The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-10-22

tratiOn Unanimous and Accompanied
 by Great Outburst of OfApprovaI-lIen
 Cautioned to be Extremely Careful in
 ResumIng Work as Accidents Are
 More Likely Owing to tine Mines Being
 Idle So Long.
 Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct. 21.-With a shout that fairly shook the convention building the representatives of the 147,- GOO mine workers who have been on strike since last May, officially declared off at noon to-day, the greatest contest ever waged between capital and labor, and placed all the questions involved in the struggle into the hands of the ar bitration 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 mountains of the coal regions the strike affected inhabitants heaved a sigh of relief Many days have gone by since more welcome news was received. EV- anywhere there was rejoicing, and in many places the end of the strike was the signal for impromptu town celebra- tions. The anthracite coal regions from it's largest ity-Scranton-doWn to the loWliest coal patch has suffered by the conflict and everyone now looks for bet ter times. While the large army ot mine workers and their families num- bering approximately half million per sons are grateful that work is to be re- stunned 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 Fri day, the miners hope they will know by Thanksgiving day what practical gain they have made. The vote to resume coal mining was unanimous one and was reached only after warm debate. The principal objection to accepting the arbitration proposition was that no pro- vision was contained in the scheme to take care of those men who would fail to get back their old position or would be unable to get any work at all. The engineers and punlpmen get better pay than other classes of mine workers and they did not wish to run the risk of los ing altogether their<old places and be compelled to dig coal for 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 resolu- tions recommending 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 moments before adjournment, how ever, 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 three execu- tive boards for solution and his sugges- tion was adopted.
 The principal speech of the day was made by National Secretary W. B. Wilson, who practically spoke for President Mitchell and the national or ganization. In strong argument he counselled the men to accept arbitra- tion, the very plan the strikers them selves 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 immediately will be a serious one for the union. There is no doubt the executive boards will take care of the engineers, firemen and pumpmen but there will be others 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 employ ment for many workmen 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 national organization for assistance when the money now on hand runs out With the close of the great conflict will also end in few days, probably with the passing of this week, the assessment now being levied on all bituminous mine workers affiliat- ed with the union. The officials who care to talk of the situation feel con- filent 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- dition for operation will be at work to- morrow, the convention having decided that this was imperative 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 instructions will be given the members regarding application for work.
 The proceedings in the convention in- dicate that there will be some friction in some of the local organizations over many little questions which will come up in regard to the men returning to the mines.
 President Mitchell received many con- gratulatory telegrams 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- pression of his views on the action of the convention and in reply he said:
 T am well pleased with the action of the anthracite mine workers in deciding to submit the issues which culminated in the strike to the commission selected by the president of the United States
 ''The strike itselt has demonst rated the power and dignity of labor Con- servative. intelligent trades unionism has received an imnefuS thn nffort of