The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-10-22
MINERS DECIDE
TO RESUME WORK
Proposition to Submit to Arbitra-
ton Unanimously Adopted
by Delegates.


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, ana
placed all the questions involved In the
struggle into the hands of the arbitra-
ton commission appointed by the Presi-
dent of the United States.
When the news was flashed to the
towns and villages down in the valleys
and on the mountains in the coal re-
gions, the strike-a affected Inhabitants
heaved a sigh of relief. Many days had
gone by since such welcome news had
been received. Everywhere there was
rejoicing, and in many places the END OF
the strike was q signal for impromptu
town celebrations.
The anthracite coal regions from its
largest city-Scranton-down to the low
Hest coal patch has suffered by the con-
fiict, and now every one looks Tor 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. 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.
Vote Was Unanimous.
The vote to resume coal mining was
unanimous one and was reached only
after a warm debate. The principal OBJ
lection to accepting the arbitration propo-
sition was that no provision was contain
ed 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 Tor
living. This question came up yesterday
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 reso-
lutions recommending that the strike be
: declared off and that all issues be placed
in the hands of the arbitration commas
sion for decision was adopted without
the question being settled.
A few moments before adjournment
however, a partial solution was reached,
when q 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 practically spoke for
President Mitchell and the national or
ganization. In a strong argument he
counselled 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 JUS
tice.
A Serious Question.
The question 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 take
care of the engineers. firemen and pump
men, but there will be thousands of 9TH
er classes of mine workers who will have
to be looked after. In some places nun
dreds 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 To-
cal unions will be compelled to call upon
the national organizations for assistance
when the money now in hand runs out.
With the close of the great conflict will
also end in few days. probably with
the massage of this week. the assessment
now being levied on all bituminous 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 assistance and help all those
who stood out during the suspension
hundreds of men, needed to repair the
mines and otherwise place them In con-
ditiou for operation. will be at work to-
morrow morning, the convention having
decided that this was imperative In or
der TO get the men at work quickly and
n satisfy the country's demand for coal.
Locals to Meet.
All the locals will hold meetings tomor-
row at which instruction will be gwen
members regarding their application for
work. :,
r,be proceedings in the convention indi-
cate that there will be some friction in
some Of the local organizations over many
Iit+le questions which will come up in
connection with the men returning to
the mines.
president Mitchell received many con-
,,ratulatory kilograms from all over the
country after the news spread that the
strike was ended. On his return to head
quarters he was asked for an expression
Of his views on the action OF the conVen-
zion, and in reply said:
II am we'll pleased with the action of
the anthracite mine workers In deciding
N submit the issues which illuminated In
tha strike to the commission selected by
~ President of the United states. The
strike itself has demonstrated the power
and dignity of labor. Conservative. in
te,Iieent trade unionism has received an
;r,retus the effect of which cannot be
n,nasured. I earnestly hope and firmly
ha,ieve that both labor and capital have
,aorncd lessons from the miners strike
r,.bich will enable them TO adopt peace
at,o humane and business methods OF
a1trsting wage differences in the future
Oficial Announcement.
,..ar Mr. Mitchell had notified Presi-
-, roosevelt of the action of the con-
item and had received a reply to the
-, that the commission would meet In
Wosbineton on Friday. he sent out the
o@o,aI announcement through the press
ne strikers that the strike was of
:. Us addressed to all miners and mine
Irorlcrs in the anthracite region and was
as follows
!. n,as unanimously decided today by the
.o,aootes attending the special conven-
49, tbat all mine workers should report
o.. u,ors Thursday morning, October 8
~ that the issues which culminated In
ths strike should be referred for ADJUST