The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-22
Engineers and Pump Men Will Re-
port for Duty To-Day and Min
ers VIII Begin To-Morrow.
ACTION BY THE PRESIDENT
ARBITRATION COMMISSION NOTI-
FLED TO MEET ON FRIDAY.
Speeches by Secretary Wilson and
President MftcheII-Text of Mes
sage to the President.


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 off at
noon to-day the greatest contest ever
waged between capital and labor and
placed all the questions involved in the
struggle into the hands of the arbitration
commission appointed by the President of
the United States. When the news was
flashed TO the towns and villages down
I'm the valleys and on the mountains Of
the coal regions the inhabitants
hcaved "a sigh OF relief. Many days
had gone by since such welcome news had
been received. Everywhere there was re-
joicing and I'm many places the end of the
strike was the signal for impromptu town
celebrations.
The anthracite coal region from its larg-
est city-Scranton-down to the Iowliest
coal patch has suffered by the conflict and
everyone now looks for better times. While
the large army of mine workers and their
families, numbering approximately a half
million persons, are grateful that work is
10 be resumed on Thursday, the strikers
have still TO learn what their reward will
be. President Roosevelt having taken
prompt action in calling the arbitrators to-
gether for their first meeting on Friday,
the miners hope they will know by Thanks
giving day what practical gain they have
made.
The vote to resume coal mining was a
unanimous one and was reached only after
q warm debate. The principal objection
20 accepting the arbitration proposition
was that no provision was contained in
the scheme to take care of those men who
would fail TO get back their old posi-
tions or would be unable to get any work
at all. The engineers and pumpmen get
better pay than other classes of mine
workers, and 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 and was
argued right up to the time the vote was
taken. No one had a definite plan to
offer to overcome the objection. and the
report OF the committee on resolutions rec
ommending that the strike be declared
of and that all issues be placed in the
hands of the arbitration commission for
decision was adopted without the question
being settled. A few moments before ad-
5ournment, however. partial solution was
reached, when a delegate in the farthest
corner of the hall moved that the problem
DC pidCeu III the Hdnus Oh the executive
boards for solution. and this suggestion was
adopted.
The principal speech of the day was
made by National Secretary-treasurer w.
B. Wilson. who practically spoke for Presi-
dent Mitchell and the national organiza-
tion. In a strong argument he counseled
the men TO accept arbitration, the very
plan the strikers themselves had offered,
TO ~
tribunal TO do them justice.
The question of taking care of all men
who Will fail to get work Immediately will
be serious one for the union. There is no
doubt the executive boards will take care of
the engineers. hremen and pumpmen, but
there will be thousands of other classes of
mine workers who will have to be looked
after. In some places hundreds will not
be able to get work for weeks, and in other
localities where the mines are in very bad
condition there will be no employment for
many workmen for some months Now
that the strike Is over the volume OF re-
lief m, >ey will decrease, and the local
unions will be compelled to call on the
national organizations for assistance when
the money now in hand runs out. With the
close OF the great conflict will also end in
a few days. probably with the passing of
this week. the assessment now being levied
on all bituminous mine workers affiliated
with the union. The officials who care to
talk OF the situation feel confident that the
national body will come to the assistance
and help all those who stood out during
the suspension.
Hundreds OF men, needed TO repair the
mines and otherwise place them in condi-
tion for operation, will be at work to-mor-
row morning. the convention having de-
cided that this was imperative in order to
get the men at work quickly and satisfy
the country's demand for coal. All the To-
Gals will hold meetings tomorrow. at which
instructions will be given the members re-
garding their application for work. The
proceedings in the convention indicate tha;
there will be some friction in some OF the
local organizations over many little ques-
tions which will come up in connection with
the men returning 10 the mines.
President Mitchell received many con-
gratulatory kilograms from all over the
country after the news spread that the
strike WIS ended. On his return TO head
quarters he was l. ed for an expression
OF his views on the action OF the convention
and I'm reply he said: II am well pleased
With the action of the anthracite mine
workers In deciding TO submit the issues
which eliminated I'm the strike TO the COM
mission selected by the President OF the
United States. The strike itself has demon
strated the power and dignity OF labor.
Conservative. intelligent trade unionism
has received an impetus the effect OF which
cannot be measured l earnestly hope and
6rmIy believe that both labor and capital
have In armed lessons from the miners sfrfn a