Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-10-10

PEOPLES PULPIT.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Hynes, Iowa, Oct. 9, 1907.

ayueS, iowa, OcC. ., lSof
At its last regular meeting Local
Union No. 2741 United Mine Workers
Of America organized a "Six Hours
League" The object Of same is the
betterment of the general conditions
Of the members of the U. M. w. A.
and in particular the adoption Of a
six hour working day. The follo.,-
Ing resolutions were read and adopt
ed:
To the officers and members of the
United Mine Workers of America:
Greeting.
The time will soon be here when
the operators and the Representatives
Of the different Local Unions of the
U. M. w. A. will again meet in con-
vention to formulate and agree upon
new contract to take effect on OF
after April 1, 1908.
When sending delegates to con-
vention this Local Union as rule
gives them instructions to vote for
certain measures pertaining to the
welfare and to the betterment of our
conditions. Heretofore it has mainly
been an increase in wages that the
members of this Local Union has been
striving for. An increase in wages,
SO we reasoned will undoubtedly give
us little more of the necessities of
life, will give us larger share Of
the wealth we produce, will enable us
to give ourselves and those depend
ing upon us better living, will help
to give our children better educa-
ton. in other words, we felt certain
that by getting little advance IN
wages we were making fair progress
and should feel contented. But has
Dur expectations come true? Are we
making a better living today than we
we're few years ago? Are we, as a
class, able to set aside of our earn
ings small sum for a rainy day?
What is the cause that prevents us
doing all this things that we promis-
ed ourselves and our wives and child
rem when we obtained an advance In
wages? 1t Is, brothers, an advanced
cost Of living What good does 1t do
us If our wages are increased few
cents day, when the cost of living
goes up in proportion. Evidently we
must find some other remedy besides,
an increased wages If we are going
to better our conditions and the rem
edy in our Judgment, is easy found.
1t reads, "a Shorter Working Day."
There. are many reasons why we
coal miners should favorably consider
shorter working day than the eight
hour. We all know that the greatest
benefit that we have SO far derived
through our organization was the
change from a ten hour working day
to an eight hour working day. The
members of the u M. w. A. took a
long step forward in progress when
they said. 1--WE will not work more
than eight hours in any one day
And still, brothers, there were some
few amongst us who set up a how
and said we will starve. How are W.
going to make a living in eight hours
when we can not do it in ten?" Bul
today there Is not a member in oul
organization but blesses the day We
work eight hours a day. 1t shows
plainly that in shortening the working
hours per day the laboring men gains
more than from an advance in wages
only. But time is advancing and W,
must advance with it or else go back
wards. What was to us progress ;
few years ago will undoubtedly r.,
!, tard our progress of today if we still
adhere to it. We owe it, not only t
ourselves, but the coming genera
tions. to our children, that we il
everything in our power to kee
abreast with the times and to paw
the way for those little folks thu
when the time comes for them t
commence the struggle for life the
don't have to so through the sam
hardships as their fathers did.
If we should content ourselve
with only an advance in wages at GU
next convention we would be at tn
very same standpoint as we are K
day. Prices Of necessities woul
jump up in proportion to the amour
of increase in our wages. Therefor
if we intend to better our condition
we must obtain a shorter workin
day than we have now. There ar
good many other reasons why W
should have shorter working da
than the eight hour. We are workin
under dangerous and unhealthy col
ditions. From the time in the morl