Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-12-26
W9EETJNG W va WEDNESDAY MORNING. DECEMBER &C. 1894

production as the devil hates holy
water, because every time production
is restricted LABOR is thrown out OF en-
ployment and becomes more abundant
for other employments, and just as
bread is cheap when abundant, so labor
is cheap when abundant.
NEED FOR CONGRESS TO ACT.
No remedy appears, nor is it possible
for one to appear, until Congress makes
the conditions under which We can sell
our surplus Free coal is one OF these
conditions. We want the Canadian
people TO take OF their duty on coal
and give us their market, but they will
never take their duty off while ours re.
mains. Here is market for millions
Of tons lying st our back door, but out
of reach. l have heard IL said that the
Canadian Pacific railroad has enongh
influence to keep the duty on coal, but
with our duty of. when the Candlan
people, with their climate, once realize
that they can get fuel 81 per ton
cheaper by taking of their sixty cent
duty, they will take it of, II 1t takes
revolution.
Admitting that Nova Scotia mines
could compete with ours in New EnE-
land, which is not the case, under DEM
ocratic doctrine New England Is enti-
tied 10 cheap necessities OF life.
Free raw material would also be
long step toward closer commercial
relation with Cuba, Mexico aud South
America, all OF whose coal trade we
ought TO have, aud would have II our
general intercourse with them was sut-
fcient to furnish transportation. With
the Ohio and Mississippi draining our
vast coal area aud our coal lying on the
surface; with water transportation from
the mines to the cities OF these Southern
countries that need our coal, European
coal could not compete. New Oriesn
should and will be the greatest coal port
in the world. Very truly yours,
b. ID. SPILSfAN.
PARKERsBURG, w. VA, Dec. Is, 1894.
The Herald makes the following COM
ment on the above communication:
A NEW PLEA FOR "CoAL-BARoNs" AND
MINERS.
The Herald publishes to-day mas
terly letter from Mr.. j. ID. Spilman, OF
Psrkersburg, VIVA, on the question OF
encouraging coal miners and even "coal
barons" by granting them as great
boon the liberation Of soft coal from all
tariff duties.
This may seem Laradoxical position.
But IL is net. Hitherto the coal kings
and miners have had few who could or
would advocate their cau5e intelligently
and show that every coal miner and coal
mine owner would be greatly tvnehted
by free coal. "Protectionist', poll
ticians and newspapers have long posed
as champions OF mine labor Npd
capital, clamoring against free
trade in coal. Mr.. Spilman, however
demonstrates from the facts and
figures Of the coal trade Qn which he
is evidently an expert that "coal
ought 10 be free In order 70 put the
coal industry on a better footing"
He shows that protection Is fearful
impediment and injury to the labor and
ownership of coal mines. II seems to
US, no disinterested man can read bis
letter without being convinced that the
inaction OF the United States Senate
respecting the Free Coal bill is In direct
and deadly hostility TO the real inter-
ests OF the coal Industry and Goa trade.
Nine owners ought TO memorabilia the
Senate to pass this bill al once.