The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-22

WILKESBARRE, Pa, Oct. 21.-With
shout that fairly shook the conven-
ton building the representatives Of the
$4,000 mine workers who have been
on strike since last May officially de-
clared off at noon today the greatest
contest ever waged between capital
and labor, and placed all the questions
involved 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 regions the strike affected inhabi-
tantS 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 town celebrations.
The anthracite coal region, from it's
largest ity-Scranton-down to the
lowliest 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 a half
million persons, are grateful that work
is to be resumed on Thursday, the
strikers have still to learn what their
reward will be. Pesident Roosevelt
having taken prompt action in calling
the arbitrators together for their first
meeting on Friday, the miners hope
they will know by Thanksgiving day
what practical gain they have made.
Vote Was Unanimous.
The vote to resume coal mining was
unanimous one and was reached af-
ter warm debate. The principal OBJ
lection to accepting 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 a
living. This question came UP yester-
day and was argued right up to the
time the vote was taken. No one had
a definite plan to offer to overcome
the objection and the report of the
committee on resolutions recommend
ing that the strike be declared off and
that all issues be placed in the hands
OF the arbitration commission for de-
ctS10n a6Onf66 hn
ton being settled.
A few moments before the adjourn
ment, however, a partial solution was
reached, when delegate in the farth-
est corner of the hall moved that the
problem be placed in the hands of the
executive boards for solutions, 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 ma
donal organization. In a strong argu-
ment he counseled the men to accept
arbitration, the very plan the strikers
themselves had offered, return to work
and trust to the presidents tribunal
to do them justice.
Many to Be Taken Care of.
The question of taking care of all
men who will fail to get work imme-
dlately will be a serious one for the
union. There is no doubt the execu-
tive boards will take care Of the engi-
neers, firemen and pumpmen, but there
will be thousands of other classes of
mine workers who will have to be look
ed after. In some places hundreds will
not be able to get work for weeks, and
in Other localities, where the mines are
in very pad condition, there will be no
employment for many workmen for
some months. Now that the strike is
over the volume of relief money will
decrease, and the local unions will be
compelled to call upon the national or
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