Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-27
i MANY OPERATORS LEAVE IN
DlANAPoLIs TO PREPARE
FOR sToPPAeE
NO CHANGE In OUTLOOK
The Situation Today Shows No I'm
provement Since Saturday and There
Seems to Be Little Chance Of Avoid
Ing Widespread striks-RaiIroads
confiscate Coal.

retary-treasurer Of District 13, u.
M. w. OF A., was IN Ottumwa this
AFTERNOON and announced that a
cal mas been issued by the heads
OF the miners union in Iowa and
the Iowa Coal Operators associ-
alton, for a re-convening of the y
Joint conference at the Odd Eel
\ lows hall in Des Moines, to open
at 2 o'clock next Thursday after
noon
The Iowa joint conference will
pc governed by the action of the
Joint conference at indianapolis,
which, according to all present in
dications, will end this evening in
: IN disagreement. This need
!, not necessarily mean strike, ac-
: cording to Mr.. Perry's views, but
simply cessation of work until
such time as the supply of coal
now on hand at the Pennsylvania
mines shall have been sold.
Indianapolis, March 26.-Represen.
tatives OF the bituminous coal operat-
ors and miners of the central competi-
tive and southwest districts resumed
the executive sessions of their joint
committees today Nothing had trans.
pired since their adjournment on Sat
urday to change the situation and give
any promise of settlement. The
deadlock was this morning apparently
as firm as ever.
No Progress This Morning.
The joint committee Of the central
district adjourned at 1880 O'clock un.
til afternoon. The morning session
was productive of nothing.
Roads confiseate Coal.
In the belief that suspension of bi
luminous coal mining April 1 is inevi
table, many Of the coal-carrying rail.
roads have served notice on operators
that they will no longer carry coal for
They propose to hold the entire
weeks production for their own use
14.as phase Of the situation was dis
cussed by the operators who remained
here over Sunday. Some Of them ad
mitted that they had received such
notice, and would have difficulty in
filing their contracts. That there will
be an immediate rise in the price OF
coal is the opinion of most of the oper
ators here, although they assert that
it will benefit the retailers and moi
the mind owners.
Mine Owners Prepare for Strike.
Scores of operators who have beer
attending the conference left for theil
mines Sunday to superintend prepara
tions for the protection of their prop
erty after April 1. 1t is not feared
strikes will cause so much damage as
will result from flooding or the natura
running down of the mines during the
period of idleness.
All the mine owners PRACTICAL,
have arranged to maintain forces o
men at work to guard against sucl
contingencies. Engineers and pump
men are not expected to walk out will
the miners, although they belong tt
the same organization. Leaders in thu
miners union say the miners have al
much interest in maintaining tn,
shafts in as good conditions as TIL,
owners themselves, and they are will
ing to agree to any plans on their par
to keep them from being injured or de
stroyed.
Are Erecting Stockades.
AZ few operators here represent tn,
ownership of nen-union mines scatter
ed through the various states. Thes
mites, of course, will not be close,
dom on account Of the strike. bu
win continue to run to their fullest ca
psilrity. In western Pennsylvania
piiIticular instructions were giyel
Srtnday over the long distance te;e
bne to begin the erection of stock
ns.ss to protect non-union men VIII
e y expected to work in these collier
yms.
fillis Miners Well Prepared.
'iIiie The miners say they have made few
60 preparations for a strike than hav
ario,e mine owners. The union. treas
cannot be increased within th
terisxt week to any considerable, degree
ariqlready great funds are stored in som
COZ the district treasures. Illinois mir
.rnas .rlots in particular have boarded nearl
.art. 600, 900 since the bitumirous striS
ms ms 1897.
!. If negotiations are brought to a
-fad today the nlineworkers' conve1
Wfon will be called together probabl
-omorrow and plans will be laid fo
-lhe conduct of the strike. The exec,
haaive board of the miners will have ger
Lral supervision over the strike in tn
event it comes and President Mitchell
!, hla;;lder the constitution Of the organic;
I'm will bas eY,van wide rowore, a., -