Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-11

District No. Member David LODI
wick, Mystic; alternates, T. E. Lee,
Centerville; J. w. Campbell, Brazil; |
Member for Missouri field-B. H.
Johnston, Mendoza, Mo.
q District No. 2-Member Faley Hynes, |
Hynes. tAlternates, L.. R. Rosebrooll,
Oskaloosa; T. j. Phillips, Ottumwa.
District No. 3-Member w. 7. Phil
lips, Oskaloosa. Alternates, w. A.Dur-
fee, Oskaloosa; Geo. e. Fraker, Oska-
loosa.
District No. Member Ed Gray,
Des Moines. Alternates, w. G. Shep-
herd, Oskaloosa; Sam'l Blount, Des
Moines.
District No 5-Member F. E. Will
son, Webster City. Alternates, Saml
Mcclure, Frazier; j. l.. Platt, Van Me-
| ter.
Operators Complain.
The discussion turned, after the as
sociation had disposed of the more I'M
portant matters, to the possible impor-
tant questions to be considered by the
scale committee when it meets in the
spring. Some of the operators expect
to lay before that committee grievance
which they want righted this year, and
yesterday marked the arrival OF their
advance guard. One of the matters
which the mine owners in the second
district (Ottumwa districD say is
causing them to lose money is that
of the time the miners spend at work.
Henry Phillips, of the Phillips Fuel
Co., of this city, spoke on this cues
, tion. and it is we'll known that this is
the point on which Hon. H. l.. Water
man of Ottumwa, can never be quiet
Nv
, mines the miners work no more than
six hours per day instead of eight as
: per the agreement.
. Mr.. Waterman's standing "kick" /:
: on account of the fact that the miners
!. take what the operators consider too
|. many holidays. OF the two evils, tn
/. one to which Mr.. Phillips so strongl.
p objects Is considered the worst ant
l. Mr.. Waterman almost forgot yesteT
r day to even refer to the matter OF
A which ne has spent many hours o
# discussion and attempted persuasion
# when the day was 10 hours long,
t. said one of the operators yesterday
d I'VE could stand it when the miner
# laid off an hour or two, for then W
s. would get a days work of eight Q
e nine hours, but now, with day c
lie eight hours, when they still cut off a
he hour or two, they make us lose none
rs and keep us from filling our contract
n And yet We are forced almost,
IN stand it, for if We take advantage {
ut the agreement and discharge the me-
IN We cannot get miners to take the
places, Tor the supply in Iowa
a. small"
IS Another matter which, 1t is eXpec
en- ed, will cause trouble, is that of raj
pc ing wages to keep men. In some
IN the mines where the coal is thin, it
ar hard for the operators to secure wor
he men who are willing to accept I'll
of scale price for mining. 1t was state
RS yesterday that in the Des Moin'
al field especially, this is the case, ar
M that some operators have raised Il
la price of mining in order to get II
rs, men to work. This, it is feared
of some of the mine owners will be ia
en- by the miners as an excuse for
er demand for higher wages all the tin
to and in all the mines and such a d
nut mand will cause no small amount
sly trouble. The operators will hold a
on other meeting in the spring just befo
Ter the joint convention, for the purpo
On. of instructing their scale committee.