The Savannah morning news., 1902-10-22
WITH WILD ACCLAIM
,uSERS, BY UNANIMOUS VOTE,
AGREE TO ARBITRATION.
70 THE GOOD TIME COMING
.oot< FORWARD THE EXPECTANT
EYES OF MILLIONS.

TbrOugh Out the strike region I'M
,omptu Celebrations Are Held.
No Guard Interests of Pumpmen
md Engineers-Hundr Will Do
x.sded Work To-day-Strike and
o,4come. SAYS Mitchell, Have Vim
dicated Labor.
Uilkesbarre, Pa. Oct. 21.-With a
sbout that fairly shook the conven-
zion building the representatives OF
.he II. 900 mine workers who have been
IN strike since last May, officially de-
dared off at noon to-day the greatest
.ontest ever waged between capital and
labor and placed all the questions in
Waived in the struggle into the hands
NJ the Arbitration Commission APP
nointed by the President of the United
States
When the news was flashed to the
TOWNS and villages down in the val
Ievs and on the mountains of the coal
region the strike-affected inhabitants
heaved a 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 i'm
promptu town celebrations.
Rejoicing Was Everywhere.
The anthracite coal region from its
largest city-Scranton-to the lowliest
coal patch has suffered by the con-
Aict. and everyone now looks for better
times. While the large army of mine
workers and their families, numbering
approximately half a million persons,
are grateful that work is to be re-
sumed on Thursday, the strikers have
still to learn what their reward will
be- President Roosevelt having taken
prompt action in calling the arbitrator
together for their first meeting on Fri
day. the miners hope they Will know
by THANKSGIVING day what practical
gain they have made.
The Vote Was Unanimous.
The vote to resume coal mining was
unanimous one, and was reached only
after warm debate. The principal OBJ
lection to accepting the arbitration pro-
position was that no proposition 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 care to run the risk OF
losing altogether their old places and
be compelled to dig coal for living.
This question came up yesterday and
was argued right up to the time the
vote was taken. No one had a def
mite plan TO offer to overcome the OBJ
lection, and the report of the Commit
tee on Resolutions, 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 be-
ing settled. A few moments before ad-
Journment, however, a partial solution
was reached when a delegate in the
farthest corner of the hall moved that
the problem be placed in the hands of
the three executive boards for Solu-
ton and his suggestion was adopted.
Wilson Principal Speaker.
The principal speech of the day was
made by National Secretary and Treas
urer w. B. Wilson. who practically
spoke for President Mitchell and the
national organization. In a strong ar
gument he counselled the men to ac-
cept arbitration, the very plan the
strikers themselves had offered re-
turn to work and trust to the Presi-
dents 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 executive
boards will take care of the engineers,
nremen and pumpmen, 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
employment for many workmen for
some months.
Work VIII Begin To-day.
Hundreds of men, needed to repair
Nhe mines and otherwise place them in
condition for operation, will be at work
N-morrow morning, the convention
having decided that this was impera-
i've in order to get the men at work
quickly and satisfy the country's de-
mand for coal. All the locals will hold
meetings tomorrow at which instruc-
IONS will be given the members re-
ssrding their application for work
PRESIDENT Mitchell received many
vohgratulatory kilograms from all over
Me country after the news spread that
me strike was ended. On his return
70 headquarters he was asked for an
oppression of his views on the action
said:
I am we'll pleased with the action
VI the anthracite mine workers in de-
uulng to submit the issues which Gull
minated in the strike to the commits
non selected by President Roosevelt.
me strike itself has demonstrated the
tgower and dignity of labor. Conserva-
I'VE intelligent trade-unionism has re-
oeiVed an impetus the effect of which
ednnot be measured. I earnestly hope
ana firmly believe that both labor and
capital have learned lessons from the
tuners strike, which will enable them
adopt peaceful, humane and bust
as less methods in adjusting wage differ
N"ces in the future"
Caution to the Miners.
after Mr.. Mitchell had notified Pres
eht Roosevelt of the action Of the
convention, he sent out the official an
stuuahcement through the press to the
nlKers that the strike was off. 1t
ms os addressed to all miners and mine
c opers in the anthracite region, and
N1aIalned a caution to those resuming
q T0Ik to exercise more than usual care
Oluer that accidents to limb and life
t,ay be averted, owing to the condi-
M OF the mines after long disuse.
es+ me question of ending the strike
up IN the convention in the form