The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-24

George r. Grant, OF Grant, wallams &
Company, wooden manufacturers. of New
York, arrived in the city yesterday on
business connected with some south side
real estate which he acquired here a year
ago. Mr.. Grants firm is one OF the larg-
est of its kind in the East. having two
factories in New York and one in New
Jersey. In speaking OF matters, busi-
ness and political. at the Rainier-Grand
yesterday, he said.
Eastern manufacturers are worrying
much at this time. owing to the prospects
of coal famine In the East. The strike
In the Pennsylvania coal fields means
much to New York manufacturers, as
that city will have to bear the brunt OF
the burden. When l left home. week
ago. the available supply of coal in the
New York markets was very small and
the price had been raised 81 a ton. Since
then have been advised that there has
been further increase of So cents and
the prospects are that unless some ar
rangement is made whereby New York
can be supplied with coal at an early
date we win be unable to get It at any
price, which will mean the closing down
of many Eastern mills and factories.
There is much talk now regarding the
political outlook in New York Most of
this talk Is by Democrats who. like
drowning man. are ready to grasp at
any straw. Let me say that the asser-
ton that the Tammany machine Is maxi
ing great inroads on the Republican vote
Is all political talk. New York, In No
vember, will give a larger majority to
Mckinley for second term than IL did
In 1896. We are not apathetic but at
present are comparatively Inactive, await
ing the return of Gov. Roosevelt.
7 am glad TO see that Gov. Roosevelt
= doing SO much good in the West. but
bis reward here Is no greater than IL will
be In his own state during the two weeks
he Will spend In IT.
II notice that in the West Gov. Roose-
welt Is paying much attention TO an ex-
emplihcation of the administrators poll
Icy as II effects laboring men. SO far
as the East is concerned In my twenty
years in business there | have never
seen time when labor has been so
In our factories, we are paying nearly
30 per cent. more for labor now than we
We're three years ago and we are employ
ing fully twice as many men.
ut may be said and probably will be- II
II has not been already that the present
troubles in the coal region are due TO a
desire on the part of large operators to
keep down wages. This is not a fact. The
real cause OF the trouble among coal OPP
orators and miners in Pennsylvania Is
that the various railroad companies have
long contracts with the operators at fig
ures that will not permit an advance In
the scale of wages. II is not to be ex-
pected that railroad companies holding
these contracts would he willing to have
their contract price increased, nor is II
TO be expected that the mine operators
would be willing TO pay higher scale
than this contract price will permit.
Il do believe, however that the strike
will be of long duration. l feel that the
mine owners will be willing to now make
scale to became effective at future
time. when either these large contracts
have expired or the price OF coal at the
mine win permit OF IT,"