Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-11-18
Arbitrators May Not Accom-
plish Settlement of Strike.
OPERATORS PERSISTENT
Refusal of Coal Barons to Recognize
the Union May Be the Cause of the
Failure of Present Plan-MitcheII
Is Firm.

Clal. the eastern coal par
Ons are persistent in their refusals to
recognize the organization of the
United Mine Workers of America it is
rumored here that the arbitration
commission may fail in the accom-
plishment of the work for which it
was appointed. Rumors to this effect
are persistent here and have caused
considerable agitation in Washington
circles.
Mitchell Is Firm.
President Mitchell, of the Mine
Workers, is reported to have declared
that recognition of the union by the
operators cannot be disregarded, as it
is part of the arbitration agreement.
He further states that the miners
need not be ordered to work again if
their organization is not recognized.
Caution Among Dealers.
The present unsettled condition of
the strike affairs is the cause for pre-
cautionary measures being taken by
the coal dealers here to protect them
selves. Washington dealers are re-
refusing to take large coal orders for
future delivery. Interest is high over
the present state of affairs and the
outcome is being awaited with great
eagerness. H. ]. Mahin.
Progress of the Board.
Scranton Nov. 15.-When the coal
strike commission resumed its sessions
today the cross examination of Presi-
dent Mitchell was resumed by David
Wilcox. general counsel. for the Della
ware and Hudson Coal cor any,
Mitchell said that the local unions may
direct the operations of pickets. Will
cox read a statement made by Presi-
den Gompers, at the Chicago trust con-
ference, in which Gompers is alleged
to have said that any trust legislation
which did not specially exempt organ
lied labor from it's operations would
meet the unquestionedo opposition of all
labor forces and asked the witness if
that expressed his views
MitcheIl's Reply.
Mitchell replied that organized la
hor would not look with favor upon
any law that would legislate them out
of business. He regarded as living
wages for a miner not less than $500
per annum which would cover his ac-
tual necessities and permit him to ed
ucate his children.
Living Wages.
He meant that wage sufficient to
permit the children to avail them.
selves of the public schools and to
spend a portion of the family income
directly for education and sufficient to
render it unnecessary to employe
child labor to increase the income OF
the family. The minimum age at
which a boy should go on the breaker
he would advocate to be put at Ii
years.
One of Baer's Statements.
Wilcox took up one of President
Baer's statements and Mitchell said
that it was susceptible of several in
terpretations. For instance, Bael
was quoted as saying that the slate
pickers received S5 cents day. That
may be true in some cases, but We
know that most of the slate pickers
get much less than that amount.
If the miners had known at tbs
outset that the differences would &C
to the board of arbitration they woult
have asked for more, SO that while the
arbitrators We're settling the question
they would settle it right"
Not Opposed to Unions.
When Wilcox concluded the cross
examination the witness was ques
toned by Wayne McVeagh, represent
ing the Pennsylvania Coal Co. and thu
Hillside Coal and Iron Co. McVeagl
said that he did not wish to have Nit
chell suppose that he was opposed tt
the proper organization of labor. HI
thought that where there are large
corporations as employers it may be tt
the interests of the employed to be or
gained The gentlemen he repre-
scented knew that they were not infal
lible and in the management of thei
property they might have made mis-
takes. McVeagh held Mitchell dowl
to the exact statement of grievances
No Restriction on Work.
Mitchell denied that his organize
ton restricted the quantity of worl
which a man should perform, but sal
that it did believe in regulating TIL
hours of work. The organization |
opposed to the miners employing NOR
than one laborer. He denied an
knowledge of the organization havin
inaugurated the strike because of TIL
employment of non-union men. He ha
heard that local unions had suspende
work on this account.