The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-10-24

Wtlkesbarre, Pa, October 2l.-Witn Il
shout that fairly shook the convention
building, the Representatives of the 147,-
coo mine workers INC have been OH
strike since last May. officially de-
ciared off at noon today the greatest
contest ever waged between capital and
labor, and placed all the questions in
vOlved in the struggle in 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 the valleys
and on the mOuntairs of the coal reg
ions the strike-alfected 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. The an
thracite coal regions from it's largest
city-ScantOn-down to the lowliast
coal path, has suffered by the conflict,
and every one now looks for better
times. While the large army of mire
workers and their families NUMBERING
IdlI ii IllsllOl pEISOIlS,
( are grateful that work is to be resumed
on Thursday. the strikers have still to
learn what their reward will be. Presi
dent Roosevelt having taken prompt
action in calling jhe committee to-
Sether for their first meeting on Friday,
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 warm debate The principal OBJ
lection to accepting the arbitration
proposition 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 ell
SineerS and pumpmen get better pay
than ether 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.
This question came up yesterday and
was argued right up to the time the
vote was taken. No one had a definite
plan to offer to overcome the objection
Sand the report of the committee of reSC-
S1tions, 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, how
ever. d PARTIAL SOIJllOn was EedCIlt'lp
when a delegate in the fartheSt corner
of the hall, moved that the problem be
placed in the hands of the three eXecu-
tive boards for solution and his suS-
gestdOn was adopted. The principal
speech of the day was made by Nation
al Secretary-Treasurer w. 3. Wilso.I,
who practically spoke for President
Mitchell and the national Organization.
In a strong argument he counseIled tn"
men to accept arbitration, the very plan
she strikers themselves had offered, -e-
turn to work and trust to the pre3l-
dents tribunal to do lei justice.
The question of taking care OF all
men who will fail to get work 1mmed-
lately, will be a serious one for the
union. There is no doubt the executive
boards will take care of the engineers,
firemen and pumpInen, but there are
thousands of other classes of mine
workers who viii have to be looked af-
ter. In some places hundreds will not
be able to get work for weeks and IL
other localities whC-e the mines are iL.
very bad conditic there will be II"
employment for Amy w0rkrien 10
some months.
Hundreds of me-. needed to repair
the mines, and otherwise put them in
condition for operation, Will be at work
tomorrow morning, the convention 49,
ing decided that his was imperative
in order to get to work quickly ana
satisfy lllc COuIllIS = NCAlAOAlu ~ 'Ool-
All the locals will hold meetings t.
morrow at which instructions will Dc
given the members regarding their ap
plication for work.
President Mitchell received many co..
gratulatory kilograms from all over th=
country after the news spread that tn
strike was ende1. On his return t.
~eadauarter he vas asked for an eN-
preston Of his y ews on the action or
y the convention. d in reply he said:
Il am we'll pleased with the action OF
the anthracite nine workerS IN deciA-
ing TO submit tie issues which culml-
mated in the strike to the commisslo"
selected by the president of the United
States. The strike itself strengthened
the power and dignity OF labor. Con
-servative, intelligent, trade uniontsm
has received an impetus, the effect OF
which cannot be measured. earneSIly
hope and firmly believe that both LABOR
and capital have learned lessons Irori
the miners strike which VIII enable
them to adopt peaceful. humane an"
business methods of adjusting wage
differences in tie future"
After Mr.. Mt, ell had notified PreSl-
den Roosevelt C. the action OF the con
vention he sent out the official an
nouncement, through the press, to the
strikers that the strike was OF. 1t was
addressed to al miners and mine WORK
ars in the anthracite region, and con
FAMED 2 CduL.Oh " AOS
work TO exercise more than uSU II 2r.
in order that accidents TO life aid nm
NAV be averted. owing to the condition
nj the mines after long disuse.
The question Of ndlng the sLrlk'
came up in tn convention In Inc l's'
of a report from the commute OF ~"
-Iutions, as follows:
I'VE. the committee on resolutions
beg leave to recommend that the Ioi
lowing communication be adopted an
forwarded to Theodore Roosevelt, pres
ident OF the United States Of America
WiIkesbarre, Pa, Oct 81, 1902
Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, Washing
ton, i. c.:
Dear Sir: We, the representatives o
the employees of h various coal com
panies engaged in operating mines Ii
the anthracite coal fields of PennSyl
vania. in convention assembled, haVihi
under consideration your telegram o
october 10, 1902, addressed to Jon
Afa-