Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-12
T. j. PHILLIPS, SUPERINTENDENT
FOR wHlTERREAsT CO.. SEES
HOPEFUL SIGNS.
DOES NOT EXPECT
A COAL STRIKE
Says That the Sentiment Among tho
Miners Of Iowa Has Changed With.
in the Past Few Days and That Com
servatism Will Rule.

servatism Will Rule.
II firmly believe that the coal min.
ers will accept the proposed reduction
of wages and that when the votes are
counted in Indianapolis next Thursday
goodly majority will be found to fav-
or continuation of work, even at
slightly reduced prices, rather than
strike extending through nearly all
the coal fields of the United States"
This statement was made this morn.
ing by Hon. T. j. Phillips, general sup-
erintendent for the Whitebreast Fuel
Co.. and one of the best informed men
in Iowa upon mining subjects. Mr..
Phillips has made an investigation Of
conditions in Iowa and Illinois
since the miners national con.
vention referred to referendum vote
the question of accepting or rejecting
the proposition of the eastern opera
tors and he is of the opinion that the
more conservative members of the
union win prevail in their efforts to
prevent a strike.
Change In Sentiment.
II admit that am surprised by the
change in the sentiment expressed by
the miners in this state" said Mr.. Phil
| lips when asked for a reason for hig
hopeful stand. When the joint
conference of miners and operators at
Des Moines adjourned last Tuesday
afternoon l would not have risked
much upon an Opinion similar to the
one now hold. But since that time
many OF the miners have changed.
their minds and am advised by super.
intendents at points in Iowa that the
number Of Conservative fellows who
A are working among the miners to have
them vote against Ii triife III really
remarkable. OF course the statSs Err;
/ ther east will go In favor t3f accepting
the reduction and IgLelieve that Iowa
and other western states will vote
close enough to let the east control the
situation"
| MitcheIl's Power With Miners.
/ Mr.. Phillips has faith in the power
of John Mitchell, president of the min
ers national organization, to control
a large number of votes and he cited
the circular signed by Mitchell and
the other national officers, calling upon
the men to vote for the acceptance of
the reduction and avoid costly strike
This action, in the opinion of the OF.
tumwa operator, will have great deal
of influence.
Operators Would Avoid Strike.
The operators make no secret of the
fact that they desire to avoid strike.
i This is particularly true in Iowa, where
the relations between the men and
their employers have been the most
!! pleasant in character for the past five
or six years. Both the miners union
and the operators association are
stronger now than ever before in the
state Of Iowa and neither wants to be.
come weakened as the result of a
:. strike However, the operators feel
that they can do no more than will be
done by the eastern operators and for
that reason they have agreed to stand
by the settlement made there, If one
is made. In case the vote is for re-
I. lection of the proposed reduction in
wages, Iowa operators say that strike
cannot be avoided in this state.
Mitchell May Resign.
y 1t is reported that John Mitchell i'm
& tends to resign the presidency of the
national miners union unless the men
4 take his advice and vote for accept
/. ing the reduction the eastern oper-
ators want to make this year. Though
this has not been confirmed it is cred-
4 tied by many who know Mr.. Mitchell
and it will no doubt have much to do
in deciding how many Of the men will
J. vote on the momentous question.
4. Officers Send Circular.
With the ballots for the referendum
vote, which are being sent out today
, from the national headquarters of the
union at Indianapolis, are copies of
the address to the miners by President
Mitchell, Vice President Lewis and
Secretary Wilson, recommending the,
acceptance of the reduction.
President MitcheII's Letter.
4 The letter says in part:
"It is conceded on all sides that the
apex of industrial activity has been
reached and we are slowly moving
toward an industrial depression. The
operators came into the joint conven-
, ton asking for reduction in wages
of Is per cent. Their proposition was
opposed with all the information and
all the skill at our command
. "As an untimatum from which they
!. could not be moved, they offered us a
' reduction from present scale prices
a of 5.55 per cent.
1--WE know how hard it is to be com.
81 PEELED to accept reduction in wages,
: but it is better to accept a slightly
!. lower rate and hold our organization
VI intact. ready to take advantage of any
. Improvements which the future of the
q trade may show than to besforced to
fcontinuef nm Papa !, Fifth ~,