Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-02-18
PRESIDENT A. A. MCLEOD.
The Man Who Directs the An.
thraCite Coal Trade.
WHAT HE INTENDS TO DO WITH
THE GREAT CORPORATION HE
NOW CONTRoLs-sTEADY EMPLOY
MENT AND FAIR WAGES PROMISED

The Reading Railroads recent acqui-
sition of the Lehigh Valley and New
Jersey Central Roads, the most stupen-
dous railroad deal ever cOnsummated in
the world and the most startling finan-
cial operation of the age, will have con-
sequences so momentnuS and far-reach-
ing as to be almost beyond the grasp of
the average mind, saws the Philadelphia
Times. Not only does it make the Read
ing Railroad the most powerful corpora
ton in the United States aud the largest
employer of labor on the civilized globe,
but it practically constitutes its presi-
dent, A A. Mcleod, the dictator of the
anth -arite coal trade and the arhter of
the fortunes of the vast interests and in
dustries dependent upon the trade.
1t Is natural that some curiosity should
be manifested regarding this remarkable
man, and that some anxiety should be
felt as to the policy he may be expected
to pursue. Those who know Mr.. Nc
Leod and those who have closely watched
the brilliant and sagacious tactics by
means of which he has lifted bankrupt
corporation ont of the slough of financial
disaster and physical decay, making it a
solvent and most powerful company, will
have no fear but that he will use his vast
authority cautiously, wisely and for the
public good.
The fact is that the old system of mar
keting coal through an army of sales
agents quartered in magnificent offices,
levied tribnte upon producer and con-
sumer Jointly to the extent of from 25
cents to 81 per ton. Mr.. Mcleod pro-
poses that this system of fattening mid
dlemen into milionaires shall cease, that
the producer and the consumer shall be
brought together and that the producer,
the carrier and the consumer shall reap
the benefit of the saving thus made.
The old system of reckless and rninons
competition has made coal cheaper at
Boston and Chicago than within the hor-
ders of this State, with the result of sub
jecting our manufacturers to formid-
able and highly injurious rivalry, shut
ting them ont of markets that ought by
right to he their own, and forcing the
wages of working people in this, the
richest State in the Union, to a level
with those of the less favored States of
the East
Mr.. Mcleod proposes to stop this un-
fair and absurd discrimination against
Pennsylvania. The manufacturers of
this State will pay no more, and probably
less, than they dO now for their fuel,
while the price Of those at distant points
will he so adjusted as to pay reasonable
profits to the mining and transportation
interests and at the same time give the
manufacturers of this coal producing
State the advantage to which their
proximity to the source of supply Justly
entities them. 1t may be true that
competition is the life of trade" hut it
has proved to he the death of prosperity
in the anthracite regions of Pennsyi-
vania. TO the old system of alternate
strife and truce between competing cor
poratiOns and the trade fluctuations re-
sulting therefrom, is due the arbitrary
suspensions of work and the reduction of
wages which have SO soreIy oppressed
the miners and caused such serious losses
to the mercantile communities dependent
upon their trade.
Mr.. Mcleod proposes that hereafter
prices shall be stable and employment
steady at fair wages. He believes that
the new order of things will be especially
to those engaged in or in
any manner interested in the mining
industry.