Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-30
MINERS ACRE ON SCALE.
Workers Decide to Demand 10 Per
Cent Increase.

Indianapolis, Ind, Jan. 29.-The
United Mine Workers convention in
executive session, after two hours de-
bate, adopted the scale of wages. The
miners will demand a general advance
for bituminous mining of 10 per cent
on q run of mine" basis.a differential
of seven cents-the old figure-be-
tween pick and machine mining: Is
cents day increase for inside driv-
ers, and uniform scale for all out
side labor.
Some of the miners from western
states, including Illinois, were in ia.
vor of a differential of four cents. but
their members of the scale committee
finally agreed to seven cents. The mi
ners of Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois de-
manded an open powder market.
May Strike in Anthracite Field.
The anthracite miners presented
their demand to the convention in the
form of a resolution, which recited the
previous failure of miners and opera
tors to agree on terms of labor, and
said it is within the range of posi-
bility that the anthracite mine work
ers may be compelled to suspend work
should the anthracite mine owners
persist in their present policy.
The resolution asked the National
President and the National Executive
board to cooperate with the officers
and members of the anthracite dis
tricts in bringing about joint confer
ense Of the operators and miners pri-
or to April /, and declare that should
their efforts fail and a strike be forced
on them the workers of the entire
country shall pledge all possible as
sistance to bring the contest to a
speedy and successful termination
The resolutions were passed by
unanimous vote. The anthracite mi
ners, it is understood, now will not
ask for any further Endorsement
Reports Election of Delegates.
The tellers who have been counting
ballots reported the delegates to the
next annual convention of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor elected as
lows:
John Mitchell, w. B. Wilson, T. L.
Lewis, J. P. Reese, w. D. Ryan, I. d.
Nichols, John Fahey; alternates, Pat
rick Dolan, w. H. Haskins, Edward
Mckay, w. B. Farley, John Dempsey,
D. e. Sullivan, Thomas P. Duffy.
Decides to Redistrict.
The committee on redistricting the
mining states reported the Lewis reso-
luton, which was adopted. The pur-
pose of redistricting the mining states
is that joint conferences may be held
in the various new districts and differ
ences settled, if necessary. at one and
the same time. The districts as now
arranged are:
First district-Pennsylva anthra-
cite fields.
Second district-Central and north
ern Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia,
and the part of West Virginia shipping
to eastern markets.
Third district-Western Pennsylvan-
ia, Paramount, and other West Virginia
districts shipping to western markets,
Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and
Iowa.
Fourth Observation-Disclosures, Tennes-
see and Kentucky.
Fifth district-Missouri, Kansas Ar
kansas, Colorado and Indian Territory.
The convention voted to increase
the salaries Of officers.
Orders New Strike Levy.
The executive board decided to levy
an assessment Of 10 cents month on
every member for the purpose of
bringing to a successful and speedy
termination the strikes now in pro-
gress. The convention adopted the re-
port. The levy will be used largely to
settle strikes in West Virginia and
Kentucky.