Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-04-01

| by the representatives of the union.
The demand of the latter for an in.
crease in the day scale in the first dis
trict was finally withdrawn, and the
clause covering that subject allowed
to remain as in last years agreement.
The next convention is to be held in
Des Moines.
The following is the resolution COW
ering the shot firer question:
In all mines where coal is blasted
from the solid competent persons shall
be employed by the company to exam
inc all shots before they are charged
Said examiners shall have the power
to prohibit any charging or firing of
any shot which in their Judgment is
unsafe. Before entering upon the dis.
charge of their duties said examiners
snail receive certificates of competen-
icy from the state mine inspector in
the district in which the mine where
they are employed is located. No boss
or foreman employed by the company
shall be permitted to act as shot exam
iner.
Whenever majority of the miners
IN any mine so decide they may en-
ploy shot firers for said mine, and
whenever satisfactory arrangements
can be made between the miners and
the snot examiners for the same per-
sons to act as shot examiners and shot
flrers, the same may be done.
The operator shall decide as to the
necessity of firing twice day in mines
that have been in operation less than
one year, and a majority of the miners
employed in any mine shall decide as
to the necessity of firing twice a day in
all mines that have been in operation
more than year provided, that in all
mines where the majority of the min
ers decide to fire but once a day thew
shall give the operator sufficient time
to develop his mine so that the same
working force and output per miner
per day shall not be reduced; and pro-
Vlded, further, that it, after changing
from twice to once a day firing, the
majority of the miners in any mine
shall decide to return to twice a day
hiring for a period of thirty days that
the mine is in operation, it shall be
proved that the output per miner per
day is less than when shooting twice a.
day. on account of the miner not being
able to produce the COAL the operator
shall have the right to return to twice
a day firing
Inc miner shall keep his working
place and the operator the entries as
free from dust as practicable, and the
entries shall be sprinkled as often as
necessary to keep them in a damn CON
dition.
Only sand, soil or clay shall be used
for tamping, and the shot holes shall
be tamped solidly from the powder to
the mouth of the hole, whether souibs
or fuse are used to ignite the powder.
Any shot having blown the tamping
shall not be charged and fired the sec
ond time.
Any one who interferes with the
shot examiner or shot firer in the dis
charge of his duty shall be discharged.
Inc above resolution, so far as it per-
talns to examiners, shall take effect as
soon as practicable, but not later than
May l, 1902. And the present system
at each mine shall be continued until
TINS resolution takes effect 1t is also
agreed that if any law providing for
shot flrers is enacted during the life
OF TINS agreement it shall have preced-
ence over this resolution.
Miners Firm to Last.
Thus have the United Mine Work
ers OF Iowa recided from the position
hrst announced by them last February
and since then steadfastly maintained.
Ihere was no sign of weakening I'D to
the last moment. On the contrary.
when the convention met yesterday
morning there We're evidences of a
very real conflict between the oppos-
ing factions in the miners delegation.
John Z. Reese, silently supported by
the members of the scale committee,
alone braved the storm of protest that
greeted the report on the question of
shot-firers and day wage. Accused of
Detraying the cause of his organiza-
ton, he stood before the convention
pleading for calm discussion of the
issues pending. He moved the adop.
tlon OF the report, realizing, as he
said, that it would not receive the re.
port OF the delegates. Before the
words We're out of his mouth John
Nlcholson was on his feet with an
amendment to strike the word adopt
ana substitute reject. Delegate Rice
folloWed with sensational speech in
which he charged the committee with
needless delay and with surrendering
in the only two important matters be-
fore them. In powerful speech Pres
ident Reese replied The statement
he said, was little other than an in
suit to every miner on the committee
Amid veritable torrents of questions,
brilliant flashes of oratorical light |
ming, and occasional ominous thunder
peals of indignation. the convention
adjourned until 2 o'clock. The sky |
was indeed black, the earth was shak-
en-. The operators, who had been sill
ent witnesses of this remarkable
scene, left the hall firmly convinced |
that all hope of peaceable settle |
ment was in vain
When the convention re-assembled
at O'Clock the clouds were thick as
ever. The operators announced
through their spokesman. Senator Wat
erman, that they would accept nothing
but ratification of the report in ev-
cry detail. The (miners manifested
the same disposition to revolt. New
er before in Iowa had the report of
Joint committee been rejected. New.
er before had feeling been SO intense. |
President Reese moved an adjourn
ment until d. m. in order to give tho