Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-15
Iowa Miners President Says
That He Has Been Mis-
represented.
GAVENO VIEWSON STRIKE
Did Not and Will Not Predict Re.
suit Of Indianapolis Meeting.
lOWANS co EAST UNRESTRICTED

Expect All Eyes Will Be Conferred on
the Meeting to Be Held in the In
diana City-lowa Operators Not
Worried.
From Fridays Daily.1
John P. Reese, of Abba, president of
District 10, United Mine Workers of
America, while in Ottumwa today, en-.
tered strenuous denial of the truth
of statement purporting to have been
made by him in Des Moines on Tues
day of this week. A dispatch from the
capital city stated that Mr.. Reese had
said that even though strike might
be ordered by the miners convention,
which will meet in indianapolis on
July IL, such step may be averted SO
far as Iowa is concerned although a.
strike may be declared in the bituni-
nous fields of the east. ~
81 did not make such a statement as
this and would not, for l know, and so
does anyone else who is acquainted
with the conditions which govern the
miners union, that If majority of the
votes cast at the Indianapolis conven,;
ton are in favor of strike Iowa,and,
all the other states will be included
and strike cannot be averted in Iowa
any more than in any of the other loF
calities," said Mr.. Reese in speaking,
of the alleged interview. Il did not
see the lockout resolution which the
operators are said to have turned,
down at their meeting and aside from
general outline l know nothing of
what it was like or what they did, and
never expressed myself as being
pleased with the outcome of their
meeting"
The indianapolis Meeting.
Mr.. Reese will leave in few days
for Indianapolis, where he will be in
attendance at the convention of the
miners of the entire country, called
especially to consider the question of
a general strike in sympathy with
the anthracite miners of Pennsylvania
AS to the possibilities regarding the
vote of the Iowa delegates to this
meeting, Mr.. Reese refused to make
a statement, saying that such would
| be impossible, because nearly all Of
the delegates from this state will go
to Indianapolis without instructions.
This will leave them free to become
acquainted with the conditions which.
exist in the eastern field and to vote
Iintelligently and as the facts dictate.
~ Manner of Voting.
Each delegate at the Indian
apolis meeting will represent one
hundred members Of the mine
workers union, or major frac-
ton thereof, and to insure fair
expression of sentiment no delegate
will be allowed to cast more than
five votes, that is, no one man can
represent more than five of his fell
low delegates. A roll will be called
and the votes will be cast for and
against general strike. The major
| ity will determine whether or not one
of the biggest industrial ruptures the
United States has ever seen will take
place. -.
The Part of Journeymen.
The miners delegates recognize the
Importance of the mission upon which
they are about to be sent. 1t is safe
to say that never before has more. care
been used by the local unions to select
careful, conscientious men. to represent
them in a convention. The Indianap-
oils meeting will be attended by the
representative men of the miners UNI
ion from all over the country, and men
who know what a strike means will
not be scarce. Some laymen are
afraid that agitators will influence
many of the delegates against their
own better judgment, but those who
should know say that although the mi
ners, like every other organization,
have in their ranks men who could
thus be Influenced, they have other
men who for clear-headed judgment
cannot be outclassed in the entire
country Instances such as President
John Mitchell, of the national organi-
cation, President Reese, of
Iowa, and others prominent in the
organization, are cited in support OF
this opinion.
Iowa Operators Not Worried.
| The coal operators of Iowa. at their
meeting held in Des Moines Tuesday,
evinced a feeling of safety with re-
gard to a strike in Iowa. They seem
to feel that if conditions are the same
| in some of the other states as they
are in Iowa with the miners, there will
be no striek; the matter will be adj
justed in another way. Both operat-
ors and miners in this state say that
there has never in the history of the
union been more quiet year than the
present one, never time when there
was less trouble between operators
and miners. President Reese, when
asked about this matter today said:
Everything is all right in Iowa as far
as Iowa is concerned, and there has
been less trouble over the agreement
this year than any time can remem.
Der. Both sides are living up to II
very well and there have been very
few meetings Of the Joint executive
board.
At indianapolis.
In case strike is declared by the
miners at indianapolis. the meeting