The suburban citizen., 1902-10-25
The COAL STRIKE IS OFF
Grea. Rejoicing Throughout the Entire
Anthracite Region.
COMMISSION WILL MEET FRIDAY.
After Warm Debate The Miners, by Unani-
nous Vote, Decide to Resume WOrk-The
Problem OF Securing Work for All the En-
giueers and Pumpmen Referred to the Ex'
ecutlye Board

Wilkesbarre, Pa, (SpeciaD The
first break in the anthracite coal fam
inc will come on Thursday.
On that day the mneworkers who
have been on strike since May II re-
turned to work. Wednesday the oper,
ators, who have kept in reserve for
emergencies a stock OF coal for theit
own use, released much of it and il
was rushed to market. This is eN-
pected to furnish a supply for the
three remaining days OF the week. By
that time the mineworkers, it is likely
will be producing coal at the rate oi
10000 tons a day and washing coal at
the rate OF 10000 tons, while there will
be on the railroad tracks more cars
than they can fill and more engines
than they can furnish trains for.
The result foreshadowed by the ac-
ton OF the opening session Monday
OF the United Mine Workers conven
ton came when at noon Tuesday, the
opposition being overwhelmed, the
convention voted with one accord, to
end the strike, accept the arbitration
proposition and return to work Thurs
day morning. All during the course
OF the convention President Mitchell
held the delegates in hand. Almost
any time he could have forced the pas
sage of the resolution he desired, bat
his plan was to let the dissatisfied talk
themselves out. and then, with a full
knowledge OF the situation, vote on the
proposition
He knew the right moment and seiz-
ed it, when, there being no life left
in the opposition, he stood before the
convention and, with a voice full OF
power and confidence, said;
Now, gentlemen, the Chair is going
to ask to be permitted to speak with
out being in order. 1t is quite appar-
ent to everyone here what the action
OF the convention is going to be. Ii it
were otherwise possible it might not
be quite in place for me to speak to
you Just before you vote But | want
20 remind you OF this: That when the
arbitration proposition was accepted,
labor all over the land breathed sigh
Of relief That this strike has given
labor new dignity no one can deny,
Labor occupies a position now that it
never occupied before. The fruits OF
your victory may not be as apparent
10 you as they are to those who have
studied the labor question more thor
oughly than you; and | don't want to
have our achievement dampened by
even one dissenting vote. trust this
convention will vote as our people
struck | hope you will all vote one
way-as you all struck one way"
There was no hesitation in the ac-
ton OF the delegates Mr. Mitchell put
the question and every man was on his
leet with a ready aye" He waited
for a note OF dissent; none came. With
one impulse men rose and the hall
rang with cheers. Again and again
the delegates voiced their delight
cheering for Mitchell for the union,
for their friends, for the victory, for
President Roosevelt. A deep glow
was in the leaders eyes, and his face
flushed, his jaws were tightly set. 1t
was the greatest moment of his career.
Other business was to be done after
the passage OF the resolution which
sent to President Roosevelt the ac-
ceptance OF the proposition to arbitrate
and the assurance that work would be
resumed on Thursday. This business
was hurried through, and while the
message to the President was still on
the wire the convention adjourned.
From the moment the convention as
sembled there was no doubt of the re-
suit. The delegates were there to end
the strike as soon as they could. Had
President Mitchell allowed them, the
majority would have voted upon it
without argument, but he desired that
each should say what he wanted to say.