Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-31
THE GREATEST STRIKE.
CONTINUED from Page ~.

tract If the Perry resolution is adopted
and does not carry with 1t the employ
ment of union men, payment of the
scale of 1903 and, in the southwest, an
advance OF three cents per ton at the
basing points, run-of-mine basis and
the full enjoyment of every privilege
| heretofore enjoyed l have no doubt
that one-half the tonnage in the central
district will pay on advance. One third
OF the tonnage that spoke here yester-
day expressed willingness to sign.
know of millions of tonnage that will
sign the advance, in addition to that
which has already openly favored ad-
vance, And some of this tonnage
| through it's representatives voted
against paying the advance"
/ There is little doubt that the resolu-
ton will pass.
+ White Favors Resolution.
President John P. White of the Iowa
miners said, speaking personally and
not for his colleagues, that he believed
| Iowa miners would not be confronted
by compact organization Of hostile
employers and his firm conviction was
| that the best interests of the miners
organization demanded the adoption Of
| the resolution.
viii Make Great Strike.
The biggest strike in the history OF
the United States will begin next Mon.
| day.
1t may affect every important min
Ing center, throwing into idleness a
vast laboring army of between AGO.
900 and 100000 men.
| Again, its scope may be confined to
the bituminous fields or part Of
them.
With the adjournment. sine die, late
yesterday afternoon of the protracted
| interstate conference here, it is as
tsured that practically all of the mines
| in Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana will sus
pend work tomorrow night.
This will bring out .115,ooO miners
as the first division O. strikers.
Rapidly spreading from state to
state, the strike is expected to assume
proportions compared with which all
former industrial wars dwindle into
insignificance. There are leaders
among the mineworkers who predict
/ it will sweep the fields of the entire
! country, reaching. before the close of
next week, the dimensions of gen
eral coal strike.
Southwestern States to Join.
Southwestern states, including Mis-
souri,, Kansas, Arkansas, Texas, and
Indian territory, are almost certain to
be gathered into the strike maelstrom
Immediately. This district represents
10000 miners. Iowa with $4,000 min
ers, may settle and remain at work,
but West Virginia with 1000 men, and
Michigan and Kentucky, each whit
5000, probably will also be affected
Immediately. 49,
| Following the failure Of the confer
ence President Mitchell, acting for the
anthracite miners scale committee,
last night ordered suspension Of
work in the three anthracite mining
districts, beginning Monday.
This order affects about 100000 min.
ers. They will remain idle pending
the result of the scales committee
meeting with President Baer and the
operators committee.
General Strike Seems Certain.
The effect Of this action probably
makes certain general strike which
will tie up the mining industry Of the
entire country.
AS near as estimates can be made,
about 100000 miners may be counted
upon to join the strike at the outset.
This includes all of the unionized bi.
luminous fields except those Of west
ern Pennsylvania, where there are
$4,000 men in the mines.
The leaders say that all of the 55,-
900 non-union miners and mine labor
ers will lay down their picks in sym.
pathy, bringing the total up to 225,000
men.
Fight May Involve 100000 Miners.
If a general strike is determined
upon in the anthracite fields, too, the
$4,000 union miners are expected to
take out the 10000 nonunion men in
addition. Altogether the minimum of
strikers will be $4,000, but the maxi
mum may exceed 100000.
With complete or at least partial
paralysis of the coal industry in pros.
pect, stored up in the country are
millions Of tons of fuel. Even the
vast preparations against coal fam.
inc, however, are insufficient to last
more than four months at the most
liberal estimate. Conservative coal
operators say that stocks Of coal on
hand throughout the country amount
to approximately 50,000,000 tons. OF
this 3O,000,00O tons are bituminous
and 100000 tons anthracite product.
John H. Winder, leader Of the btu
minous operators, estimated that the
visible coal supply will last from sixty
days of four months. Other coal men
who are in close touch with the strike
preparations believe it will. be ex-
hausted in much shorter time. All
advise the most careful economy by
consumers.
Mitchell Hero of Conference.
John Mitchell will go forth to lead
his third great strike as a hero. In
the last dramatic moments Of the
fruitless peace meeting yesterday he
underwent severe trial. Charges re-
flecting on his personal honesty and
!, integrity were hurled at him from the
operators side of the hall. Before 1000
of his own people Mitchell in a pas,
sionate appeal cleared his name of sus-