Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-09

Wilkesbarre, Oct. I'm accordance
with the address issued by President
Mitchell last night calling upon the
local miners unions to meet and take
vote on the question Of remaining
on strike the mine workers of the
three collieries Of the Lehigh Coal
Co., met today and unanimously decid-
ed to stay out until the strike is won.
Mitchell Calls Mass Meeting.
At 1880 o'clock last night. after
conference with his district presi--
DENTS, President Mitchell gave to the
press the following statement, which
was hurriedly prepared after he re-
turned from Philadelphia.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct 6.-To dis
trict secretaries and all mine workers
in the anthracite tield:-You have no
doubt read in the daily papers the pro-
|ceedings of the conference at the
White House last Friday, in which
your officers proposed an immediate
resumption of work if the operators
would agree with us to refer the ques-
tons at issue in the strike to the de-
cision of the President of the United
oSeAeSo anu q tIlDuuol UdIilCu ny ulul.
You have noted the reply of the presi
dents of the coal carrying roads, il:
which they responded to our overtures
by denouncing the union, its members
and officers in the most vehement and
malicious manner possible. They also
declared that large majority of the
strikers would return to work If given
military protection, and they demanded
that the President of the United States
send United States troops to the coal
fields.
In order to demonstrate to the peo-
pie OF our country that the statements
OF the operators are unfounded, and
| that the mlneworkers are law-abiding
| citizens, the officers of all local unions
should call mass meetings of all men
on strike, union and non-union, such
meetings to be held in each mining
town at 2 o'clock Wednesday after.
noon, October 5. We know that the
mlneWorkers are not restrained from
going to work by fear of bodily harm,
and If this is the sentiment prevailing
at the meetings, resolutions should be
adopted emphatically declaring the
statements of the operators to be un
| true.
| We also advise that acts of lawless.
ness by the coal and iron police and
by strikers be denounced and the ser
vices of members of the union tender
ed the local authorities to preserve law
and order
Great care should be exercised that
those on a strike do not permit them
| cn1Vac RI no l,,t II
iron police into the commission OF
overt acts. The operators, failing t.
break the strike and deprive you Of
your well-earned victory, are now at
tempting to array public sentiment
jagainst you by making false claims
that reign Of terror exists in the
coal fields. Be steadfast and true
while this struggle for living wage.
and American conditions of employ
ment is going on and we have no hes
Iitancy in saying that victory will bt
achieved in the not distant future
The heart of the nation beats in sym
pathy with you and all good citizen.
favor your cause.
Do not fail to have resolutions draft
ed in plain, temperate language Tel
egraph them at our expense to Presi
dent Mitchell's headquarters immedi-
ately on the adjournment of meetings
Comment of Strike Leaders.
i Wilkesbarre, Pa. Oct. 7.-Leader
of the miners, speaking of the govern
ors order calling out more troops
say:
John Mitchell-If they call out al
the troops in the United States it will
not make the men return to work.
President T. D. Nichols of Distric
No. 1-If the troops are not used TO
any unlawful purpose, their presenc
in the coal field cannot do us an
harm.
President Thomas Duffy of Distric
No. THE troops are not needed.
protested when they were first order
ed in District No. Z. l am still Of tn
same mind.
President Fahey Of District No g.
don't see any necessity for calm
out more troops. The purpose is t
bolster up the operators side of tn