Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-02-13


tremendous strike, the end Of which
none can foresee, but which threatens
lis and the country with terrible loss.
Not Alone in Opinion.
II was alone in my vote, but was
not alone in my opinion. At the con-
vention of the American Federation of
Labor in Pittsbu1g in November con-
suited President Mitchell and w. D.
Ryan and they both told me they
would he satisfied with a renewal OF
the present agreement, but that we
ought to demand an advance as a
matter of policy.
Later l consulted President Has
kins of the Ohio miners; he told me
the same thing.
LET us be honest about these things.
Our wages have. been increased more
than 100 per cent and our hours
to eight hours since 1897. Is it right
under, this Ryan resolution to leopard
ize all these things The miners OF
this country have never won "a big
soft coal strike under the direction OF
President Mitchell In Maryland, in
Colorado, and at the present time, all
have failed and hundreds have been
yictimized.
| 81 have been in the trades union
movement for thirty-five years In Scot
land and America. From boyhood
learned that it is leaders, duty toltell
4 his people not what they would like
to hear, but what they should know
This is my platform and. am willing
4 to rise and fall with it beforesthe min
ers and the public of this country"
Strike Is Expected.
Des Moines,i Feb. led Smith, OF
the Smith-Lowe Coal company, has re
turned from the Illinois coal fields
where he went to investigate the scale
4 situation, and has been in conference
here with representatives of the Iowa
mines to whom he reported that there
4 is apparently no prospect OF avoiding
a strike in the Illinois field.
j Mr.. Smith and other IOWA operators
seem to be resigned to a suspension
4 in the Iowa fed as a result of the
struggle in Illinois. Mr.. Smith said
yesterday: II made diligent and faith
full inquiry in Illinois and was In Chi
cago when most of the Illinois operat
ors we're there to attend their confer
ence at which the scale proposal was
rejected. There seems absolutely nc
help for the situation and astriRe is
apparently unavoidable. The miners
are taking the rather broad stand thai
all districts must make new scale
+ or none will No decision has beer
reached with reference to an attemp1
to operate the mines there without
union men, and SC the duration of the
:. strike is uncertain. 1t is certain tha
the shutdown in the. Iowa field vii
last as long as the shutdown in Hi
nois.'
Suggest Iowa Truce.
Suggestions that truce be arranged
with the Iowa miners by which thu
mines shall be continued in operation
pending the adjudication in Illinoi
and the formulating of a new scale II
this district. with the understanding
the new scale would be made to dat
, from April and the men credited witt
any advance it may contain from tina
> date or charged with any reduction
seems to be impracticable The miner
!, are decidedly against such a PROPOSE
and so are many of the operators.
Former President Charles Morris o
the Iowa Coal Operators association
!, and member of the scale COMMITTEE
! at present, has been III telegraph
correspondence with other members Q
!. the committee and with the officers o
! the Mine workers, in an effort to arriy
at an understanding as to what men tn
union will furnish during shut dowr
The operators are decided that whe
the joint conference is called mex
: month they will adjourn without dat
and subject to the call Of the pres
dents Of the two organizations, whic
/ will mean until after a settlement !
: made. in Illinois. and that in the NEAR
time the mines will remain close
8 down. They want the miners to ful
' nish them with engine and pump me
and miners enough to dig coal to kee
Q to pump and fan machinery In opers
a ton, and with timbermen to keep th
L mines in repair.
t WEEKsTo BE BUSY.
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g ding have been issued Those invite