The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-22
Clouds Were Gathering When President Mitchell Urged the Men to Vote as the Outcome Was Already Evident.
Work Will Be Resumed Tomor- row and Large Force of Men Will Start to Repairing the GoIIieries Today
ILKEsBARRE. PA nc

lLKESBARRE, PA, October AM 21.-With shout that fairly
 EW shook the convention build ing the representatives of the 147000 mine workers who have been on strike since last May officially declared 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 appointed by the President of the United States.
 When the news was flashed to the towns and villages down in the val leys and on the mountains of the coal regions the strike-affected inhabitants heayed sigh of relief Many days had gone by since sucn welcome news had been received. Everywhere there was rejoicing and in many places the end of the strike was a signal for i'm promptu town celebrations.
 The anthracite coal region from it's largest city, Scranton, down to the lowliest coal patch has suffered by the conflict, and now everyone looks for better times. While the large army of mine workers and their families numbering approximately half mil lion persons, are grateful that work is to be resumed on Thursday, the strikers have still to learn what their re- ward will be. President Roosevelt having taken prompt action in calling the arbi- trators together for their first meeting on Friday. the miners hope they will know by Thanksgiving day what practical gain tEey have made.
 VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS.
 The vote to resume coal mining was a unanimous one and was reached only af- ter a warm debate. The principal obJec- ton to accepting the arbitration proposi- ton was that no provision was contained in the scheme to take care of those men who would fail to get back their 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 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, and the report of the committee on reso- lutions recommending that the strike be declared off and that all issues be placed in the hands of the arbitration commis- sion for decision was adopted without the question being settled. A few moments before adjournment, however, 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 hls suggestion was adopted.
 A SERIOUS QUESTION.
 The principal speech of the day was made by National Secretary Treasurer W. B. Wilson, who practically spoke for President Mitchell and the national or ganization. In a strong argument he counseled the men to accept arbitration, the very plan the strikers themselves had offered. return to work ana trust to the Presidents tribunal to do them justice
 The que estion of taking care of all men who will fail to get work immediately will be a serious one for the union. There is no doubt the executive boards will taK' care of the engineers. fir amen and pump men, but there will be thousands of other classes of mine workers who will have 10 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 Tor some months Now that the strike IS over the volume of relief money will de- crease and the local unions will be com relied to call on the national organiza- lions for assistance when the money now in hand runs out. With the close of the great conflict will also end fin few days nrobably with the passing of this week. | the assessment now being levied on alf bit,lminous mine workers affiliated with inc union. The officials who care to talk of the situation feel confident that the national body will come to the assistance end helr all those who stood out during | the suspension.
 REPAIRING BEGINS TODAY. Hundreds of men, needed to repair the mines and otherwise place them in cond- tion for operations, will be at work to- morrow. The convention decided that this was imperative in order to get the men at work quickly and to satisfy the coun- try's demand for coal. All the locals will hold meetings tomorrow at which in strluct.ons will be given the members raCardin their ann1icatfon for work
 The proceedings in the convention indi- cated that there will be some friction 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 con