Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1902-10-23
STRIKE CALLED OFF

~ A-AOAAA1 SAALllAlD vi II
UNITED MINE WORKERS ACCEPT
ARBITRATION PLAN.
Mining of Coal Throughout Anthra-
cite Region Begins Thursday-Pres-
ident Roosevelt Calls Arbitrators to
Meet in Washington Friday.
W1lkesbarre, Pa, Oct 22.-With
shout that fairly shook the conven-
ton building, the representatives OF
$4,000 mine workers, who have been
on strike since last May, officially de-
clared off at noon yesterday the great
est contest ever waged between cap
ital and labor, and placed all the ques-
tons involved in the struggle into 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 In the valleys and on the noun
tains of the coal regions the strike
affected inhabitants heaved 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
largest city, Scranton, down to the
lowliest coal patch, has suffered by
the conflict, and every one now looks
for better times. While the large
army of mine workers and their fam
lilies. 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. President 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.
The vote to resume mining was a
unanimous one. 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 work at all The engi-
neers 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 was argued right
hn koly
A few moments before adjournment,
partial solution was reached, when q
delegate moved that the problem be
placed in the hands of the executive
boards for solution and his suggestion
was adopted.
Wilson Makes Principal Speech.
The principal speech of the day was
made by Secretary w. B. Wilson,
who practically spoke for President
Mitchell and the national; organize
ton. In a strong argument he coun-
seled 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.
The question Of taking care of all
men who will fail to get work immedi-
ately will be a serious one for the
union. There is no doubt the execu-
tive boards will take care of the engi-
neers, f1remen 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-
d1tion, 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 on the national organizations
for assistance when the money ON
hand runs out.
Hundreds of men needed to repair
the mines and otherwise place them
In condition for operation are at work
today, the convention having decided
that this was imperative in order to
get the men at work quickly and sat
1sfy the country's demand for coal.
Mitchell Gives His Views.
President Mitchell received many
congratulatory kilograms from over
tho country after the news spread that
the strike was ended. On his return
to headquarters he was asked for an
expression of his views on the action
of the convention, and in reply said:
Il am well pleased with the action of
the anthracite mine workers In decid-
Ing to submit the issues which culmi-
mated in the strike to the commission
selected by the president of the United
States. The strike itself has demon
strated the power and dignity of labor.
Conservative, intelligent trade union
ism has received an impetus the effect
OF which cannot be measured. Il
earnestly hope and firmly believe that
both labor and capital have learned
lessons from the miners strike which
will enable them to adopt peaceful