Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-02

= canyaSsed the state in the interest OF |
the eight hour day. IN order to get it |
they were asked to put down their
tools on the first day OF April with the
assurance that they would get three
dollars and half a week from the
national treasury until their request
was granted. But for some cause, I'M
known to the Iowa miner, this strike
was called off at the eleventh hour of
the last day of March. The writer
was then living in Flagler, Marion
county. On coming out of the mines,
Col S. A. Flagler and Harry Booth,
then superintendent OF the mines, call
ed my attention to the matter and
gave me Chicago Times-Herald de-
claring the strike off. l.. M. Beatty
and Walter Scott were billed for a
meeting in Flagler that night and
were at my home for supper On my
arrival at home ] had social greet
ing and after supper called their at
tention to this article which they de-
clared as being untrue, because of re-
publican authority but it was true all
the same. The hour arrived for the
meeting and a large crowd was pres
emit The meeting was called to order
by the writer and chairman chosen,
1
meeting commenced. In his remarks
Beatty called the attention of the all-
dience to his letter reiterating his
former remark, Haunted the paper in
the air and said it was republican au-
thority sent out by the republican
press to deceive the miners which was
an old trick of theirs. The morning of
April ] arrived and found the miners
of Iowa on strike for the eight hour
day which was the downfall of many
of the leading mines in Iowa as they
never did any good afterwards. The
operators at ColfaX granted the eight
hour day, also the operator at Dun
reath The miners throughout the
state remained on strike through the
summer. The promised aid never
came and they went to work as they
came out under the ten hour day sys-
tenn. Thus the United Mine Workers
of America lost their prestige for a
year or two in Iowa although some of
their ableSt men were sent here in the
interest of the order among them ].
B. Rea, Phil Penna, M. D. Ratchform,
George Purcell, l.. M. Beatty and our
red headed man who was the best ora
tor of them ALL The miners losing
confidence at their state convention
held i'll Oskaloosa that year, started a
state organization to be confined to
the state of Iowa alone with j. T.
Clarkson, of Foster, as their president
and the writer. of the same place sec
rotary and treasurer. 1t was decided at
;. this convention to put levy of TWEEN.
- ty-five cents on each miner of Iowa
- to defray the expense of organizers
until the state was organized, but the
money never came and the organiza,
= ton died for want of funds. This was
!, followed by the coming of the United
IL Mine Workers into our state the sec,
ond time with John Reams, of Beacon,
!, as president which was one of the best
~ choices the Iowa miners ever made for
that office, as he went to work and
S, organized the state. While on the
lie rounds he was accompanied by Geo
Purcell Of Indiana part of the time
L, and to Reamsi belongs great credit
e, for the present magnitude of the mine
or workers in our state as he laid the
foundation for it. He was succeeded
n, by the present incumbent, j. p Reese
e, who perfected the organization il
IN Iowa.
The writer of that pipe dream neet
r have no feariof the organization dyinE
a, should Mr.. Reese drop out any time
n. neither need he fear the operator.
took this plan to weaken the order fol
y, both parties are satisfied in well doing
h, as to the life Of the order | will say
o. if possible, it will live Thousand
49, years under the present system o
checking off dues in the Office for JUS
96 as long as the fuel is added the fire
will burn. The miners couldn't affort
81 to let it go at any rate as the benefi
cial results they have received are too
81 many in their favor. 1t has brough
a permanent eight hour day with al
increased pay for all labor performed
80 also two weeks pay and many othe
good things we will mention later or
n One is the annual conferences once
year, where the operator and mine
o. meet and form a scale of prices TO
the next year to follow, which wa
never done in Iowa before The mine
8 and operator were like the Irishman'
flea, you could locate him but not fin
S hold him. Should Mr. Reese drop GU
tomorrow, it would only be a repet
ton Of history for the ablest leader
America ever had, have done the sam
8 thing when an opportunity presente
mt itself to better their condition. w
he will mention others in this movemen
later on. r. w.
en-
he A Communication From John P.Rees,
be Abba, Iowa, Dec. 80 1901
CHI Editor Daily Courier: Inasmuch a
ed the papers continue to publish storie
us about my resigning and accepting tn
ng "Commissionership" of the Iowa Cos
M Operators association and the supe
intendency of Mahaska county min,
- Notwithstanding the fact that I hav
- published denials in nearly every p
as per of the state, and the United Min
in Workers Journal I therefore reque.
lie, you to publish this statement over m
it'll own signature: II have nave neve
an been offered either of the position
no and IL was offered them | would d
an cline them regardless of the amour
IN of salary Or other considerations"
en- have not resigned and have neve
ell thought of doing so, ! would not r.
ar. sign to accept any position in the Un
fn5 Cfofo