Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-04-03
sfs. z x
WORKERS AWAIT ACTION OF oP-
ORATORS, SOME OF WHOM
GRANT DEMANDS
IOWA CONFERENCE
WILL MEET TUESDAY
Miners and Operators Of the Hawkeye
State VIII Get Together at Des
Moines Tomorrow to Make Scale
For the Coming Two Years.

For the Coming Two Years.
Pending the outcome of the con-
ference in New York City tomor-
row between the coal operators
and President John Mitchell, the
suspension of mining in the an
thracite coal fields is practically
complete.
OF 100000 men and boys in the
hard coal fields who are affected
by the scale committees suspen-
sion, less than 1000 are at work.
In the bituminous fields, in
many mining districts, the miners
are idle chiefly owing to the cele-
bration Of the eight hour day ami
versary rather than because of the
wage scale dispute. It is difficult
to foretell the conditions in the
district in western Pennsylvania
until it can be definitely stated
how many Independent operators
will sign the 1903 scale.
Des Moines, April 2.-The mem
bers Of the joint scale committee
appointed by the miners and ope-
rators of Iowa to fix a basis of
settlement for scale in Iowa are
here ready for the joint confer
ence tomorrow It Is stated by
both miners and operators that
while it will be impossible to set
tie exactly on the 1903 wage scale
/ as provided for in the Perry reso-
Tuition at Indianapolis, an agree-
ment will be reached on its equiv
alent.
The first day Of the strike
parsed off quietly in Iowa. All
the miners are out awaiting the
action Of the joint scale commit
tee.
Oskaloosa, April 2.-(special)
ALI the coal mines in this dis
trict are idle today. The suspen-
sion causes the abandonment of
the Spring Creek mines, employ
ing 200 men. Twelve trains have
been taken off by the Iowa Cen
y tral railroad to save coal. Presi-
dent John P. White, Of the Iowa
miners union, arrived home from
Indianapolis today. He looks for
4 an early settlement in Iowa.
Pittsburg, April 2-The miners
scale of wages Of 1903 was signed
this afternoon by the Pittsburg
Coal company officials. The agree
ment goes into effect at once and
affects $4,000 men in this district.
Francis L. Robbins is president of
i the company.
Pittsburg, April To-day being tn
anniversary of the granting of the eigt
hour work day, almost every mine /
the Pittsburg district is closed. TX
morrow, however, it is expected tina
The miners employed by the Pittsbur
Coal company and by several othe
coal operators will return to work an
that all the mines in the district wi
be running before the close Of tn
week. Francis L. Robbins, represen
ing the Pittsburg Coal company. an
he scale committee of the Unite
Mine Workers met today for the pu,
pose of signing an agreement for tw
years, and the factional fight whic
has been in progress in the miner:
for some time, may caus
some trouble.
The scale committee for District NJ
met Chairman Francis L. Robbins a
II O'Clock and presented the 1903 seal
or his signature. The conference |
low, In session.
The First "BoIter."
The first operator to sign the ne,
agreement was Lewis Findlay, owne
If the mines at Golfers. w. Va. o,
lers were at once wired to his collier
o resume work
Demonstration BY Miners.
Johnstown, Pa, April 2.-The storr
center in the mining situation in thi
district is at Windber, where 400
nen employed by the Berwind-Whit
paraded the streets today de
spite the fact that the company ha
posted notices granting the 1903 scale
The men are not organized, but effort
ire being made to unionize them. Th
sheriff ordered the saloons closed an
las sworn in twenty deputies in ant.
,ipation of disorder.
Anthracite Mines Closed.
Philadelphia, April 2.-Reports re
,eived today from the anthracite Goa
ield state that the suspension of min
ng is complete.
No disturbances are reported from
lny section of the mining region an,
he day has all the appearances of
Holiday.
Ohio Miners Out.
Columbus, Ohio. April 2-Chairmal
of the Ohio operators today an