Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-04-05
PLANTS WORKING
Anticipates General Resumption in
P%ittsburs District Falls to Material.
lze-Ho'iday Said to Be Largely Re.
sponsibIe-No Coal Being Mined in
Ohio.

acted no business. The general tone
is toward peace and the indications
are. that, the scale will be signed for
all Iowa. districts if the miners are
reasonable on minor points. Several
days preliminary skirmishing will be
necessary, however, and the operators
are in no hurry to settle because of
the large supply of coal on hand
Governor Folk created a sensation
by the statement today that if the
mines in Missouri, some of which be-
long to the Iowa district, are closed,
the state will take charge and conduct
them even If the militia is necessary
to protect the workmen.
The real work of the scale commit
tee will not commence until Wednes-
day.
indianapolis, April 3.-The great
coal strike began in earnest today
with the backbone of the operators
resistance apparently damaged in the
b1tuminous fields. F. l.. Robbins and
some independent operators of the
western PENNSYLVANIA district have
signed the 1903 scale contracts pre-
sented by the miners. Robbins has
also signed contracts to operate his
Ohio and Illinois mines. A number
of small independent operators in
Ohio, Indiana and a larger number in
Illinois have signed contracts.
Compared with the output of the re-
sisting operators in Ohio, Indiana, and
Illinois, the Independents who have
signed in. those states represent only
a small production but with the out
put Of the Iowa operators and those
Of western Kentucky and the non
union production of Iowa and Western
Virginia, besides the Robbins mines,
indications are that from 40 to As per
cent of the normal production in the
great centrally located territory will
be in operation by the latter part of
the week.
Up to this time there is no large
Indiana, Ohio and Illinois operators.
tile attitude to %non-union operators
and miners is calculated by miners
officials to assure them that the West
Virginia and %non-uninn fields in Penn
sylvania will be kept in operation.
Most of the non-union operators have
posted notice of al advance in wages.
Operators Firm.
Chicago, April 3.-Nearly 300 opera
tors Of Illinois were represented at
the meeting of their organization here
today. The meeting was called for the
purpose of considering the strike sit
uation and without exception it was de-
cided to stand firm in resisting the de-
mands Of the miners.
The Chicago and Carbonate Coal
company, of DeSoto, ILL.,, which signed
the scale demanded by the miners,
was expelled from membership.
Reports were received from various
sources telling of mines, not con-
trolled by members Of the operators
association, which had refused to sign
the scale.
Fifty Sign.
Springfield, Ill, April 3.-State Pres
ident Perry, of the United Mine Work
ers, stated this afternoon that so far
fifty operators in Illinois had signed
the agreement to pay the scale of 1908.
Are Optimistic.
New York, April although moth
ing has occurred to change the situa-
ton there was general expectation
today that the dual conference be-
tween the subcommittee Of the an
thracite operators and miners, which
will be held late today. will bear fruit.
There was a strong optimistic feeling
among the representatives Of the min
ers that something will happen to
greatly relieve the situation.
President Mitchell during the fore
noon said that there was no change in
the situation so far as the miners are
concerned The men still stand firm