The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-10-23
WITH lLDCADERS
CONVENTION OF ANTHRACITE
MINERS DECLARES OFF THE
GREAT STRIKE.
ACCEPTS ARBITRATION PLAN
VOTE Is UNANIMOUS AT THE
CLOSE OF A LONG AND
: -. WARM DEBATE
WILL MEET NEXT FRIDAY
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT CALLS
TOGETHER THE ARBITRATION
COMMISSION. =
WILL MEET NEXT FRIDAY

Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct. 22.-With
shout that fairly shook the convention
building the representatives of the
$4,000 mine workers, who have been
on strike since last May, officially de-
clared off at noon the greatest con-
test ever waged between capital and
labor, and placed all the questions in
volved in the struggle into the hands
OF the arbitration commission ap-
pointed 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 inhab-
ltants heaved a sigh of relief Many
days have gone by since more well
come 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 it's
largest city-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 100000 per-
sons, are grateful that work is to De
resumed on Thursday, the strikers
have still to learn what their reward
will be. President Roosevelt having
taken prompt action in calling the ar
bitrators together for their first meet
ing 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 warm debate. The principal
objection 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
aad they did not wish to run the risk
Of losing altogether their old places
and be compelled to dig coal for liv-
ing This question came up the pre-.
vious day and was argued right up to
the time the vote was taken. No one
had definite plan to offer to overcome
the objection and the report of the
committee on resolutions 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 mo-
ments before adjournment, 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 executive boards
for solution, and his suggestion was
adopted. The principal speech of the
day was made by National Secretary
Treasurer w. B. Wilson,, who practi-
cally spoke for President Mitchell and
the national organization. In a strong
he counselled the men to
accept 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 execu-
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 condition, there
will be no employment for many work
men 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 ma
tiOnal organizations for assistance
when the money now in hand runs out.
With the close of the great conflict will
also end in a few days, probably with
the passing of this week, the assess
ment now being levied on all bitumin-
Gus mine workers affiliated with the
union. The officials who care to- talk
Of the situation feel confident that the
national body will come to the assist
ance and help of all those who stood
out during the suspension.
r Will Repair Mines at Once.
Hundreds of men, needed to repair
the mines and otherwise place them
In condition for operation. will be at
work in the morning, the convention
having decided that this was impera-
tive in order to get the men at work
quickly and satisfy the country's de-
mand for coal. All the locals will
hol3 meetings at once at which in
etructions will be given the members
Regarding their application for work.
The proceedings in the convention
Indicate that there will be some fric-
ton in some of the local organizations
over many little questions which will
come up in connection with the men
returning to the mines.
President Mitchell received many
congratulatory kilograms from all
over the country after the news spread
that the strike was ended. On his re-
turn to headquarters he was asked for