The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-26
COAL WAR.
Local Combination Fails In Its
Efforts.
Dealers Are Ignoring the Iron
Clad Agreement.
CUTTING OF PRICES.
Scarcity of Coal Responsible
For the Conditions.
Even Now Existence of Agree
ment Being Kept Secret.
CUTTING OF PRICES.

the association is not proving sue
cess in the direction last named. In
fact the dealers are just now attempt
ing to push the price of coal up, but
the members of the association are do
ing such extravagant cutting in the
quest Of business that the regulations
of the association are being violated
every day.
There are some of the members of
the association who would, If possible,
infiict a penalty upon the recalcltrant
brethren, but such action would place
the Topeka association in the attitude
of being a trust exercising cOerc1Ve
powers. thereby violating the state law.
And, some of the dealers, in fact ma
iOrity of them, believe that there are
independent dealers in town VINO Would
invoke the aid of the law to put down
the combination if any opportunity
We're offered.
The Organization which supposedly
governs Kansas is the Mid-state
Wholesale and Retail Coal Dealers as
sociation This had headquarters in
Kansas City with the following officers:
President-H. c. Taylor, Lyons, Kan.
Vice president-C. A Crutkshank,
secretary-E. B. Carrigan. Kansas
City.
Executive committee-G. w. Farren.
Ottawa; A. r. Van Dorm, Atchison; F.
S Kirk Enid, Ok; w. H. Wayland,
Salisbury, Mo, and A F. Huse, Arkan-
Section of the bylaws follows:
'sThe object of this association shall be
to use all legitimate means for the pro
motion of the best interests of the coal
and coke trade and to afford such pro-
lection to its members, consumers and
others, as comes within the purV1eW
of this association.
This association was organized to
drive out of business the man who
starts a coal yard by buying car or
coal-in other words, the small dealer
The bylaws say: ANY party or per-
son buying car loads and retailing di-
rect therefrOm shall not be considered
a dealer within the meaning of this ar
ticIe'' This refers to the provision as
to membership which says: Mine op-
orators, wholesale shippers, or any per-
son regularly and continuously engaged
in the coal and coke business, who buys
and sells again, who owns OF operates
ward, has railroad side tracks, pr1Vl-
leges, owning or renting scales, keeps
an office and displaying a sign, shall be
eligible to membership
Dealers violating the bylaws OF this
mid-state organization shall upon con-
victiOn by the executive committee pay
a fine of 81 per ton for anthracite coal
and so cents a ton for bituminous coal,
to the complainant against such ship
per or dealer.
Article III. of the constitution and by
laws saws: mo operator, shipper, deal
er in coal or coke, shall sell to other
than regular retail dealers, transpOrta-
ton companies and manufacturing in
dustries. contrary to the provisions OF
the bylaws and the constitution un-
der which they are made without in
curing the penalties"
The bylaws and constitution leave
the casual reader to guess what other
understandings may have been had by
the association. The indefinite word
ing of some of the provisions causes the
opinion to become we'll founded that
+T-se~ afraT &c
combination or trust, in favor OF the big
dealers.
This idea is supported by a letter
from President H c. TAYLOR issued in
an official bulletin containing the
names of the members of the Mid |
State association. In this letter, over
which appears these words: For the
exclusive, confidential and private use
of the members only" Mr.. Taylor says
among other things:
we have now 263 members and the |
average so per month" Proceeding |
with a discussion of the merits of the /
association the president says:
in taking hold of our work we found |
one of our worst troubles was a lack |
of a reliable list of legitimate coal /
dealers. From this cause some mem |
bers will be likely admitted who are |
not entitled to mem berSh1p- IhlS Is be- |
ing carefully guarded against but the |
danger arising will grow less as the |
work of making a list of legitimate |
dealers is perfected.
Don't cut prices. Consult with your /
neighbor in the business and get a rea-
sonable profit to pay for your work. |
You are in business to make some |
money, the association is now in shape |
to help you and you are only to blame /
if you do not make profit out Of your /
business"
In this same bulletin is given a list |
of the Topeka dealers who belong to the |
Mid-State association, as follOWs |
George Bass, J. P. Butterfly, G. G. COff- |
man, Davies & Nicholson. J. G. Dol |
man. Forbes Bros. Goodwin Coal Co,
Horner Coal Co, Hanley Bros, Gust /
Johnson, A. M Kent, Mt. Carmel Coal |
Co, J. F. McLatchey, McNeely's Coal |
& Ice Co, John Olson, James c. Sinner, |
Fuel Co, John Sutherin. |
Topeka Coal Co, Wear Coal Co, Web
ster-Tullock Coal Co, A F. Wessen, |
Willett & Helfry.
The officers of the Topeka local as
socfation are as follows
President-P. NJ. Forbes, of Forbes
Bros, North Topeka
Secretary-A. E. HickeTson, Topeka !
Coal Co.
This association is a combination of
the dealers for the purpose of maintain
ing prices but it has failed. Excessive /
competition at this time-early in the /
season as it iS-has demora lized the as
5OciatiOn. In the opinion of the dealers
coal should now be advanced in price |
because it costs more to get it here
than ever before. The dealers. owing
to the prolonged strikes and frequent /
and recent walking out of men in the /
mining districts, have experienced great
in getting coal They are also
compelled to pay more for the coal at
the mine and the consumer is not at /
this time paying for this advance. This
Is due to the fact that lively competi-
ton to get business has undermined
the association.
A striking example of this is found in
the sale OF coal mined at Leavenworth /