Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-04-28
COKE AND THE P. & r.
EckIey B. Says Their Relations
Are Not Strained.
HE TALKS AT PHILADELPHIA AND
TELLS THE NEWSPAPERS THAT HE
is sATISFIED-sOMEON MAY POS
sIBLY GET FOOLED.

The statement made in the TRIBUNE
last week that the relations existing be-
tween Coke Bros. & Co. and the Read
ing combine had become strained is now
explicitly denied by E. B. Ely, the New
York agent of the Drifton operators,
and also by Hon. Eckley B. Coke.
In conversation on Monday with the
New York correspondent of the Phila-
delphia Ledger Mr.. Ely is reported to
have said: 1.-The story is made out of the
whole cloth. We are not conducting
negotiations with the Pennsylvania road
with view to shipping over its line.
We have not been denied adequate trans
portation facilities. We are not going to
break our contract with the Reading.
We are not going to make an alliance
with the Pennsylvania to break the
Reading deal"
Eckley B. Coke spent the greater
portion of the week in Philadelphia, and
was interviewed by reporters from nearly
every paper in the city. He assured
them all that there was no foundation
for the rumors concerning his opposition
toward the Reading management and
claimed there were no differences what
ever between President Mcleod and
himself. He also stated that his firm
from the Reading. From his remarks it
seemed that Mr.. Coke really felt grieved
to think that anyone should insinuate
that the combine and the firm are not as
happy as pair of little kittens. But
Eckley BIS free and easy way of talking
has fooled Philadelphia reporters on
several occasions, and the papers that so
loudly denounced the rumors as false
may be singing another song when the
head of the largest mining firm in the
world has completed all the plans and
projects he has in view. Coke Bros. &
Co. do not advertise their intentions,
and it would not be policy for the mem
bers of the company or its agents to
verify a report of the rumored break
with the Reading.
Our informant, as stated was "a
gentleman who holds an important posi-
ton under Coke Bros. & Co." but neither
he nor the TRIBUNE claimed the firm
was conducting negotiations with the
Pennsylvania, and when he was shown
Mr.. Ely's and Mr.. Coxe's remarks he
reiterated his former statement that
there HAD been break in the relations
of the two corporations. AS to Coke
Bros. & Co. breaking their contract with
the Reading he disclaimed all knowledge.
but he was positive of his views regard
ing the other matter.
A representative of the TRIBUNE was
informed in Hazleton on Tuesday that
the Pennsy would be carrying coal for
Coke Bros. & Co. within very short
while, but the report could not be traced
to any authentic source. The employees
of the d. S. & S. are not aware of any
such arrangements, but the rumors of
contemplated changes are flying about
thick and fast at present, notwithstand-
ing the sweeping denials made by the
head of the firm and his principal agent.
This much is certain, however, that if
Coke Bros. & Co. desert the Reading
they will be followed by more than one
coal operator of this vicinity, and as soon
as the Drifton people transfer a greater
portion of their tonnage to the Pennsy
Just that soon will this part of the an
thracite region be relieved from the
monopoly now controlling it. The Le-
high region is too rich field in coal,
freight and passenger traffic to be the
meek slave of Mcleod and his illegal
combination.