Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-04-05

coal yards at Des Moines and else
where. The object is to reduce
the price of coal which was recent
ly advanced by operators.
Oskaloosa. April 2. = Especially =
The work Of bringing about a settle
ment out of the conditions that now
prevail in the mining fields of Iowa,
will be long and tedious. Now that
the joint convention has adjourned,
the representatives of the two forces,
miners and operators, are not thrown
together as much as they were during
the conference and each has time to
strengthen his own views upon the
questions that serve to make the diff
ference between the two sides. When
the joint convention is again called to-
gether there will be no little time
spent in discussing these questions ov-
er again before both sides finally set
tie down to a realization of the fact
that both must give something in Or
der to secure a peaceful settlement.
Suspension Order Issued.
President John r. White of this city
has issued the order formally declar-
ing the mines of Iowa idle and this or
der was last evening mailed to every
local union in the state.
Meet Tonight and Tomorrow.
Nearly every local union in Iowa will
meet tonight or tomorrow to discuss
the suspension, it's cause and probable
effects. Practically nothing can be
done until the miners make their for
NAL answer to the statement made by
the operators at the close of the joint
conference. The order issued by Pres
ident White last night is as follows:
"Oskaloosa, April Ito All Local
Unions Under the Jurisdiction of Dis
trict 10, U. M. W. of A., Greeting:
After protracted and long drawn
struggle to make scale to govern our
district from this date to 1906, as pro-
vided in the Indianapolis interstate
convention, we have consented to adj
journ the joint conference subject to
the call of the presidents of the oper-
ators' and miners organizations
Hence all negotiations to effect an
agreement are hereby postponed And
until such time as we succeed in MAX
ing scale the operation of the mines
will necessarily be suspended indefi-
nitely.
"And during such suspension, to
protect the operators from any unnec-
essary loss or damage, your execu-
tive board, after a careful canvass of
the situation, have unanimously agreed
to allow the operators the right to
work their engineers, firemen pump
men and sufficient number of men
to make necessary repairs and pro-
tect their property from loss during
such suspension.
at is understood, however, that all
regularly qualified men for any par
ticular line of labor must receive an
equal division of the work to be per-
formed as far as practicable. And in
the event it becomes necessary to
mine or load coal for the exclusive
purpose of supplying the boilers, to
produce steam, to pump water or to
run the machinery, to supply ventila.
ton or hoist men when employed as
above, they may do so, the operators
agreeing to hire none but bona fide
union men.
"The board reserves the right in tbs
/ event that an operator abuses this dis
4 erection to withdraw this privilege from
any and all operators so offending.
mo mine worker will be permitted
! to sink new shafts or openings or tt
mine coal or otherwise develop any
mine, whether they are old openings
or otherwise.
Call local unions are requested tt
notify the district Office of any abuse
of the above rules.
John P White, President,
Edwin Perry, Sec-Treas."
| The above is expressive of the feel
ing of the mine workers toward the Cd
i orators and conveys only meanins
of friendliness during the truce which
awaits a final settlement of the diff
| culties. That the operators will co
incide with the spirit of the order i:
generally accepted. Should the agree
ment not be reached at the meetins
which will be called by the president:
of the two factions it is not improbable
that John Mitchell will be called upo1
for his good offices.
John Mitchell Coming.
This morning it was ascertained tina
as soon as the Illinois situation is clear
ed up President John Mitchell, of tn,
4 national organization, who is now il
Illinois, will come to Iowa in an effor
to adjust the differences here, provided
there is not a settlement in the mean