Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-01
President Mitchell Comes to
Illinois.
TALKS MATTERS OVER
One Story AfIoat That Coal Miners
Strike May Be Settled Without a
Bitter confIict-other Says National
Walk Out is Expected.

Wilkesbarre, Pa, June 2S.-Presi-
dent Mitchell left for Chicago uneX-
pectedly today to take. up information
al matters with the Illinois miners
union officials.
Today ends the seventh week of the
miners strike The lines remain
tightly drawn, and neither side shows
the slightest disposition to weaken.
Excepting Mitchell's offer to arbitrate,
there has BEEN no proposition advanc-
ed by either party, and predictions that
the struggle will be one to finish
holds good
That settlement may be reached
without both sides fighting to bitter
end, is by no means impossible. While
no information can be had on the mat
ter, it is still believed here some out
side party is going over the situation
with view of finding a way to bring
the miners and operators together.
Not unlikely the report Of Labor
Commissioner Wright to the President
may suggest way that may lead to a
settlement. Publication of the report
is eagerly awaited by the strikers.
Considering the great number of men
idle, the strike is remarkably quiet
one 1t is estimated that fully 10000
persons are out of work
Another Story.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, June 2S.-The
United Mine Workers officials at head
quarters here say they are certain a
national strike will be declared basing
their statements on information re-
ceived from the soft-coal districts, es-
pecially from the states where an in
terstate agreements eXists-Pennsylva-
MIA, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.
President William Carne, head of
the Wilkesbarre locals, one of the best
informed men on the soft-coal situa'
ton, said:
Not only will the soft-coal contract
man yield solid accession to the vote
of the delegates, but also the districts
not under contract, embracing Missis
sippi, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, por
ton of Pennsylvania. Colorado, Ten
nessee and portions of the delegates
at the convention. The noncontract
districts have absolutely nothing to
lose and everything to gain 1t would
be a foregone conclusion for them tt
come out"
Great Power for Mitchell.
There is a resolution regarding
which President Mitchell has not sale
anything. 1t allows the soft-coal work
ers to strike without breaking theil
contracts. 1t was passed at the re
cent interstate convention in Indianap
oils. The gist of it is that If soft Goa
| from union district is sent to an an
| thracite market in the event of an an
thracite strike, or if eastern railroad
engines which use anthracite replace
it with soft coal, the national boar'
shall have power to declare strike
either sectional or national, or TAX
any other action necessary to aid an
/ thracite mine workers.
st is true" said President Mitchell
when shown the resolution.
/ This makes it possible for the ma
tional executive board to declare
strike without calling a convention.
is known, that soft coal is going to ar
thracite markets, and the tonnage @
Pennsylvania, east of Pittsburg an
Erie, for the week ending June q
compared with the tonnage of the sam
weeks the year previous, makes it il
disputaDle.