The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1902-10-25
STRIKE DECLARED OFF
MINERS WILL RETURN TO WORK.

MiNEhS WILL HETOHN TO WOHNs
One Hundred and Fifty Thousand
Workmen to Resume Positions
Thursday.
Wilkesbarre. Pa, Oct. 21.-With a
shout that fairly shook the convention
building. the representatives Of the
$4,000 mine workers who have been on
strike since last May officially declared
of, at noon to-day the greatest contest
ever made between capital and labor.
and placed all the questions involved
In the struggle in the hands Of the ar
bitration commission appointed by the
President OF the United States.
The miners will resume work Thurs
day. President Roosevelt has sum
moned the arbitrators to meet In
Washington Friday and they will begin
their investigation at once. They will
probably do most of their work in
Wilkesbarre.
Wilkesbarre. Oct. 21.-When the
news was flashed to the towns and viii
lagos down in the valleys and on the
mountains of the coal regions the in
habitants heaved sigh of relief. Many
days have gone by since such 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 low
lest coal patch. has suffered by the
conflict, and every one now looks for
better times
While the large army of mine work
ers and their families. numbering ap-
proximately half million persons, are
grateful that work is to be resumed
Thursday, the strikers have still to
learn what their reward will be. Pres
ident Roosevelt having taken prompt
action in calling the arbitrators to-
gether for their first meeting Friday,
the miners hope they will know by
Thanksgiving Day what practical gain
they have made.
The vote to resume coal mining was
an unanimous one, and was reached
only after a warm debate. The princi-
pal objection to accepting the arbitra-
ton 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 got better pay
than other classes OF mine workers.
and they did not wish to run the risk
of losing altogether their old places
and being 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 definite plan to oner
to overcome the objection and the re-
port of the committee on resolutions,
recommending that the strike be de-
clared of and that all issues be placed
in the hands of the arbitration com
mission for decision, was adopted with
out the question being settled. A few
moments before adjournment, how
ever, q partial solution was reached.
when delegate in the farthest corner
of the hall moved that the problem be
placed in the hands of the executive
board for solution, and his suggestion
was adopted.
Hundreds of men, needed to repair
the mines and otherwise place them
in condition for operation, will be at
ton having decided that this was I'M
peratfve in order to get the men at
work quickly and satisfy the country's
demand for coal. All the locals will
hold meetings tomorrow, at which in
structions will be given the members
regarding their application for work.
President Mitchell received congratu-
latory kilograms from all over the
country after the news spread that the
strike was ended. On his return to
Headquarters he was asked for an ex-
preston of his views on the action of
the convention, and in reply he said:
II am well pleased with the action
of the anthracite mine workers in de-
Gliding to submit the issues which Gull
minated in the strike to the commits
sion selected by the president OF the
United States.
1.-THE strike itself has demonstrated
the power and dignity OF labor. Con-
servative, intelligent trade unionism
has received an impetus. the effect OF
which cannot be measured. l earnestly
hope and firmly believe that both labor
and capital have learned lessons from
the miners strike which will enable
them to adopt peaceful. humane and
business methods of adjusting wage
differences in the future"
After Mr.. Mitchell had notified Pres
ident Roosevelt of the action Of the
convention and had received a reply to
the effect that the commission would
meet in Washington Friday, he sent
out the official announcement through
the press to the strikers. that the strike
was OF. 1t was addressed to all min
ers and mine workers in the anthra-
cite region and was as follows:
you are hereby officially notified
that it was unanimously decided to-
day by the delegates attending the spe-
cial convention that all mine workers
should report for work Thursday
morning, October 23d. and that the is
sues that eliminated in the strike
should be referred for adjustment to
the commission appointed by the pres
ident of the United States.
I'VE are authorized by the executive
officers Of districts l. and to cat
ton all those who resume work to ex-
ercise more than usual care in order
that accidents to life and limbs may
ha auerfed 0Hin3 to the condition of