Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-11-04
FROM COAL FIELDS
John Ream. of Beacon, Tells Of
Miners Troubles.
is A MEMBER OF EXECUTIVE BOARD
Iowa Miner Has Comparatively Little
Cause for compIaint-4o0 Men Out
in West Virginia-Anthracite Strike
All Over-Baer Helps Cause.

THE letter written by President
Bear, of the Philadelphia & Reading
railroad, to the Philadelphia photo
grapher in which he made a statement
to the effect that God in His infinite
wisdom had given the control OF the
large industries to Christian men, has
done more to help the cause of organ1-
zed labor than any labor agitator could
have done in year. said John
Ream, of Beacon, last evening in con-
versation with Courier reporter. Mr..
Ream is member of the National
executive board of the United Mine
Workers OF American. and was on his
way from the coal fields of West
Virginia, where he has been for some
time in the interests OF his organlza-
ton, to his home in Beacon, for short
visit.
In the Coal Fields.
Mr. Ream represents District No.
10, on the executive board of the
national organization, and for this rea-
! son has been closely in touch with the
inside workings of the strike of the
West Virginia miners as well as the
anthracite miners of Pennsylvania. He
says the anthracite miners won a
I grand victory, but that in West Vir-
ginia, in but one district. the Kanawha
| district, was the movement entirely
successful. In other parts OF the
1 field, he states, many of the miners re,
| turned to work before the strike was
declared off, and this aided in their
| defeat. The men demanded ten per
cent increase in their wages, said MI
Ream, and that their coal be weighed
| but only in the Kanawha field were
their demands fully complied with. In
this locality every demand was grant
ed and a reduction in powder from
$500 to $1.75 per pound was secured
Four Thousand Men Idle.
'In the West Virginia fields there
are about 1000 idle miners, although
the strike was declared off September
A. In numbers the colored race pre-
dominates, although there are many
Poles and Hungarians. The fact, sale
Mr.. Ream, that such number of then
I returned to the mines before the diff
Guilty was settled,was largely the cause
of the unsatisfactory settlement.
/ For Contempt of Court.
Il In speaking about the trouble eH
perienced by John Haddow, of Keb
as result of which he was thrown
J into jail, Mr.. Ream said: Il was no
in West Virginia when this trouble
came up and just know about the case
}, what is known by the. public. |
was claimed that Mr.. Haddow had helt
J, meetings in violation of the restrain
ing order. | understand, however
:, that he was only engaged in distribut
ing the aid subscribed by the nationa
, organization for the relief of the suf
:, ferers. A short time ago he was al
/ rested again, in company with Mr.
], Weber, of Illinois, for contempt o
f court by Judge Mcdowell. and wa!
: given the option of one year in prison
or to serve the term. Mr.. Haddow ant
| Mr.. Weber both left the state
, 1t will be remembered that Majo
Lacey secured pardon for Mr.. Had
dow from President Roosevelt.
Mr.. Ream stated that the low;
I miner is on top of the heap and he sait
, although no miner is being paid tn
/ wages he deserves, yet the Iowa mine
t comes nearer receiving justice thai
E most of his brothers.