Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-10

members of the u. M. w. of A., who
are employed in other lines of labor
but still retain their membership in
the union shall be assessed fifty cents
per month, each, for the defense fund.
Report on Officers Reports.
The report of the committee on
officers reports was made to the con
%vention yesterday and the committee
was discharged with the thanks of the
convention. The committee reviewed
the annual reports of the various state
officers, taking especial notice of the
recommendations contained in each of
them, and reported favorably on all of
these recommendations with the eXcep-
tion of the amendment to President
Perry's suggestion regarding the de-
Tense fund, which was approved by
both Mr.. Perry and the convention, and
which is mentioned above. The addi-
tional recommendations by President
Perry were:
That the state organization funds,
as they are growing much larger each
year than the one preceding, be deposit
Led in two or more banks as agreed up
on by the state executive board instead
of in n bank AS heretofore. The
members of the union from Iowa to
be selected by the state executive
board, be sent to Colorado their ex-
penses to be betrayed with the money
now remaining in the fund appropri-
ated by the district to the cause of
building up the union in other states.
That only 500 copies of the proceed
l inpS nf tho nrncpnt convention hn nrjnf-
ed. This matter was left by the com
mittee entirely to the state officers.
That the convention authorize the
officers of the district to issue a cir
cular to the locals setting forth the
reasons why the different local unions
should affiliate with the Iowa State
Federation of Labor.
The convention %concurred in the
committees report with the exception
of the above mentioned, and the one
regarding the reaffiliation of the locals
with the State Federation of Labor.
This matter was later taken up and the
delegates were instructed by the con-
vention to use their influence with
their locals to bring about such a re-
utilization.
Other Reports.
The committe reports upon the an.
nual reports of Vice-President Joseph
Sharp and Secretary-Treasurer John
P. White, approving of the suggestions
made in these reports, especially one
by Mr.. White, regarding the jurisdic'
ton of the district officers and their
executive powers. This question was
referred to the committee or consti-
tuition, with the recommendation that
the section regarding the powers of the
officers be made palmer this year.
Commends Officers.
The committee took the opportun'
ity to comemnd the officers of the dis
trict organization for their excellent
and painstaking work during the past
year and this, along with the com
mittee's recommendations regarding
the reports just mentioned, was adopt
ed by the convention.
Frank Cameron Talks.
Frank Cameron. of Hiteman, mem
Der of the district executive board
as a representative of the second sub
district, which includes Ottumwa, ar
+ rived in Des Moines yesterday to at
tend the convention, having been de-
layed on account of some field work
j, until that time. Yesterday afternoon
he was called upon by the delegates
to address the convention. Mr.. Cam
eron, who is the youngest district of
fetal but nevertheless one OF the mos,
, popular, took the opportunity offered
to express his appreciation of anc
, thanks to his constituents for the
splendid vote which was accorded
him as board member from the sec
ond district at the referendum cleo
ton held a few weeks ago, the result
: of which was announced Wednesday il
the convention.
:. MI. Cameron also referred interest
ingly to the experiences through which
he and President Edwin Perry pass
Z ed during their stay of several week.
this summer in the strike region il
: West Virginia, where they were sen
as organizers for the union for the
I purpose OF bringing the many non
! union men into the organization. Mr.
l Cameron spoke of the evils practicet
by the coal companies and theil
agents and said that it was danger
I Gus at times for the organizers to ven
I ture upon the streets alone, for fea.
y they would be attacked by thugs EN-
ployed by the corporations. He spoke
of the evils of the injunctions ISSUED
by Judge Jackson at the time, injunc
tions the history of which all coal min
ers know. He outlined the work dom
by himself and Mr.. Perry among tn
foreigners who were brought to Yves
Virginia to take the place of the strik
ers and told of some Of the trial.
through which the organizers passed
in their efforts to obtain better condi
lions for the miners. His comment
were received with applause and caus
ed considerable comment among hi
fellow miners.
Relief Fund Discontinued.
The question as to what should be
done in regard to the fund for the re
lief of the widows and orphans of tn
men who lost their lives January "a
1902, in the explosion of the mines a
Lost Creek, was brought UP and dis
Icussed. Secretary White. who has hat
charge of this fund, reported that thu
amount now on hand, something owe;
81, 200, is enough to supply the sur
viving members of the families of tn,