The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1907-12-05
RESERVATIONS ARE
PRESENTED TODAY
ALL STATE OFFICERS or MINERS
UNION STEP OUT.
EXPLANATIONS ARE OFFERED
Those In Authority Did What They
Believed To Be Best For Or
aanization--Pay Checks
Are Cause.

ganization--Pay Checks
Are Cause.
Des Moines, Dec. IA representa-
tive convention of the Iowa Mine
Workers met here this morning TO
consider the report of the officers and
the members OF the executive board
and to take action upon the resigna-
tions OF officers that have been ten
dered in response to the demands OF a
local union that claimed an abridg-
ment of rights by their. leaders and
state officers. The representation to
the convention was by delegates elect
ed from each local. The integrity and
the well meaning of the officers had
been assailed as result Of the re-
fusal of the Des Mofnes District min
ers TO accept checks in part payment
Of wages due them from the operators.
The action Of the Des Moines miners
in refusing to accept the advice OF
their leaders has caused much feel
ing in parts of the district and IL has
subjected the union to much criticism.
The action of the few has caused i'm
jury to the cause of the whole body
Of mine workers.
In the detailed report OF the officers
and the executive board to the con-
yention appear the following state
ments:
Executive Boards Statements.
'We, your Executive Board. pursu-
ant to authority vested in us. under
the Constitution, have called this spe-
cial convention for the purpose of
adopting some policy that will govern
our organization in the immediate fu-
ture, and to transact such other busi-
ness that may come before us.
"All the delegates here today are
familiar with the financial stringency
that our country has experienced in
the past few weeks, resulting in the
closing down OF factories and mills In
many sections OF the country BY ex-
traordiRary efforts on the part pf ".
President, we succeeded In indtts
the Clearing House OF this city to
nish sufficient amount of curreiR
to meet the pay rolls OH November y.
and yet three mines in Appanoose
county were closed down for several
days, owing to the inability Of the
companies to secure currency, others
paying three and four per cent pre-
MUM for currency to meet their obIi-
cations Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania
and many other states adopted the pol
icy of paying one-half cash and one
half clearing house certificates, or bank
checks. And not until after the Ex-
ecutive Board of the Iowa Federation
of Labor advised such course, did
District 13 recognize the popular de-
mand and join with the business and
commercial interests of our country to
relieve the financial situation and keep
the wheels Of industry in motion. It
was only after mature thought and
careful and deliberate Judgment that
this Board advised the acceptance of
clearing house certificates. We be-
lieved then, and do SO now, that such
a course, il carried into execution,
would appeal to the popular will OF
the people and crystallize public senti-
ment in behalf of organized labor.
h"For many years Iowa has boasted
of the intelligence and patriotism of
Hher people, and your Board had every
reason to believe that the advice EN-
anating from it would meet with gem
eral favor from cur members every
where. But We were doomed to dis
appointment az far as the miners Of
Des Moines ara concerned We are
not unmindful of the fact. however.
that hundreds of the miners in this
city disapproyed of the i'll advised
course pursued by some OF their local
leaders. Little did the latter appre-
ciate that such policy was fraught
with grave danger to the Trades I'm
ion movement, and would ultimately
arouse the indignation of the public.
The Press, the great civilizing force OF
our nation, rejecting the sentiments OF
the people, has resented the action OF
our men in refusing to accept the stu
alton as it presented itself. and in
closing the mines, entalling financial
loss and hardship with all its attend
ant evils and suffering.
Many of our members have depos-
ited in the several banks of this city
their accumulated surplus earnings.
and yet could not draw but very lin
tied amount of their deposits. These
facts are mentioned so that our mem
bers may fully realize the Importance
and how serious and acute the finan-
cial question had become. Hence, rec
ognizing this selt-evident truth. II an
individual was powerless to realize on
his deposits only to the extent men
toned, how could We expect employers
to secure unlimited amounts Of cur
rency? Such crisis. much as we re-
gret the same. calls into acquisition
men that have the courage OF their
conviction. and that can stand alone.
II necessary, in defense Of the peoples
interests ard welfare. The modern
and enlightened trades anon must
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