The Oskaloosa herald., 1903-12-10
MINERS PROSPEROUS.
Executive Committee Finds Iowa
District in Fine Shapes

l5
An official board meeting of the
Iowa District, United Mine Workers.
was held in their headquarters in this
city yesterday and last night AL
number Of differences existing among
the members Of the organization were
considered, butanone were Of any
great consequence. There were NO
differences between men and oper-
ators, The thing OF greatest import
ance considered by the meeting was
the grouping of the locals into con-
venient numbers for the representa-
ton to be sent to the National con-
vention that is called to meet in In
dianapolis January IS, 1904. The
Iowa District Of the Mine Workers
has eighty-seven local organizations
and total membership of about
thirteen thousands The basis of rep
resentation is one vote for every one
hundred members or majority frac-
ton thereof. The national organiza-
ton pays the railway fare of a repre-
sentative and the local pays the liv-l
ing expense while the delegate is in
attendance at the convention. About
fifty delegates will attend the meet
ing from Iowa
District in Good Shape.
The Iowa Division is now in splen.
did shape in every way. The work
is good in all localities and the men
and employers are at peace in every
part OF the district.
The treasury of the state associa-
ton has grown during the past five
years, or during the tenure Of office
OF John White, secretary, from some
thing less than $4,000 to the mag
nificent sum of 100000, which is
now contained by the association
strong box. The greater part of this
money is held in the banks on time
DEPOSITS and is drawing three per
cent interest. This fund is called the
Defense Fund.-" and is used for as
sisting members during the time of
strikes and lockouts. In addition to
this the organization has been most
liberal in supporting other labor or
CARNATIONS, miners in other parts of
the country. They contributed five
thousand dollars to the support of the
strikers in the anthracite districts.
1t is not generally known that the
association is supporting the widows
and orphans of the Lost Creek dis
aster that occurred January "a 1902.
The Mine Workers created a separate
fund that was contributed to sepa-
rately by individuals and locals. The
money of this fund has been used for
the care of the widows and orphans.
A stated amount is paid to the widow
monthly, based upon the number of
children to be cared for by her. There
is enough money in this fund to care
for the people for number of months
yet.
Nomination Of Officers.
The nomination papers, anticipat-
ing the annual election, are now in.
the hands of the locals. Nomina-
tions must be made by January 10.
Certified nominations for offices are
placed upon ballots distributed among
the locals by the secretary. A tally
sheet is prepared from the local and
sent into the secretary's office by
him to be referred to the state tell
ers for official canvass and the an
nouncement of election. Election
day is February %.
President Edwin Perry was sum-
moned to Rathbun this morning to
attend to some matters that have
come up among the workers there.
Secretary John White went to OF
tumwa this afternoon to be in attend
ance at the opening Of the new
Trades Assembly" hall in that place
that will take place this evening and
tomorrow. Mr.. White is ON the pro