Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-09
PEOPLES PULPIT.
No Logical Reason Why There Should
- BE RedInfint, LIZ. NAf.eaa

|
Editor of the Courier:--Wef are in,
receipt of three letters from miners
and one mine foreman, to give our,
views on the above question, This
question seems to be agitatings the
minds OF our people, especially the
wage workers at the present time,
The Writer has always made it a point
TO never borrow trouble, neither does
he cross a bridge until he gets to it
and we see no reason to fear reduc-
ton in general although few
have taken place already, we adj
NIT. With the annual National Con-
lvention of Mine Workers now in SEES
sion, the question is being asked, es-
pecially by business men, will there be
a strike? This is a question that can
not be answered at this time Time
alone can answer 1t, but we must
admit every conservative person de-
lplores the very thought of strike but
none more so than those actually en-
gagged in it.
Sometimes as matter of self-pres-
ervation, it is resorted to. Let this be
as 1T may. see no cause for anticipat-
ing any trouble in renewing the pres
ent agreement and continuing our
present friendly relations with our
employers of the various states that
enter into the joint agreement with
the miners which has proven entirely
satisfactory, AS the fact has been
clearly demonstrated to miners as well
as operators, also the general public
that it Is the only sensible and bust
ness method of doing business, as it
/ lstQ hijghnC cti, Ill tnc
men TO live up to their contracts in the
production and marketing of coal, nei-
Their miner nor operator should desire
to depart from the present method Of
making annual wage agreements and
Will not unless in some unguarded
moment, one side or the other tries to
enforce unjust conditions upon the
other and as matter of protection,
force them to a disagreement. The
writer feels safe in saying, the miners
will not be the first At any rate the
present indications are that the min
ers will not ask an advance in the min
ing of coal, neither do l believe they
should. While this is true, neither do
/ believe for one moment that they will
accept reduction, should one be
asked. So far, there has been no con
| ditions in the coal market of our coun-
TRY to warrant even a proposition for a
reduction in the price of the produc-
! ton of coal While it might be true
that some markets have been sluggish
and in some places the operators have
not been able to market all the coal
the capacity of their mines would per
nit, 1t cannot be used as an argument
in favor of reduction, for it would
i not rectify the evil in the least. as his
tory mas proven in past ages, for there
is only certain amount of coal con-
|sumed. This is jrst what is actually
needed by those t use it, for 1t is
mot like dry goods that can be carried
In stock by any means. The writer
has mined coal for low price and
mined coal for. a high price. but has
never found where the price created
la demand for it by any means. I'm.
der the present state Of affairs, the de.
mand for coal increases as other pro
ducts do through the accumulation OF
larger territory and population, coup
lied with advanced ideas and improve.
Iments following strictly the trend of
the times in the line of other things.
\ The writer is firm believer in good
wages, but not extremes The present
wages are the highest he ever saw
Il during his half century of existence on
this earth and he wants to see them
remain So He has been an extensive
traveller, has seen a great deal of the
world, and being a close observ
Ter of people and things has
Learned to know that the
country that pays the highest wages
lis the most desirable to live in, as
small wages mean small living with
'ibut little education and happy sur.
|roundings. Good wages, mean good
living, good education for our chill
dren and happy surroundings, which
make life worth living. Take China
for instance, the poorest paid nation
on the earth What do we see. LIE,
but degradation and starvation" The
writer is firm believer in the annual
trade agreements; likes to see the
lemployer and employee assemble
, around the throne of confidence, put
their feet under the table, smoke the
Ipipe of peace, discuss all matters fair
lily and squarely, sign their agree
ments, and return home and forever
keep their peace on what has been
done; but to live uD to it, The writer
never saw contract or agreement
but what conflicted with some one
but this is no reason for breaking it
, For, as a rule, they are based on
American principles, the greatest good
for the greatest number of people
A reduction Of wages would mean one
Istep backward, which is a direction we
are not travelling at present. join
with the writer, have implicit conf
idence in your employer, country ant
times, and you will never need to feai
going backward. r. Williams.