The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-12-04
THE TRUTH OF IT.
Some Light on the Nova Scotia Coal
Syndicate.

SOAS 6ISuG on the NOV8 SCOG13 (oa4
Syndicate.
A little of the truth about the Nova
Scotia coal syndicate has at last come
to the surface, but it is small part of
the truth. The whole story yet remains
to be told, but is never will be told by
a Senate investigating committee
which has no power to compel wit
nesses to answer questions, and with
out doubt Bill Chandler brought it up
in the Senate for the express purpose
of having it examined by bo1y that
had no way of getting at the truth,
that a nice whitewashing report might
be made, similar to the report on the
sugar scandal.
1t is currently reported and generally
believed that the Nova Scotia coal syn
dicate was organized in the Office of
Mr.. Cleveland in New York city little
over two years ago, and at the organi
zation Mr.. Whitney and Dan Lamont
were present. About $4,000, 600 of
stock and bonds have been issued, and
the only investment of real cash was
four or five thousand dollars spent in
negotiations in Canada to secure the
lease.
The company did secure lease of
the Nova Scotia coal beds for term of
ninety nine years, for which it was to
pay royalty of 121 cents a ton on all
the coal mined, and there is no re quire
ment in the lease that any coal at all
shall be taken out. The syndicate can
leave that coal there for ninety nine
years, never touch it, and there will be
no penalty to pay. Inexhaustible
quantities of it lie right on sea shore
and it can be put into our seaport towns
at a cost SO low that not mine of btu
minous coal can be worked in either
Maryland or Pennsylvania, if the tariff
On coal is taken off and freights remain
the same as now on the railroads. The
grand scheme is just this: Put coal on
the free list and Mr.. Cleveland and his
friends can sell their $18, 600 of
bonds and stock, which did not cost
them mill on the dollar, at par, and
put the money in their pockets,
If president and his cabinet has
ever been caught in a more infamous
job than this, history has failed TO re-
cord the fact. The evidence to prove
these facts was being collected when
Chandler premaburely introduced the
matter in the Senate. The motion to
investigate the matter was first de-
clared lost, then reconsidered and
finally went to the foot of the calendar
If an investigation is ordered, the re-
suit will be a whitewash after the man
ner of the secret sugar investigation,
unless Mr.. German, of his own free
will, furnishes the evidence to estab-
lish the charges. German knows all
about it, and it depends upon whether
tits to Germans interest or not whether
the truth shall be told. This sham
tariff fight is nothing more or less than
a game of Doodle. If there is free coal,
Mr.. Cleveland and his friends will
make millions. If there is a tariff on
coal, the coal roads and coal barons
will continue to make their millions.
The question of the American work
men does not enter into. it at all, and
yet these Senate and White House
boodlers talk for hours trying to make
the American people believe that they
are toiling, sweating and working
through these hot summer months for
the sole benefit of the American work
ingman. Cor. NomcoHf fOTDsist.