Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-19
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AWAIT THE VERDICT OF THE
STRIKE COMMISSION.

The preliminary work OF the coal
strike commission has Eeen complet--
ed. Three months have passed since
the first agreement YVES reached by
the miners and operators to leave the
difficulties TO the action of a board OF
arbitration. During this time many
witnesses have been examined and
hundreds of pages OF testimony have
been taken covering every conceivable
phase Of the controversy furnishing
inform alton for the guidance of the
members of the board as to the man
ner of carrying on the coal business
in the anthracite fields
Now the hearing has been closed.
On Thursday the arbiters will again
assemble to begin their work OF re-
viewing the testimony and preparing
their verdict During the weeks of in
vestigation the press OF the country
has Given more or less full account
of the proceedings and from these re-
ports the people of the nation have
formed their opinion as to what the
finding of the commission should be.
There seems to be quite general opin-
ion chat the investigation will result
In recommendation for an increase
in the wages of the miners OF the an
thracite fields.
Though the proposition made by
President Baer in his speech before
the commission for sliding scale
does not meet with favor among the
miners, yet it may be taken as a con-
cession on the part of the operators
and an indication that there is a neces-
sity for a change in the scale. An
other consideration that will be an
important factor in securing for the
miners an advance in wages is the av-
erage increase of 1919 per cent that
has just been granted to the bitumi--
nous miners of the eastern and central
states. Such a concession, it seems,
could be made by the owners of the
anthracite mines without injurinS
their ability to meet the competition
OF the product of the bituminous
mines.
According to the status of the case
it has appeared throughout the con-
troyersy that probably the most
strongly contested point is that of the
recognition of the miners organiza-
ton. The operators have contended
that the miners union is an irrespon-
sible organization, that it could not
be depended upon and one whose
agreements could be broken more cas-
lily than made Here again the eXper-
fence of the bituminous operators ut
terly refutes this argument. Through
ont the years since the yearly agree
ment plan has been IN operation in
Iowa there has been no serious trou-
Bile with regard to securing the full
fillment of the agreement by the Nom
members of the miners organization.
Again, through the influence of the
leaders of the United Mine
Workers of America, the In
dianapolis Joint convention, which
was threatened with disruption and
failure, resulted in effeeting compro-
mise in which both Durtles yielded
and which gave to the miners a salts
factory portion of their demands and
at the same time asked of the oper--
ators no more than they have been
able to meet.
OF all considerations, however, the
one thing which the people of the
United States most desire is to see
some plan consummated, which shall
provide a means OF settling further
differences. With such a settlement
a great step will have been made for
!. the preservation of industrial peace
and the people who have been made
to suffer as the result of the prolong-
q ed strike of last summer would feel
that their sacrifices had not been
made in vain. The people of the
United States will await with interest
the findings of the board Of arbitra-
ton.