The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-10-31
rs DECLARED Off
MINE WORKERS UNANIMOUSLY
AGREE TO ACCEPT ARB.
TRATIoN.
GREAT STRUGGLE IS tNDt y
~ -
hARDEsT.FoUGHT CONTEST EVER
WAGEp BETWEEN LABOR
AND CAPITAL.
COMMISSION TO MEET At ONCE
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT CALLS
ARBITRATOR TO WASH.
lNGTON.

WilkeSbarre, Pa, Oct. 23.-Wlth d
shout that fairly shook the convention
building the representatives of the
l47 900 mineworkers who have been
on strike since last May, officially de-
clared off at noon yesterday the great.
est contest ever waged between capt.
tai and labor, and placed all the ques-
tons 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
in the valleys and on the mountains
of the coal regions the strile-affected
Inhabitants heaved a sigh of relief.
Many days have gone by since more
welcome news was received. Every
where there was rejoicing, and in
many places the end of the strike was
the signal for impromptu town cele-
brations. The anthracite coal re-
gion, from its largest city-Scranton-
down to the lowliest coal patch, has
suffered by the conflict, and every one
now
Looks for Better Times.
While the large army of minework-
ers and their families, numbering ap-
p1oximately half-million people, 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 arbitra-
tors together for their first meeting on
Friday, the miners hope they will
know by Thanksgiving day what prac-
teal gain they have made. The vote
to resume coal mining was a unani-
nous one and was reached only after
warm debate. The principal objec-
ton to accepting the arbitration prop
osition was that no provision was con
tanned in the scheme to take care of
those men who would fail to get back
their old positions or would be unable
to get any work at all. The engineers
and pumpmen get better pay than 9th.
er classes of mineworkers, and they
did not wish to
Run the Risk Of Losing
altogether their old places and be COM
PEELED to dig coal for a living. This
question came up Monday 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 resolu-
tons recommending that the strike be
declared off 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 adjournment,
however, a partial solution was ar
rived at, when a delegate in the farth-
est corner of the hall moved that the
problem be placed in the hands of
the executive boards for solution, and
his suggestion was adopted.
After Mr.. Mitchell had notified
President Roosevelt of the action of
the convention and had received a re-
ply to the effect that the commission
would be called to meet in Washington
on Friday, he sent out official an
nouncement through the press to the
strikers that the strike was off.
President Acts Promptly.
Washington, Oct. 20. - Shortly be-
fore 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon
President Roosevelt received a tele.
gram from Wilkesbarre informing him
| that the convention of miners had de-
| clared off the anthracite coal strike,
Immediately upon receipt of the in.
formation the following telegram was
sent to Mr.. MITCHELL
Washington, Oct. 21.-John Mitch.
ell, Wilkesbarre, Pa: Upon receipt OF
your telegram Of this date the presi
dent summoned the commission to
| meet here on Friday next, the gath
inst, at 10 a. m.
George B. Cortelyou.""
| News of the termination of the
strike was received by the presiden,
| with great satisfaction