The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-10-22
A DEEP SIGH OF RELIEF.
The Decision Of The Strike Convention
Was Welcome News.
THE VOTE OF MINERS WAS UNANIMOUS
All Objections TO the Arbitration Plan
Were Argued Down and the conven-
ton Closed in Harmony.

wilkesbarre, Pa, October 2I.--with
shout that fairly shook the convention
building the representatives Of the $4,000
mine workers, who have been on strike
since last May, officially declared on at
noon today the greatest contest ever waged
between capital and labor, and placed all
questions Involved In the struggle into the
hands OF the arbitration commission ap.
pointed by the president OF the United
States. When the news was flashed 60 the
towns and villages down in the valleys ana
in the mountains OF the coal regions the
strike affected inha bitants heaved a sigh OF
relief Many days have gone by since sucn
welcome news had been received. Every
where there was rejoicing and in many
places the end Of the strike was signal
for impromptu town celebrations. The an.
thiacite coal region, from Its largest city.
Scranton, down to the lowliest coal patcn,
has suffered by the conflict. and everyone
now looks for better times. While the
large army OF mine workers and their ram.
lilies, numbering approximately a half mil
lion persons, are grateful that work is to
be resumed on Thursday. the strikers have
still to learn what their reward will be-
President Roosevelt having taken prompt
action In calling the arbltrators together
for their first meeting on Friday, the min
ens hope they viii know by Thanksgiving
Day what practical gain they have made.
The vote TO resume coal mining was
unanimous one and was reached only after
warm debate. The principal objection TO
accepting the arbitration proposition was
that no provisions was contained IN the
scheme to take care of those mon VINO
would fail TO get back their old positions
or would be unable TO get any work at ali.
The engineers and pump men get better
pay than other classes OF mine workers ana
they did NOT wish to run the risk OF losing
altogether their old places and be compelled
TO dig coal for a living. This question
came up yesterday ana was argued right up
to the time the vote was taken. No one
had definite plan to pfer to overcome
the objection, and the report Of the com
mittee on resolutions, recommending that
the strike be declared or and that all is.
sues be placed In the hands or the commits.
sion, was adopted without the question
being settled. few moments before adj
Jturnmeht, however, n partial solution was
reached, when a delegate in the rarthest
corner OF the hail moved that the problem
be placed in the hands OF the executive
boards for solution, and his suggestion was
adopted The principal speech CT the day
was made by National secretary-Treasurer
w. b. Wilson, who practically spoke foc
President Mitchell Gnd the National organ
ization, In strong argument he counselod
the men to accept arbitration, the very plab
f.,b
return to work, and trust to the presidents
tribunal to'do them Justice.
NOT WORK FOR ALL.
The question Of taking care of all men
who fail TO get work Immediately will
be serious one for the union, There
Is no doubt the executive boards viii take
care OF the engineers. iremen and pump.
mon, but there will be thousands Of other
classes Of mine workers who will have 10
be looked after In some places hundreds
will not be able to get work for weeks
and In other localities. where tho mines
arc In bad condition. there will be no
employment for many workmen for come
months. Now. that the strike is over,
the volume Of relief money Will decrease
and the local unions will be compelled
TO call upon the National organization for
assistance when the money now on hand
runs out. With the close OF the great
conflict viii also end IN few days. pea
sibly with the passing Of this week, the
assessment now being levied on ali btu
mlnous mine workers affiliated with the
union. The officials who care TO talk feel
confident that the National body will come
10 their assistance and helu all who stood
out during the gugpension
Hundreds Of men. needed TO repair the
mines and otherwise place them in condi.
tion. wiz be at work tomorrow morning.
the convention having decided that this Is
imperative. in order TO get the men at
work quickly and to satisfy the country's
demand for coal All the locals will hold
meetings tomorrow. at which instructions
viii be given members regarding their APP
plication FOR work.
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