Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-04-21
few COAL MINES
REOPEN TODAY
AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN
MINERS AND OPERATORS
SATURDAY.
OPPOSE
Large Supply of Fuel Stored by Man.
ufacturers and Railroads Make
the Demand Light Be-
fore June.

! Miners and operators have agreed
and the new wage scale is in force.
Notwithstanding that nothing
now stands in the way of the resump-
ton of operations in the coal mines
OF the state, it has been found that
with the mammoth supply of coal
that was mined previous to the shut
down of the mines April 1, it was
found impossible for some of the
mines to begin work this morning.
A number of the coal mines about
Ottumwa are busily engaged repairing
machinery and making various prep
arations necessary to the reopening of
the mines and it is not likely that
many mines will have opened before
the first of next week. 1t will be i'm
possible for some of the miners to
operate before the first of June and
some will probably not get to it be-
fore the middle of June. This is due
to the large supply that has been
stored by the railroads and manufac-
turers, which will last until June
with many of them, and as a result it
is not expected that the mines can
run full strength before that time.
Members of District No. 152, United
Mine Workers of America. will meet
Thursday evening for referendum
vote on the scale proposition. The
question to be determined is whether
the scale shall be maintained for two
instead of one year, as usual.
The miners, after an all days SEES
sion in Des Moines, agreed upon the
scale and resolutions as drafted by
the joint scale committee and the
delegates left for home. The operat-
ors had already approved the new
scale and the action of the miners
closed the incident.
( 1t has been decided by the Interna-
.tional Mine Workers to refer to
referendum vote of all coal miners
the question of allowing the new
agreement to remain in force for two
years. In the past these agreements
have been for two years, but this year
it was decided by the international to
have them for but one year. This
question will now be referred to the
miners all over the country for con-
sideration and it Is possible that the
scale and resolutions agreed upon
yesterday will remain in force for two
years.
Few Voted Against
There were about 40 delegates at
the meeting from all parts of the
state. The discussion lasted all day.
Particularly did the men debate the
blacksmithing clause, many of the
men think . the charge for smithing
being too high. But it was finally
adopted. The agreement was taken
up clasure nv clause and then adopt
ed on the final vote 120 to 49,
There was dramatic scene when
the miners adjourned John P. White
stood upon the platmorm and said bis
last good byes as an officer of dis
trict No. 13. For nearly ten years he
has been an officer and leader in the
district. For five and half years he
was secretary-treasurer and for four
years president. He now goes to In
dianapolis to make his headquarters,
as he has been elected vice president
Of the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea His family will remain in Oska-
loosa, for he will be away from home
much of the time travelling all over
the United States and Canada in the
interests of the miners. It is likely
that he will before many years be in
the shoes of Mitchell, president of
the organization.
When White came to say good bye
to all of the old friends of years
standing there was many quaver in
his voice as he shook hands and said:
Good bye, Jake $50 long there, Har-
ry, be good to yourself" well, Jim,
/ trust all your troubles will be little
ones"
Hearty hand clasps and good will
marked the leave taking of his old
friends.
A handsome bible was presented by
the executive board to Samuel Vellen-
tyne of Boone, the retiring board
member.
Mr.. and Mrs. G. w. Stevens Of Dud-
ley are visiting at the home of their
daughter Mrs. F. l.. Garfield, residing
81 cfr