The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-10-30
After a Long and Bitter Struggle the
Coal Miners Will Resume Work
MINERS VOTE FOR ARBITRATION
Official end Satisfactory Ending OF
the Greatest Battle Ever Waged
Between Labor and Capital.

| SHOuC Iudl 1dlIly oASOh lhS INV
building the representatives Of the
III, 600 mine workers who have been
on strike since last May, officially de-
clared off at noon Tuesday the greatest
contest ever waged between capital and
labor, and placed all the questions in
volyed in the struggle into the hands
of the arbitration commission appoint
ed 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 re-
gions, the strike-affected inhabitants
heaved a sigh of relief. Many days
have gone by since more welcome news
was received. Everybody there was
rejoicing and in many places the end
Of the strike was the signal for i'm
promptu celebrations. The anthracite
coal regions from its largest city
Scranton-down to the lowlfest coal
patch, has suffered by the conflict, and
every one now looks for better times.
While the large army Of mine workers
and their families, numbering approx
mately half-million persons, are CRATE
full that work is to be resumed on
Thursday, the strikers have still to
learn what their. reward will be. Pres
ident Roosevelt having taken prompt
action in calling the arbitrator to-
gother for their first meeting on Fri
day, the miners hope they will know
by Thanksgiving Day what practical
gain they have made.
The vote to resume coal mining was
a unanimous one, and was reached
only after a warn debate. The princi-
pal objection to accepting the arbitra-
ton proposition waE that no PROPOSE
ton was contained in the scheme to
take care Of those men who would fall
10 get back their old positions or would
be unable to get any work at all. The
engineers and pumpmen get better paF
han other classes Of mine workers, and
they did not care to run the risk OF
losing altogether their old places and
be compelled to dig coal for a living.
The question came up yesterday and
was argued right up to the time the
vote was taken. No n had a definite
plan to offer to overcome the objection
and the report of the committee on res
buttons, recommending that the strike
NC uCSldICU Ol ~ lheI - iSoe~o ~
placed in the hands OF the arbitration
commission for decision was adopted
without the question being settled. At
a few moments before adjournment,
however, a partial solution was reach
ed when a delegate in the farther cor
ner Of the hall moved that the prob
lem be left in the hands Of the three
executive boards for solution and his
suggestion was adopted.
The principal speech of the day was
made by National Secretary-Treasurer
W. B. Wilson, who practically spoke
for President Mitchell and the national
organization. In a strong argument. he
c%ounseled the men to accept arbitra-
ton, the plan of the strikers them
selves, return 10 work and trust to the
Presidents tribunal to do them JUS
tice.
The question OF taking care Of all
men who will fail to get work immedi-
ately will be a serious n for the
union. There is no doubt the executive
boards will take care Of the engineers,
fremen and pumpmcn, but there are
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 en-
| ployment for many workmen for some
months.
Hundreds of men, needed to repair
the mines and otherwise place them in
condition for operation, will be at work
tomorroy morning, the convention
having decided that this was impera-
tive in order to get the men at work
| quickly and satisfactorily and supply
the country's demand for coal. All the
locals" will hold meetings tomorrow.
at which instructions will be given the
members regarding their application
for work.
President Mitchell received many
congratulatulatory kilograms from all
over the country after the news spread
that the strike was ended. On his re-
turn to headquarters. of his views on
the action Of the convention, and in
reply he said: 81 am we'll pleased with
the action of the anthracite mine work
ers in deciding to submit the issues
which eliminated in the strike to the
commission selected by the President
of the United States. The strike itself
has demonstrated the power and dig
nifty Of labor. Conservative, intelligent
trade unionism has received an impe-
tus, the effect of which cannot be meas
ured. l earnestly hope and firmly be-
lleve that both labor and capital have
learned lessons from the miners strike
which will enable them to adopt peace
full, human and business methods OF
adjusting wage differences in the fu-
ture."
After Mr.. Mitchell had sent the mes
sage to President Roosevelt he sent out
the announcement through the press
that the strike was off. 1t was address,
ed to all miners and mine owners IN
the anthracite region and contained a
caution to those resuming work to ex-
ercIse more than usual care in order
that accidents to limb and life may be
averted, owing to the condition OF the
mines after long disase. The question
20 endinp tho strike came IN in the