Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-06-05
T. j. PHILLIPS TALKS.
ottumwa Man Gives His Idea of
Strike and Political Situation.

T. J. Phillips, of this city, formerly
democratic candidate for governor,
was interviewed by Des Moines
newspaper man yesterday concerning
the strike of the anthracite coal
miners in the east and said that he
does not believe the bituminous miners
in Iowa will inaugurate a sympathy
strike. Mr.. Phillips also talked of the
political situation in this congressional
district, saying that John P Reese,
president of district 10, United Mine
Workers of America, is planning
vacation of thirty days during which
time he will look over the situation in
this congressional district with view
of accepting the nomination for con-
gress.
In his interview with the Des
Moines newspaper, Mr.. Phillips said:
"The situation in the east is very
critical" said Mr.. Phillips speaking of
the anthracite strike. eff the difficulty
is prolonged for any great length of
time serious trouble will occur"
"Do you believe that President
Mitchell will call out the soft coal min
ers on account of the striker"
"Mr. Mitchell has really no claim on
the Iowa miners because Iowa has
twice been refused admittance to the
national association"
But if Mitchell asked the Iowa
miners to go on strike would they
not follow the other states?"
Il am inclined to think they would.
Personally know that Mr. Reese is
against a strike for sympathy, and in
asmuch as he stands very high with
President Mitchell he will use his in
fluence to prevent such movement"
Continuing, Mr.. Phillips said: t'Mr.
Reese is very anxious to have the last
agreement between the miners and
oprators carried out entire, so that
there will be no breach of faith on the
part of the miners. He wants the pub
lie sentiment to remain with the min
ers. That could hardy be the case if
Iowa miners entered upon sympathy
strike. In the east / believe that the
miners are thought to be in the right
by the people, and that the operators
would have been wise to have made a
few concessions. The officers of the
Mine Workers association did not
want to order a strike, but the miners
were clamoring for something to be
done and the operators would not
yield so that the officers were power
less to intervene. They could not rea-
son with the miners because the oper
ators had made no concessions and
the miners were too desperate to con-
tinue working at the old scale and I'M
der the old conditions"
Abiding to the political situation,
Mr.. Phillips said: 81 am out of poll
10 ,rf {bo+
democratic state central committee is
to meet in Des Moines tomorrow to
arrange for the state convention.
When the fact was mentioned to him
he looked UP in surprised way and
remarked: "Is that SO? l had not
heard of it," Then he remarked to
himself, half reminiscently: 81 am
out of politics"
He frightened up visibly when the
sixth district situation was mentioned.
Major Lacey is so strong with the
miners that he cannot be defeated for
denomination and election-that is,
there is only one way he can be de-
feated, and that is by miner"
What about Reese? Is he going to
oppose Lacey at the polls?"
That's who / mean," he replied.
''But hasn't Reese announced that
he would not allow his name to be
used?"
"No, that's not so. tell you Reese
is the man to defeat Lacey. There
is no man in the whole district so
reverenced by the miners as John P.
Reese, and the sixth congressional
district is pretty much a mining dis
trict. Reese could get the nomination
easy enough, and if he would put in
thirty days over the district before
election he would give Lacey the big
gest fight he ever had in his life"
"You think he would VIM"
eff he could hold the solid mining
vote he would. He will get all, of the
organized labor vote in the district.
Lacey is we'll liked in the district. His
efforts to get that man Haddow releas.
ed from Jail was a shrewd political
move on his part, but Reese is the
man to make the race against him.
DO you think Reese will enter the
field?"
Il believe he can be induced to do
it. He has the matter under advise
ment now. believe he is planning on
thirty-day vacation to which to make
his campaign, If he decides to run"