Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-06
Legal Action to re Taken
Against Alleged Chicago
Coal Conspiracy
TALK OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTION
illinois Manufacturers Association De-
cides to Begin Legal Action at Once,
Claiming They Have Enough Evil
denoe to Convict the Operators and
Big Coal Dealers.
Chicago, Jan. s-The 1nterocean

this morning says:
Within forty eight hours strong le-
gal measures will be taken, and even
criminal prosecutions begun, to break
up the alleged conspiracy OF coal OPP
orators by which manufacturing plants
are being crippled, and the people are
being made to suffer in their homes.
Soft coal was quoted at from IS to IS
a ton yesterday, and the cry of short
age was kept up by the dealers despite
the offer Of the railroads to impress
every kind of freight car into service
for coal transportation If necessary.
Immediate criminal prosecution o.
the coal operators was practically de-
Hcided on at an emergency meeting OF
the directors Of the Illinois Manufac-
turers' association, representing 900
manufacturing concerns, held at the
Grand Pacific hotel at noon A COM
mittee OF five was appointed to push
the case against the coal men, and
Attorney Levy Mayer, general counsel
charge Of the fight. Strong evidence
of the existence Of coal conspiracy
is said to be in the hands Of the as
sociation.
A special Cook county grand jury
to probe conditions and return indict-
ments against offending operators will
probably be asked for at once by the
manufacturers The regular January
grand jury will not be convened till
the 10th Of this month.
States Attorney Appealed To.
The city council at its meeting last
evening passed a resolution that it
was the sense OF that body that the
states attorney take such action as he
may deem necessary to put stop to
the illegal combination Of coal deal
ers." This resolution was introduced
by Alderman Hunter after the railroad
committee Of the council, which has
been Investigating the coal shortage,
had made report of conditions.
States Attorney Deneen said that IL
requested to do so he would take up the
coal matter and seek for full investi-
CATION. II the facts justify, a special
grand jury will be convened. Under
the criminal code the penalties for con-
spiracy Of this nature are fines for
corporations and fines and imprison-
ment in the county jail or penitentiary
for their officers.
Attorney General Hamlin is expected
his inquiry into the coal situation here.
He may request States Attorney De-
.neen to act on some of the evidence
secured by the state.
Unless relief is secured soon it is
reported that many manufacturing con-
Germs may have to shut down. and
certain lines of business will be
brought to standstill. AT the Illinois
steel works 600 men are reported to
be out Of work because of lack of coal.
The Chicago Shipbuilding company
and the Eckhart & Swan Milling CONF
spany are also among those who have
suffered thru the failure Of the coal
operators to fill contracts. They were
both running as usual yesterday, how
ever. 1t was reported during the day
that the breweries of the city were co l.
templating shutting down until the coal
situation improves, but this was denied
by several leading brewers.
Factories Ruined by Extortion.
"a number of factories must shut
down II these exorbitant prices are
maintained" said an official of the
Manufacturers association. This will
be done whether there is sufficient fuel
supply or not. The manufacturers have
decided not to submit longer to a hold
up Factories in certain lines can not
run at a profit at this time with such
ruinous. prices for coal If they close,
it will throw 10000 to 10000 workmen
into idleness.
ut is not a question of supply. but