The Indianapolis journal., 1894-08-16
THE PRESIDENT AND FREE COAL.

One of the pop-gun bills passed by the
er this is done for the purpose of making
political capital before the country or in
the expectation that it will pass the Sen
ate, the motive is equally indefensible-
In one case it would be disgraceful dema-
gogy and in the other a base betrayal of
American interests. The American people
do not want free coal. As Governor Alt
geld we'll said in recent dispatch to Con-
gresham Springer, Free bituminous coal
could only benefit New England and the
seaport towns and help few who
country cares nothing about it, for soft
coal is now sold at starvation prices for
the miner 1t is not often that the Jour
nal can agree with anything Governor Alt
geld says, but it does heartily concur in
this view of free coal.
There is no doubt that the President
favors free COAL One of the charges in his
Wilson letter against. the Senate bill
that it taxed iron ore and coal. He said:
No tariff measure can accord with Dem
ocratic principles and promises or bear
genuine Democratic badge that does not
circumstances ii may well excite our Won
der that Democrats are willing TO depart
from this, the most Democratic of all tariff
principles, and that the inconsistent alb
surdity of such a proposed departure
should be emphasized by the suggestion
that the wool of the farmer be put on the
free list and the protection of tariff taxa
ton be PLACED around the iron ore and
coal of CORPORATIONS and capitalists. How
can we face the people after indulging in
such outrageous determinations and vio-
latons of principle?
1t is evident from this. as indeed from the
Presidents entire course during the recent
controversy, that he is in favor of free
coal
The foregoing passage in the Presidents
letter and his anxiety for free coal did not
escape Senator Gormans sharp notice. In
his memorable speech of July %, in which
he handled the President without gloves,
| he declared that free coal would not benefit
a single man or woman in the country.
This was, not quite accurate. for it would
benefit the Presidents friends. Whitney,
Russell, Benedict and others very ma
terially. Continuing, Senator German said:
Who demands free coal? The professional.
theoretical tariff reformer says it will
cheaper the cost of manufacturing. yet,
mathematically, free coal will not give the
New England manufacturer more than
three-quarters of l per cent. of manufac-
turing There is but one great concern on
the face of the earth that wants free coal:
In Nova Scotia there is deposit of coal
as broad and as rich as any ons the face
of the earth. The government of Canada
has controlled it, Five years ago the Do
mfnion government was induced TO change
its policy. The small ones were wiped out.
The Canadian Pacific, that great artery of
Great brlaII, tosether WIN men from the
United States, associated themselves to-
gether and secured ninety-nine-ye lease
| of those coal fields, on condition that they
should pay into the Canadian treasury y
cents a ton ROYALTY If coal were free the
| coal of Nova Scotia would displace that of
| the United States in New England and
| the treasury of Canada would be enriched
| by money that ought to go into the treas
ury of the United States. God knows We
have enough trusts. will never consent
| to allow this mammoth foreign corporation
| to invade our territory and take the SUBJ
| stance away from our people.
This tells only part of the truth Senator
| German treated the President very consid-
erately in not, telling all he knew about the
| Nova Scotia coal combine. Had he done
SO he would have given the names of the
men from the United States who were as
| socated with the Canadian Pacific Rail-
| road Company in the ownership of the
| Nova Scotia coal beds. showing that they
were personal friends of Mr.. Cleveland's, S,
and he might have pointed to the fact as
| accounting for the Presidents anxiety for
i
| free coal Probably, however, Mr.. German
| concluded that he had better reserve some
| of his ammunition for future emergencies
| He said enough to show that he was ION
| to- the movements of the coal combine
There is not the slightest probability of
| the pop-gun free coal bill becoming a law.
| and many of those who voted for it in. the
| House do not desire that it should. But
| if it ever comes up in the Senate Mr. Cor
man will. doubtless, have some further re-
| marks to make.