The New York herald., 1871-02-25
THE COAL CONSPIRACY.
The Causes, the Aims and the Possible Ter
limitations OF the Strike.
How the Miners Have Controlled the Market
The Coal Dealers Side with the Men-The Ra-
pacity Of the Monopolists-Whatis is Thought
Here About the Philadelphia Meeting
The Fuel Famine Panic Among
the Poor Hourly Increasing.

glnatve conJectures which are consequent upon all
such extraordinary outbreaks in social life. The
question rests in much the same position as 1t did
according TO yesterdays report IN the HERALD.
Nothing was left undone yesterday TO ascertain
any new phases that might have occurred 10 change
,ne aspect OF affairs, but nothing was eliced from
which It would be sale TO augur serious change
either the part OF the men or OF the monopolists.
The opinion entertained by many that were
THE DUTY TAKEN oFF
coal coming from the British provinces was IN
Qured about, and while many favored that view
there were as many opposed 10 1t. 1t was
argued that II rhe duty were taken on
then bituminous coal might De soid at 50
very low price that steamship owners and manu-
facurers could easily procure It, and consequently
anthracite coal would not be so much in demand.
This view of the matter is worthy OF serious con-
sderation, though, OF course, II will sustain the
utmost objection from the Cumberland coal miners.
Probably the question would never have arisen were
II for the present extraordinary troubles in the
Pennsylvania coal regions But as the question
stands to-day there can be no doubt but that
were there no duty at all upon the importation Of
foreign coal anthracite coal would not reach nearly
so high price as it now commands For the more
btuminous coal there IS In the market the less
would be the demand for anthracite ceal, which
heretofore has been very much IN use in places
where bitumnous coal now Is used. In regard 10
THE STRIKE AMONG THE MINERS
In Pennsylvania very little that is new can be said
Some OF the largest coal merchants In the city are
In almost perfect accord with the men, II seems
that for number OF past the miners and their
assistants have controlled the coal trade and 1t is
acknowledged on all sides that they ably done
In the hands OF the men rested the fluctuations
Of the price OF coal in this city, and the wholesale
dealers admit that the workmen have ever acted
with due regard to The interests OF employe and
employer.
eflected consisted simply in the work performed
by the men, IL would be impossible for any COM
pany TO put upon the market quantity OF coal OF
which the workmen were ignorant, especially as,
for the most part, the mems wages depended upon
the tonnage delivered IN New York, or that was
The question OF the strike remembering what
was stated in yesterdays HERALD may be briefly
stated 1t is considered by the companies the rail-
roads and the men themselves simply 10 turn upon
which profits ought TO come reasonably from the
sale OF anthracite coal at a reasonable price.
Tne men believe that about six dollars a ton is
q reasonable price for Pennsylvania coal. Anthra-
cite coal is now fourteen dollars q ton; and how
comes the troubef simply in this way, that there
regard TO the profits which are 10 be derived from
the coal al SIX dollars ton. The men
tain share; the companies also insist that they
entitled TO a certain share-more than the
come the railroad people, as is evident IRON their
action In advancing the freight rates, claiming their
share the result being that all parties want 10 nave
q finger In the pie.
1t may be something novel to know that hitherto
the workmen IN the mines have controlled altogether
the price OF coal in this ciy let such Is the fact
Things were so arranged that when coal was going
down 10
TOO Low PRICE
the men suspended work. and consequently, from
the scarcity Of coal, the price went up. The great
reason the suspension OF work consisted IN the
custom Of working on what Is called a "basls.o
The basis" In general entitled the men 70
amount tot Of money money fixed upon as the price per
ton, as was explained In yesterdays HERALD, and
men ae es so id the miners indanaon increase at
what they believed 10 be a fraud upon them. Con-
sequenty there was mnen e trouble IN hegara 70
In large section OF the mining regions the men
contended that they were entitled TO the upward
and downward scale, which means thls-that, sup
posing the BASIS 70 be five dollars ton for coal sold
In New York (which was the basis for large part Of
the mining regons, tue workmen were entitled to
percentage upon any amount received over five
dollars, and were not subjected TO reduction in
per ton There was much trouble caused IN the coal
nelds on account OF the dispute In regard to
TIE Downward SCALE.
And the point OF the trouble rested In this, that
the miners feared, and with good reason, that II the
companies could once again control the price OF coal
they would reduce 1t SO low that We're there TO be
downward scale in force in regard TO the men, their
wages would amount to nothing.
present dif1culty; the men Will not allow companies
10 control the prce Of coal ior then the companies,
after taking care OF themselves would pitch the
men overheard entirely
The
MEETING HELD IN PHILADELPHIA
on Thursday last does not make matters much bet
ter than they before. Most Of the coal dealers
IN the city consider it TO be humbug. 1t is ad-
mitted that the resolutions proposed were such
that IL was never meant that they should
be accepted; It was simply mean. .no tG prolong
thy The resolutions referred to were published IN
yesterdays HERALD, and careful perusal OF them
will show that so lar from healing the wounds now
open, they were intended 70 keep them open. But
the man object which was sought TO be accom-.
ItshG Nv nlpffn " IN n
REFUSAL OF SETTLEMENT
on the workmen IN the mines. The trick was so
apparent that no person was taken in by It, The
meenng IN Philadelphia has done more to show that
the forty thousand men working In the Pennsylva-
ma mines IN the right in their demands than
anything that has occurred since the beginning OF
the strike.
Tne HERALD reporter interviewed" very many Of
the wholesale and retail dealers yesterday and he Is
constrained TO state, emphaucally, that the feeling
seems 10 be altogether in favor or the men and
against The monopolists The action OF the railroad
companies in their wholesale and nghhanded rails
ing OF the tariffs was very severely condemned IL
would be difficult TO excuse the railroad COM
panies for their domineering enterprise; but 1t had
the good effect at least OF showing that the railroad
companies were only too anxious to join in with the
big mining companies and help them in every way
they could must not be forgotten that the
sibIe and even the avowed object Of the railroad
companies was to destroy the workingmen's Asso-
citation in the mining districts OF Pennsylvania,
which was most foolish movement, as thereby
they incurred the enduring enlnity Of every trade
Association ali the land.
Tie most diligent inquiries fail to probe
THE CAUSES or THIS COAL FAMINE
10 the bottom. That there are Influences at work
which cannot be easily seen or detected ie evident.
There must be something more In the coup d'etot
than The breaking up OF the Miners Union, which is
simply an iInposslbliity. Wholesale dealers who, on
Thursday were more favorable 70 the interests Of
the company than 10 those Of the men, IN the pre-
sent struggle. were yesterday after seeing the cards
of the fnonopolists who ruled the Philadelphia
vention, enthusiastic IN behalf OF the workmen.
They SAID that the workInen were anxious TO
keep down the prices OF coal 10 q reasonable limit
and every attempt made 10 spread was The result
oil
TIE AMBITIOUS COMPANIES,
who were not satisfied with ordinary profits
Alter a careful canvass the HERALD reporter is
more inclined TO shInk that the majority OF whole
SAFE ana retail traders incline 10 The belief that the
Workmen VIII eventually win the battle.
lie intel viewed this city yesterday afternoon
one OF the leading lights Of the meeting In Phiadel-
phia ON Thursday, but was unable 10 CLEAN from
hun anyfhng lurtner than was contained In the
o. and re