The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-02-23
INDUSTRIAL TERRORISM
IN PENNSYLVANIA
Coal Owning Railroads Have
Inhabitants Under Tyran-
nical Heel.
GLAD THAT LID COMES OFF
Write of Wrongs Visited on Them, but
Ask Their Names Be Withheld Lest
They Be Crushed by vense.
full Millionaires.

the lid has been taken off the indus
trial and transportation pot of Pennsyl-
vania and West Virginia by the propo-
sitions for congressional or other inves-
legations, letters are pouring in to the
prime movers in the matter from the
people of these states, concerning ex-
listing conditions.
The writer's, without exception, are in
sympathy with the effort to investigate
the Pennsylvania railroad merger and
to ascertain it's exact relations to the
coal business of the states concerned.
They charge that the conditions are
such that denials are useless: that the
evidence Is easily enough to be had of
combinations and cOnspiracies in re-
straint of trade; and the writer's in
many cases detail the specific facts to
which they can testify. Some offer to
bring along documentary evidence; 9TH
ers give the names of people who are
able and will be willing to appear and
testify provided they are subpoenaed.
In almost all cases the writer's beg
that the names shall not be made pub
lie. because they declare the people on
whom reliance must be placed for the
information wanted would be subject
ed to all sorts of pressure to keep them
from testifying; their business would
be in danger and there would be all
kinds of social and political pressure
upon them.
Industrial Terrorism.
If the conditions in this great indus
trial region are anything like what is
represented by the writer's Of these let
tiers. a condition of industrial terrorism
exists. Nobody dares demand more
than the great corporate interests offer
him. He may know that he is discrim-
mated against. but If he attempts to
fight he takes the chance that this
condition will be made worse instead of
better.
"A minister of the gospel in Fresland.
Luzerns county, Pa, writes to Mr.. Gill
lespie of Texas. asking that his name
be kept from publication, because the
power, unjust and undeserved, the In
ordinate greed and vindictiveness Of
these corporations, can reach and crush
even minister of the gospel" He
adds:
IF your step is the beginning Of
the end remains to be seen. Fraud
tinue indefinitely, and for years it has
been the conviction here that the vari-
Gus mergers of railroads. subsidiary
companies, corporations affecting min
ing and railroad interests, have not
been even a shrewd evasion of statutes.
Nevertheless they have lived and waxed
fat and strong, because it is believed
we have not reached the stage where
official weakness. so-called, is not recog-
nized In the criminal category OF official
perfidy
Individual Operators Crushed.
Discrimination in car distribution
has driven many individual coal oper-
ators out of business destroyed COM
munities to build up the favored, dis
persed the pioneers and spread desola-
ton in communities that had given
promise Of great industrial develop
ment. Determinations in rates on hard
coal are too well known to receive COM
ment here. Bituminous coal is hauled
200 miles for less than anthracite is
hauled 100. Pig iron. grain. lumber and
oil are transported at lower rates than
anthracite. The public surely has an
interest here.
1.-THE law says parallel and compet-
ing railroads shall not be merged The
Interstate Commerce commission does
not appear to know anything Of such
mergers. We of the mining region re-
gard it as commission joke. Evidence
In this connection can be obtained
with less trouble than in the insurance
bunco, and If it is followed up will
doubtless throw some added light upon
the so-called octopus that retards
American progress and civilization"
Baer "cold Blooded Tyrant."
L. G. Sherman of Lancaster. Pa,
writes: 1.-THE writer, an old soldier
and the son Of the founder of the re-
publican party, desires to thank you
for your efforts in behalf Of an en-
downtrodden and abused people this
state exceeds them ALL What with
Quayism and the domination Of cor
porations. the people have borne a
yoke we'll nigh uncomfortable. Your
resolution is on the right track. Here
is where the corporations are shelter
ing themselves. G. F. Baer, con-
scienceless, cold blooded tyrant if ever
one existed, is president Of the
Reading and it's allied corporations,
The hard coal production is under one
hat They have the territory divided
among themselves. They restrict pro-
duction and make the price to suit
their avarice or caprice. Before this
combine | used to get what we call
upper Lehigh coal, very hard coal
and excellent for certain steam pur-
poses. After that combine upper Lee
high was shut out and not allowed to
be sold in this territory. had three
trying to get me this coal. All the
satisfaction we got was. Cannot ship
into your territory now Is it not n
scoundrelly proposition? will bring
the dealers before your committee and
let them expose the methods of these
SCouuuTelS. livery dealer IN eastern
Pennsylvania will testify to the above
High Handed Methods.
Thomas M. Neale of Cumberland.
Md, writes: Il beg to call attention
to the evidence of combination be-
tween the Baltimore and Ohio, Penn
sylvania and other companies 1t con-
sists first Of series of conjunctive
maneuvers by these railroad compa-
MES by which they compelled the
stockholders OF the West Virginia Gem
trail and Pittsburg Railroad company
to sell their road from Elkins, w. Va.
to this city. The purpose of the cam,
paign of strangulation SO successfully
conducted was the acquisition of the
coal mines owned by it, or tributary
to its lines. The Baltimore and Ohio
has as a matter of fact control OF GER
tain Maryland and West Virginia coal
corporations.
But of the campaign to control the
West Virginia road. The two first
named companies resorted to the usual
practices for compelling sale or mer-
ger. All freight offered by the West
Virginia Central for shipment east was
subjected to prejudicial treatment, both
as to rates and shipment. And It is
alleged that this prejudicial action even
extended to the wilful dmolition of cars
of the latter company. The stockhold-
ers Of this company. Hon. H. G. Davis.