Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-11-02

convention take action on the matter
and that there 1t rest.
Charge of czarlsm Launched.
But their opponents took the view
that the question ought TO be referred
to the miners themselves for final set
Element Charges that the democratic
character of the district was being lost
and a monarchy set UP were freely
made, but such expression came from
the Baker faction in the Centerville
affair The charges were fiercely de-
MED from all over the hall by friends
of White.
1t was finally seen that no solution
of the hospital matter could be reach
ed under the heated conditions then
existing and the whole question was
referred back to the committee for
adjustment. On its first report the
committee decided in favor of the
scheme of erecting one central hos
pital by the miners It's report never
came to direct vote because Of the
confusion of the motions and counter
motions which sprang up all over the
hall and created parliamentary sit
uation which Speaker Cannon himself
WOulQ lllu IL W 5OlNe. lloWCSSi,
1t seemed to be the sentiment of the
convention that arrangements ought to
be made with the hospitals in the
various cities looking to the care of
the injured miners.
1t developed Saturday that should
any of the members charged with
wrong doing in the Centerville local
fight be found guilty by the conven-
ton they will be liable to four months
suspension from the association and
will be prohibited from holding any
Office for two years. This is an article
of the district constitution which was
adopted at the last annual convention
and can be made to apply to the cases
now up. In addition to this official
punishment 1t seems to be the senti-
ment of the delegates to the conven-
| ton that the accused officials if dis
credited by the convention will be
expected to resign their positions inn
mediately.
Expense Causes Discussion.
A great deal of strife was started
yesterday afternoon when the motion
was made that the district organiza-
ton stand the expense of the dele
gates attendance on this convention.
Many thought that the locals should
be made to pay the expenses Of their
delegates, but it was finally decided
that the district will stand the costs
| The proposition that the men be given
the wages they would receive at home
plus their expenses was fought by
many men, believing that all should
get the same amount and IL was de-
cided that each delegate be paid So
a day for the time spent at the con-
vention.
The Baker side of the controversy is
represented by majority of the Cen
| terville locals members and nine wit
nesses are on hand to testify to the
4 charges which have been made. On
the Colt side are the six witnesses APP
pointed by President White in accord
ance with the order of the executive
board which desires to see justice
done and the whole matter disposed of
at this time.
Another sensation is expected when
Richard Ravens demands that Jacob
Ritter produce the letter which he has
in his possession and which was writ
! ten by Ravens to President White and
contains charges that President Muir.
ray of the Durfee local was drunk dur
ing strike conference with the mine
operators at Durfee and at the local
meeting which followed. Ravens will
demand that Ritter tell how he came
into possession of the letter and says
that unless his demand is complied
with he will prosecute Ritter in the
United States courts. He says that
4 the letter has been changed since it
was sent by him. Ritter still charges
that the letter contains obscene lang
uage and that he will refer it to the
postal authorities for prosecution. He
refuses to show the letter until the
close of the convention saying that to
/ produce it would only add to the con
troversy now existing.