New-York tribune., 1902-05-23
HANNA MAY MAKE PEACE
MITCHELL CAN NOW CALL 4
NATIONAL CONTENTION.
COAL WASHERIES STOP WORK AND
BOTH SIDES SETTLE DOWN FOR
DEATH STRUGGLE.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIgr-NE.l

70
Wilkesbarre. Penn. May 22-Rumors prevail
here tonight that Senator Hanna has been dele
gated by the operators Of the bituminous coal
field to use his influence with President Mitchell
TO avert a strike in that section In return he
viii. if Is said assure Mr. Mitchell that no soft
coal viii he sent into this region that the SUD-
ply for the seaboard and the Western markets
where anthracite coal is used shall remain nor
nal and that he will continue his afforts to gain
concessions from the anthracite operators
What foundation there is for the rumor cam
not be determined here at this time 1t is un-
derstood that Mr. Hanna Is to come to this CITY
10 confer with Mitchell. He has not yet ar
rived. and Mitchell apparently knows nothing
Of his intended course. The miners president
is however. in such position that he may
postpone the oail for a national convention to
suit his convenience. To-day he dismissed the
executive committeeman of the three districts
after perfunctory session, at which they
presumed TO discuss the national strike project.
Before leaving they gave to him the power
decide the remaining questions of the strike as
he shall deem best. He may call the national
convention when he desires. He has had in his
pocket the call Of the Michigan men since Tues
dsE. but he would not before this admit it, and
he may also have the West Virginia miners
request
The developments of to-day toward
lawful conduct of the strike. The operators,
desiring incite no further violence at the
washeries about Pittston closed them all. The
strikers being in ugly mood. effort
made this morning to start the washeries.
Similar action the part of the Delaware.
Lackawanna and Western and the Delaware and
Hudson companies prevented any outbreak in
the Lackawanna district, while in the Shamokin
district, when il was learned that force of two
hundred men was marching the Smith &
Myers colliery. work suspended, and will
not be resumed until conditions alter.
The activity is now all the side of mine
operators who are hurrying preparations to I'LL
the places Of the engineers. firemen and pump
men who will not remain at work after June :.
IN their statement to-day, the operators say:
Some idea Of the cost of the strike. or, rather
the loss 70 the men, can be gathered from the
tact that the companies are now paying out the
money earned during the nine days the mines
ave been running in May. The last working
wages aggregate about 81 100000. Since the
itrike began there have been. including to-day,
'en working days, and as the same ratio 1T would d6
Prevail the miners have already lost S2,OOO.OOo.
I.abor's loss IN cases like this is the countrys
loss. and believe such losses would not occur
were the men not led blindly by blind leaders
We have not vet considered the proposition of
polling the men to whether they VIII stand
by us or the union and it is doubtful if we will
executive conalittee TO allew the engineers, fire.
men and pnrfprnen 10 work only eight hours
fully but do not, at the first flush, consider
II AZ al reasonable
President Mitchell believes that the operators
viii grant the demands made yesterday in order
70 keep their mines free Of water. He said
Pumpmen and 6remen necessary 10 the work
Of keeping the mines clear of water after June :
will be allowed in any mine that complies with
the conditions laid down in the resolution passed
yesterday. Our terms. however, are so reason
able that we cannot conceive it possible that the
operators will consider their rejection. We offer
10 furnish men TO keep their mines clear or
water on condition that they pay them for the
present the rates have specified
The greatest danger from flooded mines is in
the Wyoming Valley. For distance of nine
miles the workings continuous. and. II
flooded would form a great subterranean lake
under this city Mill Creek. Parsons, Miners
Mills Plains. Ashley Newtown, Sugar Notch
and Warrior Run. In this territory there are
eighteen collieries. six owned by the Delaware
and Hudson. three by the Lehigh Valley FIVE by
the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre and four by in
diVidual companies.