The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-04-08
Coal M a
Feel Much
Better
WEST VIRGINIA OPERATORS BE.
liEyE APPEARANCE BEFORE
COMMITTEE WILL HAVE
EFFECT.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 81
The departing coal barons of West Wiz
l-ginia assumed cheerful guise wher
they left whether they really felt tina
way or not. First of all each ant
every one took pains to tell that thr
senators and representatives from
West Virginia mad done nobly. There
was no mistaklng the sincerity Of
such compliment to the entire dele
CATION and while i. A. Hughes got Q
little the most OF the praise on the
house side, there was no hesitation In
grouping all the members in the con
graduation proceedings. When the
coal men first came to town the i'm.
preston given by the few Of them
was that our delegation had been
caught mapping. That was whispered
by those who have been too busy up
in the mining country to appreciate
just what hard work had been done
by the seven statesmen now repre-.
.sening the State. A day around the
tavern where most of the mine own.
ers congregated, dlssipated that i'm.
preston and the hopeful feeling gen.
Grated by promises and assurances
pervaded the, departing hosts. There
was Just little complaint that the
able lawyers who prepared the case
of West Virginia for the senate
finance committee did not get the
time and attention that they deserved
and while Taylor vinson, Ed. Knight
and others picked to present the argu.
ments, did not get very fair show
they have not complained, thanks to a
feeling that the operators Of the State
know how faithfully the spokesmen
prepared for the hearing.
Some Annoyance Felt.
1t so happened that Mr.. vlnson was
the only orator for the operators and
he did not get in all tnat he planned
to spread before the senators. There
was the usual questioning by the
statesmen, but that did not worry
yinson, who had his little piece well
in mind and he came back with read.
iness and dispatch. 1t had been the
plan of the senate committee to per-
init but the four men mentioned
along with the senators and congress.
men, to appear in the committee room.
Possibly it annoyed the senators
from other States that a number Of
interested operators and lawyers per-
sisted il cruwding in and the humor
OF some senators was not the best
towards the eager West virginlaRs
who want to be present when some
+ thing is doing. Nevertheless the ope-
rators had no complaint as to the pre-
sentation of the facts and the home
ward bound talk was undoubtedly
complimentary to all who fought for
the West Virginia coal products.
Falrmont officials ReIated.
There was Just mite of comment
during the first days meeting Of the
West Virginia coal men that the CHIEF
officials Of the Fairmont Coal Com
pany were not present, but they came
along the next day headed by ex-Gov
ernor Fleming, who explained thai
he and his associates had to attend
a meeting in Baltimore. For a time
there was an intlmation tnat the coal
producers of the upper part of West
Virginln along the Band o :, were in
clIned to favor the reciprocal clause
and would be benefited by the in
creased trade with Canada. Tai
was not confirmed by the operators
who came along later and they added
words Of encouragement for the Goa
barons from the lower part Of tn,
State. All during the stay OF tht
operators they neld many conference,
in groups of three and four and man!
had private talks with Senators Scot
and Elkins. while those from tae DIFF
ferent congressional districts sOugh
the advice and promises of the repre-
sentatlves.