Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-03
MINERS OF IOWA PRESENT THE
MERITS OF BILLS TO MEMBERS
OF THE LEGISLATURE.
COMMITTEES AT WORK
Reports to Convention Looked For To.
morrow Morning-Demands of Min.
ers Expected to Pertain to Conditions
/ of Work Rather Than Wages.

ssss ee ..a,t.,. =s....,.,
Des Moines. March 2. = (SpeciaD II
Unanimous in their support of the bill
to bring the gypsum mines of Iowa un-
der the same regulations as the coal
mines and to witness the passage of
the proposed child labor bill, the dele
gates to the annual district convention
of the Iowa miners spent the day lob
bying in the interest of these meas
ures. Several of the most important
committees are in session today and it
Is probable that the reports will begin
to be made. to the convention tomor-
row morning.
So far, the sentiment among the min
ers in attendance at the convention re-
garding the demands that will be made
this year are not for any material
changes in the scale of wages, but
rather regarding the conditions under
which the miners work.
Take Adjournment.
Shortly after the convention was
called to order this morning, the bill
now being considered by the commit
tee of the state legislature regarding
the gypsum mines of Iowa, was taken
up as was also the child labor bill.
Various delegates expressed their ap-
proval of these measures in strong
terms and it was decided that adjourn
ment should be taken until 8 o'clock
tomorrow morning in order to give the
miners an opportunity to do some
work among the members of the state
Legislature. Each of the delegates
is expected to see the senators and
representative from his district and
present ato them the light in which
these bills are viewed by the miners,
and to urge them to use their influence
in favor of the bills.
Committee Has Hearing.
Today the legislative committee OF
the State Federation of Labor is to
have hearing before the house COM
mittee on mines and mining regarding
the pending mining legislation. 1t was
determined at this mornings session
of the convention that all of the dele
gates who were not engaged in COM
mittee work today should be present
at this hearing to give whatever en-
couragement they might in favor of
the bills.
~ Prepare n0SOIuIlOnSs
The members of the convention are
very much in earnest in their support
Of the mining and child labor bills and
this morning committee with Frank
Reed of Ottumwa as chairman was ap.
pointed to prepare a resolution urging
the passage of both measures. The
committee is-composed of the follow
ing men: Frank Reed of Ottumwa,
chairman; Roy Manoer Of Foster, Dan
O'Brady of Fishville, w. ]. Dooley of
Colfax, A. A. Hanson of Centerville.
Committees In Session.
Today several of the committees,
such as the scale committee, the com
mittee on constitution and others, are
in session, considering the resolutions
presented to them from the local un-
ions. 1t is expected that these commit
tees will begin to make their reports
tomorrow morning.
Miners Demands. .....
Regarding the demands that will be
made by the miners this year there
seems to be unanimous sentiment
that they will not be regarding the
wage scale, but will rather deal with
the conditions under which the miners
work in the mines.
Watching Eastern Convention.
The delegates to the Des Moines con.
vention are watching closely the work
that is being done by the miners now
in session at Indianapolis. Iowa min
ers look upon the reports that are be-
ing sent out as sensational and are not
expecting any serious trouble in that
region. ''s.,.
Teamster Presents Matter.
John H. Boyd of Ottumwa was pres.
ent at the session this morning for the
purpose of getting incorporated in the
Joint agreement clause providing
that the teamsters of Ottumwa should
make settlement with the operators.
Mr. Boyd represents the teamsters or.
ganization in Ottumwa and claims that
the Dempster Coal company, of South
Ottumwa, has refused to make an
agreement with the teamsters during
the past winter. The miners look up
on the proposition with considerable
disfayor, as they believe that it would
load upon them burden in which they
have no direct concern.
Committees Named.
The following committees were ap-
pointed:
Scale Committee-Wm Heslop, Le-
high; j. H. Bates, Buxton; Elijah Hol-
land, What Cheer; Elvin Powell, Clar-
india; James Moran Berwick.
Grievance Committees. J. Crosse,
Centerville; w. J. Dooly, Colfax; C.
R. Davis, Keb; R. W.. Kordie, Boones-
boro; w. B. Clark, Sewers.
Resolutions Committee White,
Forbush: w. C. Sharpe. Oskaloosa;
Frank Cameron, Hiteman; John Ream,
Beacon; David Reese, Cleveland.
Constitution Committee-Robt. Cow
an, Des Moines; John Gay, Hooking;