The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-10-21
Fraternally Yours,
John p. White, President.

jued members. go
Fraternally Yours,
John p. White. President.
District 10, U. Nj. w. OF A.
The serious internal trouble refer
red to in the above call is the result
OF sensational charges made by iona!
Colt of the Centerville coal miners
union against Harry Baker, secretary
treasurer of the Iowa District, United
Mine Workers OF America. The
charge by Mr. Gott is that Baker, il
a meeting at the Centerville unior
last spring accused John P. White
now president of the Iowa District
with using unfair methods in securing
his election.
Baker denied these charges at the
twelfth annual district convention
held early this year in Des Moines
and a commission was appointed t
make an investigation. The work o.
this commission, while its verdict is
favorable to Mr.. Colt is not altogether
satisfactory to the membership of the
union and the convention next weel
will take other steps toward settling
the dispute.
Opposition to White.
The fight started with the re-elec
ton OF John p White to the presi
dency of the district organization aft
er he had served a term as vice-presi
dent OF the national association. to
which he was elected against his own
wish. During his service as national
officer the affairs in the thirteenth dis
trict became involved and there was
practically a unanimous demand fol
his return. But he was opposed by
some of the miners from Centerville
and when he was elected by a large
majority they were very much cut ~
over the matter, so Whites friends
say. Their ire took form in the
charges that resulted in Colts com
plant against Baker.
The difference in the Iowa union
may affect the national organization
Oh miners. 1t is commonly under
stood that National President Thomas
Lewis is behind Baker in his opposi
tion t. President White, and thai
White is in favor of John Green, OF
Coshocton, o., who is candidate for
the national presidency against Lewis
this year. While Lewis and White
served as president and vice president
OF the national organization there
were differences, which White S
friends declare arose from the fact
that the Iowa man was able to deal
more successfully with parties to dis.
putes than was Lewis. Jealousy on
the part OF Lewis is ascribed by
Whites friends as the underlying
principle behind the fight on the Iowa
president.
II is stated by men in position to
know that the membership of the
Iowa district is strongly in favor OF
White in the present factional trouble
and that Bakers supporters as against
White are in very small minority.
Tne Iowa district comprises unions
whose total membership is close to
10000 men.
The matter was taken up by the
district convention this year and a
special commission was appointed to
investigate the matter. This commits
sion was composed OF four men, two
favoring the White faction and two
who took the so-called Baker side
The two for White were John H.
Walker and William Cramer while
those for Baker were w. W.White and
d. A. Shelton OF Mendoza, Mo. These
four men were to decide on a fifth to
provide the necessary majority.
Bryan Named On Commission.
william Jennings Bryan accepted
the invitation OF the commissioners
to serve as the fifth member but he
so delayed his appearance that the
four members took it upon themselves
to render report which because of
its divided sentiment was unsatisfac-
tory. Part OF 1t favored White and
half OF 1t was opposed to him. This
report was not accepted and the spe-
cial meeting was made necessary.
The fight takes on special signif.
canoe from the fact that John r. White