New-York tribune., 1902-06-12
RAIN FLOODING HINES.
PUBLISHED CORRESPONDENCE HAS Eff
Feet IN COAL REGION-OPER-
ATORS FEEL STRONGER.
rRr TELEGRAPH TO TIE rE1BrxE.I

rRY TELEGRAPH TO TIE THIBySE.I
vnkesbarre Penn. June 1.-THE heavy rain to-
dav has filed the creeks and other streams. and
the mines are making water rapidly. so that the
companies are unduly eXerted 70 keep IL down to
the normal level Some Of the Lehgh and Wilkes
barre mines in bad shape, and the at
work find it impossible make headway against
,-e water which is gaining steadily. and which to-
day came in with a rush. The Susquehanna Coal
Company at Nanticoke, however. with three hun
dred armed men guard their workers. is doing
famOusly To-day the pumps were started after
an id1eness OF seven days and worked steadily. al
though at normal capacity al day By the end
of the week they viii b. gaining the water
and within another week have the mine dry.
4 number of extra frenen were taken into the
town this morning under an armed guard and
lodged at the mine without interference. Mccain
and Sho-tz the two boys who shot by coal
and iron police last week. improving rapidly.
and II is expected tonight that the McCann boy.
whose case was considered hopeless. viii recover.
General Secretary-Treasurer Frank Dempsey Of
the Carpenters Union has ordered all members IN
the anthracite coal regions refuse 10 build fences
repair breakers or do anything whatever 10 aid the
coal operators.
President Mitchell this evening stated that his
advices the strike in the soft coal region show
$500 in West Virginia He expects the
remaining 800 10 quit work within the next few
days. From Virginia he says he has not had COM
pIete reports.
Mt Mitchell spent much of the morning and all
the afternoon in conference with his district
presidents The discussion was important for
the district executives were notceably impressed.
When asked If the peace rumors had any founda-
ton they gave evasive answers. and President
Mitchell said: Peace is no nearer now than when
I to New-York.' Despite this the impression
is gained that some Is foot. Father
J. J. Curran. of Holy Saviour Church. who spent
a short time this afternoon with the four con-
ferrees. said afterward that. while he could not
say anything of what transpired at the meet
ING he had a{I-e5 farr from TriaD1 n
Philadelphia. whose he could not give.
stating that there was most promising peace
movement foot and that It might cuIminate
within couple OF days. He very hopeful
One explanation for the meeting with the dis
presidents to-day Is that it was for the pur-
pose of framing a reply 70 the operators. which
will present the public the miners side OF the
controversy. That the published correspondence
has an effect upon the people who have read IL is
evident. Business men who have been doubtful
of the operators determination 70 continue 10
fuse concessions are row convinced that they Will
maintain their present position and are deter
mined to fight whatever the cost, and TO break the
union. What effect it Will have upon the miners
is an interesting question. some contending II will
make them more stubbornly eager to win, others
that it will convince them that there is no chance
for victory. and will cause them to seek employ
their old places at the wages and time
that the operators offer
The onerators' view of the effect it will have on
the miner is embodied in their statement tonight
They say:
The publication of the correspondence this morn
ing timely. The letters mad been re-
served until the proper time and they will
have most excellent effect on public opinion gem
orally and this will spread until the miners
impressed with the absolute determine tiOn OF the
operators to refuse all concessions. Many have
been sceptfcal about the operators position. but
now that they are convinced 1t Will not be long
before they begin give in and be ready
to work The letters show that the companies will
fight the last ditch for the right TO manage their
own property They show too. that Mr.. Mitchell
did not care one for the dear public but
actually proposed that the coal operators should
advance the price coal the consumers. to give
to miners a percentage of that increase.
Eventually. but not Immediately. the miners will
realize the operators determination and that they
who are fighting it hopelessly are wronging them
selves much their employers When they do
learn IL will come the reaction, and the strike
will be over. When that time comes the miners