Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-03-06
SAID THEY DISAGREE.
Some Operators Not in Favor of a
Commission.


1t is very probable that, unless
few of the coal operators of the state
change their minds. there will be no
commissioner to represent them in
their dealings with the miners of the
state of Iowa. 1t was decided some
time ago by the operators that such a
commissioner should be obtained, and
there were various suppositions as to
who would be selected. The latest
probability is w. c. Pierce, of Indian
apolis, Indiana, formerly secretary
treasurer of the national miners I'M
ion. Mr.. Pierce was in Des Moines
yesterday and the day before but did
not attend the meetings of the miners.
This fact lends color to the statement
that has been made to the effect that
he is figuring strongly on the commits
sionership.
However. according to prominent
Iowa operator who was interviewed to-
1 day by Courier reporter in this city,
it is very improbable that commits
sioner will be selected at all, at least
this year. At recent operators meet
| ing it was decided not to get a COM
missioner until after the agreement
shall have been signed for the coming
year, and this is looked upon as quiet
way of dropping the whole matter.
Association Is Weak.
The operator interviewed today says
that the association of which he is a
member is too ''stingy." In support of
his position he said:
st is a fact, but is not generally
known, that one local miners union,
such as the one at Hiteman, which is
not the largest in the state, pays to the
state treasury of the union more mon
ey each year than all the operators in
| the state give to the maintenance of
their organization. The miners thus
have money to put men in the field all
the time. President Reese and Secre.
tary White are seldom at home, and
| the other board members move about
pretty lively. The operators, on the
other hand, have on one who devotes
his entire time to the interests of the
union, no field man at all. Thus the
miners have handicap over us
throughout the year, which they would
not have. or which at least would be
lessened had we man on the road all
the time, such as a commissioner.
wight GeC otraq9ier.
"The operators association is weak
and it will continue to be so as long
as the members refuse to pull together
There are many operators in the state
who do not belong to the association
and who might be induced TO Join it
probably would, if there were com
missioner to look after their interests
at all times. The cost would not be
4 exceedingly large, but some of the op
orators think that it would be extrava
gance, and do not want a commits
sioner.
THE miners are away ahead of us
in organization and they have in thei
ranks hrainy men who do everything
in their power at all times to furthe
the interests of the organization. The
membership has, see, increased by
several thousand this year. and tn,
treasury has also grown considerably
In my estimation the operators neet
commissioner in order to protec
their interests, for the miners viii
take all they can get, which is only
natural"
1t is not thought that Mr.. Pierce viii
get the commissionership even if tn,
operators agree to take the matter
from the table. where it practically