Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-06-19
Mitchell Forced to Act.

Mitchell Forced to Act.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, June 19.-That
Mitchell was forced to call the conven-
ton of unionized bituminous coal mi
ners, either by stress of conditions of
the present strike or by the pressure
brought upon him by the minor officials
of the union is evident, and the fact
that he allows month for what could
be done in two weeks is evidence that
he is still hopeful of intervention be-
fore the time expires.
When the miners struck they pre-
vented any coal being mined because
no attempt was made TO mine any.
Then they called out the engineers,
firemen and pumpmen and threatened
destruction to the operators property,
but the operators are now managing
the pumping without them, and final
ly this week came the order to all the
other workers to quit. The strike,
which from the moment the operators
had been able to keep their mines clear
was going backward, has reached the
point of extreme depression. 1t was
the moment to do something. Yester-
day came the national convention call,
and cheer once more is visible on the
faces of the strikers. There is conf
dence among them in the ability to
gain a national strike, but men who
have returned from the soft coal re-
gion say there is no overwhelming SEN
timent in favor of it there and that the
strike resolution probably will be beat
en- in convention.
Strikers Vote Is Large.
The organized miners are, accord
ing to the union figures, entitled to
1878 votes,with some fifty added from
the states which are not organized
thoroughly, but which have small To-
Gals. These figures are, however, not
exact, as no miner can vote for. a dele
gate unless he is in good standing,
and only about 70 per cent have their
dues paid to within the last three
..
is claimed in Virginia and West Vir.
ginia, where only about half the min.
ers are organized. &
The outlook is that the convention
will have. according to President
Mitchell, about 1,400 delegates pres
ent,and they will representations
he does not say this-about $500
votes. Of this number the regions
now on strike, the Pennsylvania an
thracite, West Virginia, and Michigan
will represent about two-fifths. The
others will come from the soft coal re
gions of Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio
Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Ken
lucky. Tennessee, and Missouri, where
President Mitchell claims the organi
zation is complete. The anthracite
men expect to get from these states
: enough votes to pass the strike resolu
ton, majority, and not two-thirds
vote being required. According tt
the best figures now obtainable, The
districts now on strike will have tt
gain over $50 votes to carry their OBJ
ject.
Contracts Have Little Weight.
That the contracts now existing il
all the organized states with the op
orators will have no weight in pre-
venting strike if the majority vote
for it, is certain. In none of thes,
contracts is there the direct claus,
agreeing to work from the end of on,
year until the end of the other, Ther
is nothing but the moral agreement
after signing the years contract. 1,
work the year.
Secretary Wilson will
have notices printed and sent to eacl
local throughout the country, bearin,
a copy of the call and orders to elec
delegates. Each 100 mine workers il
good standing are entitled to a vote
and one delegate can represent a
G five untes hut