Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-01-21
mistake that trade unionists may
I The Situation In Each district.

The Situation In Each district.
The report then outlines the situa-
ton in each district. Of the anthra-
cite field he says: cit is pleasure to
report that since the close of the an
thracite strike the relations of operat-
ors and miners have grown steadily
more cordial. With very few excep-
lions the award of the committee has
been rigidly observed and an era of
comparative peace and contentment
has reigned in that territory"
OF central Pennsylvania the report
says: During the month of March
the miners and operators of the Cen
trail district of Pennsylvania report APP
proximately 10000 men in joint confer
ence in the city of Altoona and con-
summated an agreement which, Sc
cured to our members substantial in
crease in wages and for the first time
in the history of that field established
the eight hour work day. The impor-
lance of this achievement cannot be
overestimated."
Mr.. Mitchell refers to the extension
of the conference method of adjusting
wage differences into West Virginia,
Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and the
Indian Territory, which, he says, pro-
misses long period of industrial peace
to miners and operators. The Ala
bama settlement by the board of arbi-
tration is mentioned with satisfaction
and summing up the general situation,
he says: "In all other districts where
mining prices have, heretofore, been
regulated by agreement, increased
wages were secured and other conces-
sions obtained and while in many in
stances wages have not advanced in
proportion to the increases secured in
the central competitive coal fields, on
the whole we have every reason to feel
ing the year 1903"
Extension of the Organization.
The extension of organization into
Canada, Montana and Washington are
mentioned. Taking the equalization
tax received during December of each
year as basis Of computation, the
report says that the organization has
increased in membership from 1900
in 1899 to 2S7,545 in 1908, which does
not include members idle or on strike.
During the past year there was a net
gain of 366 unions, making total of
1922 unions in twenty-seven districts.
If" says Mr.. Mitchell, "every local
union would report its full member
ship there would not be less than 34O,-
600 MEMBERS
OF the Colorado strike, Mr.. Mitchell
says: "The strike in district is has
been and is source of heavy expense
to our organization, but our people are
standing firm, and, much as we desire
an amicable and honorable settlement,
the uncompromising attitude of the
companies leaves us no choice but to
continue the contest until fair terms of
settlement are reached or our people
go down in defeat"
Strikes New in Progress.
The report refers to the causes for
the Meyersdale and West Virginia
strikes, and says: "The result is that
approximately 5000 men are idle in
these two districts, and there appears
to be no immediate prospect of settle.
ment.
''In district 10, Tennessee and south
eastern Kentucky, number of strikes
were forced upon us, and some of them
are still in progress. All of these
SlTlkGS nave uSSA ouppOitS Wy luc ld'
tional organization, as will be shown
by the secretary's report, large
sum of money has been expended in
their prosecution"
President Mitchell insists upon the
universal adoption of the run of mine
basis. On this the report says: 81
would advise that the demands of pre-
vious conventions be repeated and that
the scale committee be instructed to
make an effort to have the interstate
agreement formulated upon run OF
mine basis"