Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-10-06
NEW VICE PRESIDENT
L. p. JOYCE, OF DIES MONIES, Ac-
cEPTs OFFICE IN MINERS
UNION.
Was Iowa Unions First President and
Did Much to Make the Organization
a success-Was in ottumwa Today
Enroute to keb.

L. P. Joyce of Des Moines, who has
just taken up the work of vice presi-
dent of district 10, United Mine
Workers of America, was in Ottumwa
today calling upon friends, and left
this afternoon for Keb on business
connected with his official position.
Mr.. Joyce was appointed at recent
meeting of the executive board of the
miners district union to the Office
of vice president. made vacant by the
resignation of Joseph Sharpe of Bra
I'll, who had held the Office and per-
formed the work satisfactorily since
his appointment year ago upon the
resignation of John p. Reese, former
president and the succession of the
then vice president, Edwin Perry, to
the Office of chief executive.
Was First President.
Years ago, when small body of
determined wage workers, composing
the best men among the coal miners
of the state met at Oskaloosa and
organized the district union of the
United Mine Workers of America,
they looked around for a fit man to
take upon his shoulders the task of
organizing the state and making the
new union success. The unanimous
choice was l.. P. Joyce, one of the
Oldest and most conservative men
among them, man aptly fitted for
the work and one who knew from eX-
perience the workings of trades I'M
ions.
Was Very Successful.
The history of Mr.. Joyce's success
as president of the first miners union
is the history of the organization
which now numbers almost $4,000 men
and is known as by far the strongest
labor organization in Iowa. Its mem
bers still give to Mr.. Joyce the credit
for their unions present prosperous
condition and all of them are glad to
see him again back in the harness and
doing field work forsthe organization.
Although Mr.. Joyce is well advanc-
ed in years he has been working in
the mines near Des Moines for several
years and was working there when the
meeting was being held at which he
was selected as the vice president of
the union He has for years been an
employee in the mines owned by the
company OF which Charles H. Morris
of Des Moines, president of the Iowa
Coal Operators association is the
head.
Has Been Active.
Although Mr. Joyce gave up his
place as president of the district or
ganization and allowed other men to
lead the union he has been active in
the affairs of the organization since
it's inception. No joint scale commit
tee was complete without his pres
ence and during the major portion of
the time since his term as president
expired he has been member of
the executive board representing the
third, or Des Moines district. This
work has brought him into the field,
where he has settled many disputes
between employees and employers, al
ways being successful.
Will Do Field Work.
In accordance with the action OF
the last annual convention of district
13, which was held in Des Moines last
spring, the vice president now does
field work Before that time he was
paid only when actually at work but
the duties OF the Office have grown SO
great, as have also those of the score
tary-treasurer, that it was deemed adj
visable to put the vice president on a
stated salary and let the secretary
omit major portion of the field work
he had previously done. MI. Joyce
will, therefore. continue the work laid
down by Mr.. Sharpe, and his friends
both in and out of the labor unions
wish him success