The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1904-02-25
But Will Not Suffer
a Cut in Wages
This Year.
Pres. Perry and Sec'Y White
Of District No. So, U. vi.
w. a., Give Herald
an Authosized
Interview.

lister and Leader of Des Moines, and
copied broadcast throughout the state
announcing a probable stand for re-
ducion Of wages Of the coal miners OF
the Iowa District at the approaching
convention, has attracted consider
able attention, especially in the coal
fields Of Iowa. Edwin Perry, presi.
dent, and John p. White, secretary
treasurer of District No. -, United
Mine Workers Of America, with head
quarters in Osllaloosa, were approach
ed by Herald reporter today, and
authorize the following interviews on
the subject, which will be read with
interest by miners and operators and
the public in general:
SO much has been said by the op-
erators of late on the possible de
mands that will be made in our joint
conference that is to convene in Des
lMoines, March s, 1904, and copied by
->the press all over the state, that we
feel it merits more than passing no
tice.
I'VE are informed On the hand that
the operators are going to demand a
10 per cent reduction from present
prices, and in support of this demand,
we are told that coal is sold in one
single city 40c per ton less than for
merly. The facts are that never in
the history Of our state has there
ever been such demand for coal, as
at the present time. Our mines with
very few exceptions are operated full
time and many of our large mines at
this very time are unable to fill their
orders.
We are told that the country is in
the throes of an industrial depression,
and that wage reductions are being
demanded lalE ever the country. Some
attribute the clogging of the ordi-
nary business currents to over-pro-
= duct an4srs under enpsnyT elton TO so
: --N-.-@s-Aat -ASe%~"S ~.~-"1~~--
speak. Now we ASK. Would any sane
business man undertake to cure I'M
der-ccnsumption by reducing the pur-
chasing ability of the masses?
"Second-We find that the foreign
trade balances are as satisfactory as
in other seasons, and our exports are
increasing, rather than diminishing.
Then why this insatiate desire to dis
turb the business world? Again is
tho fact that we have been blessed
with good, bountiful crops, responsible
for so-called depression?
I'VE have always been led to be
lieye that when we had good crops
etc, and the farmer received good
prices for his products, that our pros
perity should be at food tide. and
= what is true of the farmer, is equally
true OF nearly every other important
industry.
yet in spite of the foregoing un
disputed facts, the stock gamblers o.
the East become alarmed at the ten
dency of things and loudly demand
that labor must be sacrificed on the
altar, and suffer reduction in wages
in order that their inflated trust sc
curities might still furnish the usua
amount Of revenue.
"And, lastly, we find these so-caIleo
plutocrats heralding broadcast al
over the country, that organized la
Dor is the agency responsible for al
this disturbing of the public peace
and tranquility, and that labor is get
ting more than its just share Of the
profits and must suffer a reduction
SO as to increase the employers mar
gin of profit. Now it is certainly ap
parent that so-called industrial de
preston is manufactured expressly
for the occasion.
I'm support Of the foregoing facts
let us carry this analysis still further
to a logical conclusion.
"First--Has the cost of living de
creased? No
"Second- Have rents come down,
No.
'Third--Are the trusts reducing
prices on commodities? Still the pub
lie answer, no. But we are told thai
retrenchment must commence at the
Bottom, and labor must be satisfied
with less.
"Only a few weeks ago we find
even in our own state, the operators
advancing salaries, and in one in
stance a $500.00s per annum increase
is allowed one individual, and In this
connection we freely admit that VIZ
have no objection to his merited ad
vance. provided cur men receive whal
they are justly entitled to in the way
OF compensation. In other words,we
protest against the right of the oper
ators TO raise salaries of their officers
ana the next breath advocate a reduc
tion Of all laboring men.
"The above anc;ysis and correla
ton Of facts logically leads us to draw
but one inference, or conclusion. and
that is, that there is a. combined
movement ON foot all along the link
to reduce the wages or workingmen