Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-29
mo COAL TRUST"
mo BEEF TRUST"
-=ERLE PRESIDENT
MINERS GETTING ALL THEY EARN"
Eastern Magnate Says the Yellow Magazines Are
Largely Responsible for the Coal Troubles.
Praises John Mitchell for His Course as
Official and Sees Long Strike Ahead

raise in wages and that all that they
have to do is to strike again and he will
give them something more. If they do
strike 1t would be much safer to say
that he will take away part of the
privileges that they now have and are
abusing"
'If a strike is called will it be of
longer or shorter duration than the one
three years ago."
'I see no reasons why it should not
last longer. The miners have enjoyed
three years of prosperity and are
financially better to hold out for
longer time than they were during the
last strike.
Magazines Are Yellow
"They do not know when they are
we'll off. The stories that are appear
ing in magazines about their being
abused and doing unhealthy work are
untrue. These magazines are yellow
yellower than the most despised yellow
paper. They will only accept articles
that are onesided and in accordance to
their views.
"The anthracite coal miners are work
ing under very favorable conditions.
Their work is not arduous and it is not
unhealthy. They think that they can
not obtain anything without striking.
think they could obtain a great deal
more by arbitration"
what about this so-called coal trust
that is controlled by nine railroads.
There is no more coal trust than
there is a beef trust. 1 suppose if peo-
pie knew l said this they would say
that am in on the trust profits and am
standing up for my brothers. 1 am not
q wealthy man.
"The railroads do own stock in some
of the mines, but is there any more OBJ
lection to them owning this stock than
for private individuals owning it? l
am president of some fourteen coal
companies but have not squeezed out
any enormous profits. If l had l would
not be a poor man.
He Couldn't Get Coal
"When there was the last strike I
could not get hard coal myself any
more than other people who lived on
the same street that 1 did.
"Are the railroads responsible for
hardships during this strike? They
certainly are not. The burning of an
thracite coal is a luxury, anyway.
Would it work hardship upon the peo-
pie if all the coal oil was taken away
from them and they were given
candles? OF course, coal oil is more
of a luxury than the candles.
1.-The railroads did furnish hard coal
for the use of the elevated railroads for
conveying the workingmen to and from
work.
1.-The talk about a coal trust is made
by people who do not know the situa-
ton The trouble with the American
people is that they have lost reverence.
They cry out that this or that judge
is a CRATER and people do not seem to
think anything about it, If they were
made to prove the assertions there
would not be so much free accusation
of the innocent The whole trouble
with the people today is that they are
worrying about their condition, but
when did they ever before wear such
good clothes, have such good houses
and have such good food?
BIames Coal Dealers
"That the railroads or the coal trust
are responsible for any raise in the
price of coal is idiotic. The coal dealers
are more to blame than anyone else.
An instance of this fact is in the base
ment pail shops.
1.-The poor people who have little
money and live from hand to mouth go
to these places and get pail of coal
at a time The price was 10 cents
pail. The dealers desired to raise it.
The railroads put in pail shops and
lowered the price, thus doing a great
good for the poor man who was then
paying all he could afford.
"Mr. Baer has been called the king
of coal barons. 1t is false. He is sup
posed to be a wealthy man, but in truth
is not. He began life as a compositor
and worked his way up to be bril-
liant lawyer. That he was a good
talker caused all of this unfair COM
ment.
HE was attacked and being an elo-
quent speaker he took pride in defend
ing himself and thereby called down
an avalanche of severe criticism"
Mr.. Underwood said that the stories
that were given out that he was going
to make a trip east in railroad auto
mobile had sprung from source of
misinformation.
He has his automobile so equipped
that steel wheels can be put upon it,
and he has made several short trips
over the lines in it.
Mr.. Underwood believes that the
motor car will be a success for hand
ling passengers on branch lines and
approves of the Strang gasoline cleo
trio car that is being experimental