The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-16
Railway Organs Ratified.


1t will cause regret among but it will
hardly surprise the members of the
Anthracite association recently organ
ized in this city to learn that it's de-
termination to go cunning for the
scalps of railway officials who practice
systematic discrimination against an
thracite coal does not command the
sympathies of the railway organs. A
good many of these organs that at first
treated the Anthracite association as a
joke are now exhibiting a disposition to
question whether its is going to be as
funny as they expected. Take, for eX-
ample, this typical utterance of the
Philadelphia Stockholder:
The long-range view of the tactics be-
ing pursued by the anthracite association
does not tend to enhance expectation of
early material results from the opera
tions of that body. At the formation of
the association 1t was announced to be
its primary intention to confer with the
anthracite carrying companies, with the
view of arriving at better understand
ing as to tolls on hard coal, and the "e-
lations between the producers and the
railroads, Failing in this, 1t was stated
10 be the purpose of the association to
advance the construction of a new rail-
road between New York and the northern
anthracite fields. Both of these declared
plans apparently have been lost sight OF.
The first certainly was worth a trial
Instead, however, of making amicable ad-
vances to the companies the association
has adopted apparently the sole pol
icy of coercion by means of litigation
and appeals to the interstate commerce
to, aSytr liza
pointing to those Interested in anthracite
properties, whether mines or railroads.
The hope had been entertained that q
frank interchange of views and co-opera-
tion in the direction of reclaiIning anthra-
cites former markets would open the
way toward a betterment of the situa-
ton That something in this direction
could have been accomplished there is
no reason to doubt; that anything ever
will be accomplished by appeals to the
law is extremely doubtful. Experiences,
recent and numerous on all sides, so COM
pletely confirm this view as to render
argument in its support wholly unneces-
sary.
Our contemporary, it will be noticed,
still tries to make light of the asso-
cations plans. but between the lines
you can see that it is worried. 1t Is
HdTuiy SO lllfloCtnl as 10 Inlnk tndt the
associations primary purpose" was
merely to "confer" with the anthracite
carrying companies. 1t knows too we'll
how previous conferences have result
ed, when the only weapon in the mine
operators hands was the manifest
equity Of their plea. Nor is it so i'll
Informed as to believe that the con-
struction of the proposed new rail-
road has been lost sight of. On the
contrary it has only to make postal
card inquiries to ascertain that sur
vcys are being pushed with vigor and
all details gotten ready for actual rail-
laying. AS for the policy of "co- -ercior
by means of litigation" we hasten to
assure IT, that II the railroads have
obeyed the law they need have NJ
dread of consequences. If they have
violated 1T, to make them stop the vic.
lation is not coercion but justice.
The Anthracite association has en-,
listed in this fight TO win. 1t will be-
come 'amicable" the moment 1t re
celves the surrender of its oppressors
but not before.