Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1904-03-08
WANT SANE SCALE
SoWA MINERS TO STAND FIRM
FOR PRESENT AGREEMENT.
INT-COMMITTEENEN ARE CHOSEN
Settlement Between Iowa Miners and
Operators Believed to Depend Large
ly on Outcome of indianapolis Con-
vention = Fight for Headquarters.

Des Moines. March s. (speciaD-
After discussion of the scale OF
wages proposed by the convention
scale committee to the district conven-
tion of the miners yesterday the whole
question of scale was referred to the
miners representatives on the joint
Bcale committee, which meets in this
city next Tuesday and though a goodly
part of yesterday afternoons session
was taken mp with an attempt by some
of the Des Moines district delegates to
secure rehearing of the committees
report this attempt WAS frustrated and
the scale is left in the hands of the
conference committee This commit
tee will consist, or the side of the min
ers, of thirteen men with power to vote,
together with John F. Ream, national
board member, and seven alternates.
The seven members of the district ex-
.ecutiye board arc members OF the joint
committee by virtue Of their Offices
and in addition to these there will be
one man from each of the four, sub
districts, one representing the miners
IN the G. E. & K. c. track in southern
iowa and northern Missouri, and one
representing the engineers Of the dis
srict.
Yesterday afternoon the representa-
tives of the various districts caucused
and elected their scale committee
members and delegates. The miners
representation on the joint committee
will be made up of the following men:
Delegates.
Edwin Perry, of Oskaloosa.
L. P. Joyce, of Des Moines.
John P. White, of Oskaloosa.
James p. White, of Forbush.
Frank Cameron, of Hiteman.
Robert Cowan, of Des Moines.
William Heslop, of Lehigh.
F. T. Ronlesburg, of Mystic.
David Anderson, of Foster.
Robert Mckinney, of Altoona
John Reid, Jr., of Boonesboro.
Thomas Corcoran, of Cincinnati (rep-
resenting the C. B. & K G.. track)
David Loney, of Fraser, represent
an5 the engineers.)
AIternates.
First district-William Sparks, of
Diamond, Elmer Carlson, of Center.
vile.
Second district-sol Meek, of Bea-
con.
Third district-Daniel Thomas Of
Marquisville, w. J. Dooley of Colfax.
Fourth districtrJohn Lamb of Fras-
1sF- Henry pSpfee of Coalville.
For 6. B. & K. @. track-John Fer
ris, Mendoza, Mo.
For engineers = John King, Cincin-
natl.
Will Consider Scale.
Between the adjournment of the con-
vention this afternoon and the con-
vening of the joint conference at 10
o'clock next Tuesday morning the
members of the miners scale commit
tee will confer with regard to the de-
11lands to be made of the operators and
will call session of the miners con-
: vention to report the scale as it is pro-
posed to submit it to the operators,
This method will do away with great
deal of the wrangling that has char
ncterized SO many sessions in the past
when the scale was under considera-
tion.
Will Fight Reduction.
AS stated in the Courier yesterday
the miners are practically satisfied to
allow the scale to remain as it is for
the coming year, desiring only few
minor changes. but they are determin-
ed not to submit to reduction of their
wages. Just how much truth is in the
assertions that have been made that
the operators would fight for reduc-
tion is a matter for conjecture but the
miners believe that this will be done
and they are prepared to meet argu
ments for reduction with reasons
why such reduction should not be
made.
The Iowa Situation.
However, the situation in Iowa
hinges upon the outcome of the In
dianapolis joint conference. If the op
orators in the eastern competitive
states stand for their demands for q
reduction, there is strong probabili
ty that the same demands will be made
by the Iowa coal producers. 1t stands
to reason that this will be the plar
here for should the operators of the
east secure a reduction after even
months Of delay and idleness the Iowa
operators would lose money should
they make scale for the coming yeal
on the same basis as has been used
during the past year. If reports which
the miners have be trustworthy there
is much coal On Hand ready to market
i'll the east and q suspension of work
for SOME weeks would not cause a fam
inc and would not allow the Iowa Goa
operators to break into the eastern
markets and secure large profits.
The Eastern Problem.
On the other hand, there is no prob
ability that the Iowa miners would
make scale and bind themselves tc
work by it for the coming year unless
their brothers in the east succeeded in
making one. Should they make such
an agreement and the eastern work.
men should go on strike to secure the
same wages they have had for the past
year the Iowa miner would with every
pound OF coal he dug. be helping the
eastern operators to break the strike
there. The c.I3ect of strike would be
to deprive the market of coal and II
the eastern miners stop work it viii
naturally follow that the Iowa miner.
will do the same in order to brins
about that end. These are the reas
Ons why the Iowa miners are anxious
iy watching the developments OF the
AS fT0n6 aS Evar