Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-10-23
THE STRIKE is Off.
The Great Contest Between Capital
and Labor Ended.
QUESTION OF CARING FOR IDLE MEN.
1t VIII BE Serious Problem, - Many Miu-
sn Will Not be Able to Get Work for
Wesks-Local Unions to Hold
Meetings To. DAy,

WIZ OuiiuAug LILO representatives OF
the $4,000 mine workers who have
been on strike since last May Off
cially declared off, at noon yester-
day, the greatest contest ever waged
between capital and labor, and placed
all the questions involved in the
struggle into the hands of the arbi-
tration 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 strike-atfected inhabitants heaved
9 sigh of relief. Many days have
gone by since more welcome news
was received. Everywhere there
was rejoicing and in 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 lowli-
est 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 100000
persons, are grateful that work Is
to be resumed on Thursday, the strik-
ers have still to learn what their re-
ward will be. President Roosevelt
having taken prompt action in call
ing the arbitrators together for their
first meeting on Friday, the miners
hope they will know by Thanksgiv-
ing day what practical gain they
have made. The vote to resume coal
mining was a unanimous one and
was reached only after a warm de-
bate. The principal objection to &C.
cepting 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 positions 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
living. This question came up Mon
day and was argued right up to the
time the vote was taken. No one
had a definite plan to offer to over
come the objection and the report
Of the committee on resolutions rec
ommending that the strike be de-
clared off and that all issues be
placed in the hands Of the arbitra-
ton committee for decision was
adopted without the question being
settled. A few moments before adj
iournment, however, a partial solu-
ton was reached, when a delegate in
the furthest corner of the hall moved
that the problem be placed in the
hands of the executive boards for
and his suggestion was
adopted. The principal speech OF
the day was made by National Secre-
tary-Treasurer Wilson, who practi-
cally spoke for President Mitchell and
the national organization. In a
strong argument he counseled the
men TO accept arDltrarlon, the very
plan the strikers themselves had Of
fered, return to work and trust to
the presidents tribunal to do them
justice.
The question of taking care of all
men who will fail to get work imme-
diately will be a serious one for the
union. There Is no doubt the execll-
tive boards will take care Of the en-
gineers, firemen 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 con-
dition there will be no employment
for many workmen for some months.
Now that the strike Is over the vol
ume of relief money will decrease
and the local unions will be compelled
to call upon the national organiza-
tions for assistance when the money
in hand runs out. With the close Of
the great conflict will also end in q
few days, probably with the passing
of this week. the assessment now be-