Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-17
IOWANS FORTUNATE.
Edwin Perry Says Miners Here
Fare Comparatively Well.
CONDITIONS IN WEST VIRGINIA
Mr.. Perry, Who Is vice.President of
Iowa Miners Union, is Now in the
East-complments Courier on Its
Enterprise.

Edwin Perry of Oskaloosa, vice
president of District Is, United Mine
Workers OF America, who is now in
West Virginia, where he is observing
conditions in connection with the
strike which exists among the blum
nous coal miners of that state, writes
to an Ottumwa union man that the
troubles with which the Iowa miner
has to cope, although they are not few,
are as nothing compared with the OBJ
stacles which bar the progress of the
West Virginia miner. In this state
nearly, if not quite every, coal miner
belongs to the union and is an enthu-
siastic member. In West Virginia this
is not the case and there is consequent
ly bound to be trouble.
j. F. Byrne is in receipt of letter
from Mr.. Perry in which he says that
the conditions with regard to the
strike in West Virginia remain UNI
changed. In previous letter to Mr.
Byrne he told of some of the matters
and the difficulties which the union
has to face there and expressed be-
lief that at some time not far distant
everything will be righted and matters
will be arranged satisfactorily between
employers and employees and between
the employees in. different localities.
His last letter, received last evening is
as follows:
Friend Joe:
Since last wrote you there has not
been much change in the strike stu
alton here. The Iowa miner may con-
graduate himself for the place he oc-
cupies in modern civilization. When
| | contrast the Iowa miners surround
ings with that Of the average West
Virginia miner, the comparison is sad
and appalling to contemplate, as far
as the latter is concerned. wish
had the time to draw a pen picture OF
the treatment accorded the West Vir
ginia miner in the last decade. Judg
ing from my point of observation, the
average coal operators are about as
fair a class of men as we find else
where, but there is only one system oil
railroad in this state, hence that or
ganization is an absolute monarch OF
all 1t surveys, but firmly believe that
I can foresee brighter future fol
the coal industry of this little state.
A Young Industry.
4 1.-THE coal industry of West Virginia
lis only in its infancy and it's resources
practically undeveloped and unlimited
and the famous B. & o. will sooner OF
later have other competitors, for thi:
lime of patronage, and consequently
will have to relinquish it's supremacy
Compliments coIored Man.
"The miner of this section ha.
from time to time been harrassed ant
,over-awed and subjected to all kind.
of indignities so that he has become
ia yeritable slave, and cringing de
: tendency, subject to the iron will an(
caprices of evil designing corporal,
greed. must say however, the col
ored man is entitled to my respect an,
admiration for his noble stand in de
; tense of our principles; the Iowa min
er need have no hesiGancy in extend
. ing the right hand of fellowship t
. our colored brother of the north.
: .'All other branches of industry ar
: we'll organized here, and are maxim
: tae attempt of their lives to bring tn
, miners into line I have met quite
!, !, number of the leaders. They are me
of hustling type and it IS always
> pleasure to come in contact with sue
a class of people.
} Compliments Courier.
e 81 received a copy of the Courie
+ and the first thing that struck my vi!
ion was the account of the Johnstow
catastrophe. congratulate the Coz
l. rier for it's enterprise. The news we
: only twelve hours behind the Pitt
r burg papers in reaching here, and ws
published in the Courier before it wa