Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-01
Interstate Miners and Operators
Convention Favors Agreement.
A WAlEOUT WOULD MEAN SUICIDE
Herman Justi, Commissioners of Illinois
Coal Operators Association, Strong,
ly Advocates Maintenance of Con-,
tracts by Miners.


prominent coal operators of this city:
has received a communication from
Herman Justi, commissioner of the IL
linois Coal Operators association, con
tanning report of the resolutions
adopted by the bituminous miners and
operators of Pennsylvania. Ohio, lndi-
ana and Illinois in convention assem-
bled at indianapolis, giving expression
to the sentiments of these men with
regard to their attitude to the strike
among anthracite miners of Pennsyl
vania. In speaking of the conditions
that at the present time surround the
n>iners of this country Mr.. Justi says:
while strike in the bituminous
coal fields may be possible, 1t is not
in my opinion, at all probable. 1t
seems to me that the entire outcome
Of the matter rests entirely with the
manner in which the question is han.
died by the daily press of this coun-
try and the attitude that is taken by
the press in connection with the dis
pute between these two great inter-
ests." 1t is Mr.. Justi's opinion that
John Mitchell, president of the United
Mine Workers of America, does not in
the least exaggerate the serious ma
ture of a general strike in the coal
mining industry of this country.
Must Keep Contracts.
As II is the sentiment among many
of the local men in connection with
the question of a general strike among
the miners of this country that the
mining unions that have contracts
with their employers cannot afford to
break these agreements SO this seems
to be the opinion of many men promi
nently connected with the mining in.
dustry in other states. Mr.. Justi ex.
presses himself with regard to this
question in the following manner:
The United Mine Workers of Ameri-
ca is an organization second in influ-
ence and numbers to no other labor
organization in the world 1t is we'll
managed and 1t has accomplished a
great work, but the moment it ignores
its agreements it will commit sui
eide"
Leaders Fear Consequences.
The matter of general strike
among the miners of this country is
one that is attracting general atten-
ton from all persons that have any
knowledge of the existing conditions.
Among the leaders of the labor organ
izations OF the country there is GER
tain dread and horror of the POSSIBLE
ity of a general strike and perfect
realization of the resultant conse-
quences to organized labor. According
to the opinion of Mr.. Justi the ques-
ton as to how the rank and file of the
labor unions view the matter of gen
eral strike is not SO easily answered.
What is it for which the anthracite
miners are contending? According to
the statements of many of the local
miners and operators they are con-
tending for the very same conditions
which are at the present time enjoyed
by the miners OF the bituminous field.
1t is the opinion of many of the min
ers in this part of the state as well as
that of the operators that these con-
ditions cannot be secured by the min
ers of the east by the ignoring of con-
tracts on the part of those men with
whom they are in force
Concerning this matter Mr.. Justi
expresses himself in the following I'M
mistakeable manner: ITO me it
seems plain that the bituminous coal
miners will neither ignore the law of
self preservation nor these simple
considerations OF right so clearly
enunciated in the declaration of prin-
ciples of the coal miners and operat-
ors adopted at the recent convention.
The Resolutions.
The following are the resolutions
adopted at the convention held recent.
ly in Indianapolis:
Whereas, The American people are
deeply concerned and profoundly in
terested in the wise and correct solu.
ton of the labor problem, and are in,
terested in seeing problem material.
ly affecting all classes in our county
settled by peaceable, reasonable and
wise methods, and not by force or
threats of force, by imposing hard.
ships. or threatening to impose hard
ships upon the masses of the people;
and
Whereas, Thoughtful and observ-
ing people everywhere are watching
with profound interest and deep sole.
itude the joint movement of coal mine
operators and coal miners in the cen
trail coal mining states and of other