New Britain herald., 1926-02-17
TODAY WINDS UP BIG COAL STRIKE
Operators See No Reason to
 Increase Prices

scranton, Pa, Feb. l7 Rp-Today marks the end Of the great an- thracite strike.
 When dawn brings the new day tomorrow it Is lrovcnty hoped by miners and operators and tho two millions of people In the strike rtJ- den territory that it will herald the coming Of new era in tho hard coal industry.
 After five months and l7 days o' idicness men and boys will wend jEoir way through snow clad valleys to the mines and within q short time anthracite, which is found in commercial quantities only in the northeastern part Of Pennsylvania, will be hoisicd and loaded into cars. Then, after the breaks quit for the day in many sections Of the regions, coal trains will be mad" ID and the much sought after black diamonds will be on their way to market.
 Last night in town hall, crowded 10 tho doors with mine workers, final approval was given to tho peace pact agreed 10 in Philadcl- phia last Friday in the representa- tiycs Of the operators and miners which Is expected 10 insure five years Of peace and prosperity In the anthracite fields.
 Late today in the office of the Glen Alden Coal company here tho chief actors in the industrial drama will sit in a quiet room and effix their signatures 10 the agreement which will at once transform it into a legal contract.
 The miners in convention dis cussed the provisions of the new contract for four hours, making searching inquiries as 10 the mean irg ot certain clauses and firing hypothetical questions at the union leaders,
 Not until the miners were fully | assured that there Is no compulsory arbitration in the new agreement, did the men from the pitts who stood together for more than five weary months cease their question ing, Not q voice was raised in op- position. only friendly inquiries were made. Then came the vote of approval, three cheers for the end ing of the struggle and home--home 10 prepare for work and wages that most Of the miners have not seen since last September.
 The convention was an unusual ly quiet one. and the business be- for the delegates was disposed of in one day.
 Most Of the ccal companies are ready to receive the workers. When l the word was flashed from Phila- 'lelnhia last week that an agree 1 ment has been reached, the mining i companies began to prepare for ro- sumption, every precaution is being taken 10 avoid accidents Timbert are being examined. air tested 1 roofs of the underworkings inveSti- gated and machinery orerhaulnd.
 In the convention yesterday there was q moment of silent as warn- | Ing vas read to the miners to he | careful when they start work and i 10 pass the word along 10 all their 1 fellow workers to remember the l hazards Of the industry.
 John L. Lewis. president of the miners union, visited Plymouth neal | Wilkcsb0rrc in the forenoon today 'to address q large meeting Of min- ors. He had promised the mine workers of that community 10 > isii them and today was his first oppor- Itunity.
 Shortly before the convcntion'' ratification of the peace agreement , Wellington N. Bortolet of Reading Ia, soorojary of the Pennsylvania lEctail Coal Merchants association Issued n circular letter declaring that when mining operations arc re. suIned, hard coal will be distributed "cquitahly 10 sll anfhracitc-usinl communities" The letter went tt inc 2,on0 members of tho assoCia ton. Prices will not be increased
 Nr. Bortolet believes.
 with the strike settled" he said "outhracitn will be rolling from th' mines hy Monday. There will be nc
 fayoritism ir distribution. Talk t' the effect that New England will br preferred is all hunk We are.re
 tahlv advised that distribution vii be made cquitahly. The dealers
 first concern will he 10 dispose 0 suhStitu'n fuels.
 "An'hracitc prices arc "orryini no one but Governor Pmchot, wh' siIl delights in telling the publi that retailers are ex'ortionists. w anticipate that opening mine price
 will hc the same as were in ehHc last September, and that doalors vii '..II +rnir Osuol gross mArEinS."