Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-05
FEELING PREVAILS
AT MINERS CONVENTION

j GUN LIN HUN
business-H. G, Street, Mystic; Frank
Youngberg, Fishville; Ben Keeney,
Carbonate; Lewis Edwards, Evans;
William Cozad, Lost Creek.
Distribution committee (to distrib.
ute printed copies of minutes to dele.
gates)-Thomas May, Fraser; Will.
liam Hinl1le, Laddsdale; William A.
Ford, Mystic.
Sergeant-at-arms-Frank l.. Rice,
Avery.
The Officers Reports.
The reports OF the various officers
President Edwin Perry. Vice President
Joseph Sharp, Secretary-Treasure
John p. White and the auditors, John
Barrow and William Reid, Jr., were
read and referred to the committees
on officers reports. The reports are
all, With exception of that of the
auditors, lengthy and complete. and
lack of space vii not permit of the
publication of them in full. Each one
however, overs we'll the field Of its
author, and as a whole the reports
show that the business of the district
during the past year has been conduct
ed admirably and in a b%usinesslike
manner by the officers. The report OF
President Perry, which is published
herewith, shows the condition of the
miners all over the country, as well
as in the district over which he has
supervision, and is a most interesting
document, as are also those of Vice
President Joseph Sharp and Secretary
John P. White Mr.. Whites report
shows that there are now in the dis
trict organization almost 10000 mem
bers and that the condition of the dis
trict organization, financially and nu
merically, is excellent. His report a!
treasurer is embodied in the auditors
report, part of which is published
herewith.
President Perry's Report.
The report of President Perry
which contains some important anG
valuable recommendations to the min
ers, including that for a defense fund
is worthy the thoughtful consideration
OF every miner in the district. 1t is
almost in full, as follows:
Des .Moines, March 8. 1903.
To the officers and representatives
of the sixth annual convention now
assembled. Greeting:
AS president of this organization
| esteem it a pleasure, as well as a
duty to give to this convention a sum.
mary report of my labors as president
OF the organization.
West Virginia Campaign.
On July /, 1902, myself and brother,
Frank Cameron We're assigned to duty
in the Eairmont region of West Vir-
ginia, and for two months we contin,
ued to labor in that field, with the fer.
vent hope that our labor would ulti,
mately be crowned with success. Time
and space forbids my entering into
the details of our campaign at this
time, suffice it to say that during our
brief stay in that little state, that
there We're experiences that came un,
der our observations that were revolt
ing in the extreme and history records
no blacker or fouler crimes upon civ
ilization, than what took place in that
state during the summer months OF
the year of 1902.
Representatives of our organization
We're unceremoniously thrust into pri
son, without having committed any
crime, husbands and fathers were
mercilessly torn from their wives and
little loved ones, and surreptitiously
and c~landestinely spirited away. Pub,
lie functionaries and officers of the
law We're even compelled to ask per.
mission from the coal corporation tic
go on their premises in order 10 serve
processes of law, and this in a free
country, recognized as the most ad,
yanced and enlightened nation known
to modern civilization. There were
many other fragrant usurpations oil
the peoples rights, so revolving that
delicacy forbids my mentioning here
VIII say in conclusion on this subject
that the above and many other expert
ences have become so fixed in GU
minds, that time can never efface
them.
Soon after my return from West
Virginia our distinguished president
Bro. Reese, resigned the presidency
to engage in a political campaign, and
on October l, 1902, | assumed the
duties of the office of president, and
endeayored to discharge the same tc
the best of my ability, without fear OF
favor.
anthracite Strike.
The year lust closed has been the
most eyentful in the history of oul
country. The recent struggle with al
its attendant miseries and hardship!
to those directly involved, is too frest
in III minds to need ~rehearsing at this
time. l must say, however, that through
out that memorable campaign wa:
ably managed and conducted by oul
peerless leader Brother Mitchell. W.
have emerged from the conflict witt
honor, having crystalized public opin
ion, and won the admiration of thi!
and other countries, and while tn,
nation stood aghast, despairing Of TIL;
future and the threatening mammoth
proportions which for a time it was as
suming, with the cold bleak blasts o
winter and it's attendant evils fast ap
preaching, and in spite of the fact tina,
our organization was at that very mo
ment more strongly entrenched in
financial way, than at any time pre-
vious, our leaders and their consti
tuents arose above self. and from /;
humanitarian standpoint, accepted tn,