earn
living for his widowed mother. He
remained in the coal mines of Ohio
until his 18th year, when he went to
Plftsburg, Pa. He received en-