The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-10-26
Lesson for the People in the Pratt
cal Methods of the Coal
Trust.
MEANING OF M'kIMLeY's REELECTION.
Haana's Hand In the Settlement Of
fhe Coal Miners strike-E6Orts
of Republicans Ia Mislead Voters
some Facts Regarding Trust
Legislation.
Especial Correspondence.l

speech, confirmed the democratic con-
tention that the ten per cent. advance
in wages offered to the coal miners was
q republican campaign scheme. With |
his usual Grass stupidity, he assumed
that the starving miners would jump
at the bait and fail to see the trap
which it concealed. Hanna FASTENED
to take the credit of the offer to him.
self before he knew the result of the
employees conference.
How disappointed he must have been
when he found that the miners had de-
tached the cheese from the hook and
refused to walk into the trap. IL the
strike is prolonged until it causes suf-
fering to poor people unable to pay
advanced prices, the responsibility of
such expense and Inconvenience to the
public rests solely with the coal com.
| bine.
| The miners waived recognition OF
their union, and merely asked that
| the ten per cent. advance be guaranteed
| to them for six months, until April /,
| 1901. They offered to leave the other
| grievances to arbitration and abide by
the decision. Nothing could be fairer
than that. AS a matter of fact, the OPP
orators could afford to guarantee the
six months advance in wages purely as
campaign investment IL they had any
idea Of the popular resentment that is
growing against their piratical proceed
ure and the protection and encourage
ment which it receives from the Nc
Kinley administration.
There are various reasons why the
GOAL combine has not been too anxious
to end the strike at once. They are
purely business considerations, and
these weigh more heavily with the
trust than any political advantage,
even of the party which stands for its
| aggressions.
While the coal operators and the rail-
road combine have reaped profit OF
more than 100000 while the strike
has been in progress, this is not be-
cause there has been any scarcity OF
coal. On the contrary, there was more
than a million tons piled up at various
| points in New Jersey in anticipation OF
this strike. 1t gave splendid excuse
to reap an extra profit from the help
less consuming public.
Mark Hanna may persuade the oper-
ators to accede to the very moderate
demands Of the miners, and settle the
strike. but the country has had its les
son. 1t has seen how unlimited is trust
dominion in the coal fields. and how
the trusts Cypress and degrade the
workmen on one hand and rob the con-
suming public on the other. The vot-
ers have already made up their minds
that this piratical method of doing
business is dangerous 10 the liberties
of the people. The reelection OF Nc
Kinley means the extension OF coal
trust methods TO every industry in the
country controlled by trusts-and khey
already number 400 and over.
Restraint Of Trusts.
The republicans are taking much
pains to confuse and mislead the vot-
ers on the trust issue. Bryan is held
mp as the bugaboo who will interfere
with legitimate business when he
brings the guerrilla trusts under the
operation Of legal remedies.
No person should be in doubt as to
the result of trust restraint. In indi-
vidual cases the arrcsting and punish
ment of thief means more security
for all honest men.
In the business world the same prin-
ciple applies. The arrest and punish
ment of lawless trusts and combina-
lions means more security and better
opportunities for all sorts of honest
and legitimate business.
To permit the trusts to go unpun-
ished and unrestrained, as they are do
ing now, Is TO introduce condition OF
anarchy and disregard Of law wherein
no citizen will feel sure Of employment
Or OF being able to cast free vote.
Republican Trust Legislation.
Roosevelt grows more quiet as he
progresses eastward. BY the time ht
struck Illinois he had exchanged vi
tuperation Of the democrats for bare
faced Misrepresentation.
In relation to trusts he made several
untrue and misleading statements
One was to this effect:
1T was the democrats who refused
10 vote for the constitutional amend
ment proposed by our party during
| the last SESSION, tuus tucN Hiduc ~ I'M
possible for the republican majority Il
apply an effective remedy"
: II is true that the democrats refused
to ioin with the republicans and giv'
the necessary two-thirds' vote 70 pas
the amendment in the house. Blu
why?
Here Is the real status OF the case
The proposed amendment would neve'
have restrained trusts nor interferes
with them in any way, even II II hat
,, passed and received the sanction Of TIL
necessary number Of states. II wa
not intended TO apply TO trusts. II wa
intended TO crush out all organiza
tions among farmers and lnborers. ]
, proposed to prosecute them out OF ex
istence under the general head Of "com
bnntions."
No less an authority on practices
| .y.. Drcs tJnpt Garpur