Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-03-06

out fear or favor and to the best of
my ability. Possibly in some in
stances have erred in judgment and
others might have done better than
your humble servant However,
have the consciousness of knowing
that with the limited knowledge at
my command | have done the very
best l knew how. | desire to say,
however, that at all times the relations
existing between myself and other Of
ficers and board members have been
cordial and harmonious. Being as
sured that our honored president will
call your attention to every essential
detail necessary for our future gov
eminent, and desiring on my part to
refrain from burdening our proceed
ings with matter that would be volum-
nous and probably superfluous, shall
only incidentally call your attention
to very few matters that need some
little explanation.
"First, during the presidents visit
| to Scranton as representative of the
national organization to the American
Federation of Labor, some very I'M
pleasant and unfounded reports were
INDUCED in by the press of our state,
that placed our president in an en-
barrassing light before our organiza-
ton. The motive was, to all intent,
to do him honor rather than injury.
Whenever my attention was called to
the reports in question by members of
our union, my answer Invariably was
that | was confident that there was
not even shadow of foundation for
such conflicting accusations, and that
their authors drew largely upon their
own imaginations, etc, and in discuss
ing the situation with Brother White
both of us felt that. had there been
any truth in the stories circulated
Brother Reese would have revealed
the facts to either one of us.
During the month of December |
visited Bussey. Iowa. and found while
there that at the o. K mine some por.
tons of said mine received near.
| ly two cars of coal and others one
After consulting with the men advis,
ed that in the event that the company
did not show disposition to remedy
such inequalities and seeming unjust
determinations. they, the employees
| should apply a remedy and thus force
the issue. My advice was first, to lin.
1t the number of cars to those having
more than their pro rata share until
such time as all would be more equal
This recommendation was found on
j investigation to be impractical, owing
to large number of men residing
many miles away from the mine
Hence found that some men would be
justified, under the circumstances, in
staying at home occasionally until the
number of cars We're more evenly dis
4 tributed, and so | advised that the
above course should be pursued for 6
short time or until the remedy was
forthcoming. -
Whether l made the matter plair
enough to be understood or my advice
was misconstrued, am not in posi-
ton to know. However | learned sub
: sequehtly that the entire mine sus
pended work over this same issue, ant
freely admit that the provocatior
was very great. In my Judgment the
} company was largely responsible fol
the situation inasmuch as Mr.. Powers
the manager. promised me faithful.
that he would in at least two days al
ter my consulting him, see that all hi
employees would be fairly treated ant
J the abuse remeded. The above is on
of many instances where mine superin
tendents fail to carry into effect thei
promises.
, Since the above incident hav,
been very careful to not even intimate
by influence a suspension of work, ev
en- though l know the operator himsel
had violated our agreement, preferrins
that a higher authority or tribuna
should decide the question.
During the year | had the honor t,
organize three new local unions, Bea
Creek. Douds and Knoxville, Iowa, re
spectively.
In conclusion permit me to say tina
feel myself indebted to the Presiden
and Secretary for their wise counse
at all times when requested, and / ar
also under lasting obligation to eac
individual member of our eXecutiv
board for their hearty cooperation an
good will at all times. Thanking on
and all for many acts of kindness an
words of encouragement, l now retur
Auditors Report.
The report of Auditors John Barro,
q and j. o. Staley included verificatio
; of Mr. Whites account, and the follow
Ing dCCOuuliuS lol Lie luluo VI LdlC III
+ ion, together with a statement fro1
the vice-president of the official banl
: This part of the report follows:
:. I'VE find the various funds are d,
y posted as follows:
In Mahaska County State
!. bank, subject to check. IS $685.
!. To John P. Whites account. $3.50
On deposit bearing per cent
interest ...... ........ 10000
In hands of secretary-treas-
n uref...... ............... 1851
i Grand total in treasury. SIT ,654.4
h "Mahaska County State Bank.
J. "Oskaloosa.. Iowa. Feb. "a, 1902.
J. This is to certify that district NJ
10 of United Mine Workers of Americ
has on deposit in this bank subject
check $3,59S.26, (thirty-five hundre
: ninety-eight and 26-1O0 dollars)
), 'Also John White. Secy.Trea
!, same order, has on deposit $S63.O
r