The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-04-06

Retail Coal Dealers association.
why didn't you say 500" replied
the mayor, and application was then
made to the retail association in
Minneapolis. The fee was returned,
the application rejected.
So soon as the money was returned
the village council thereupon made
its appeal to congress, and now there
is fair chance for the whole ma
chinery Of justice at Washington to
be set in motion against the local
combination Of coal dealers which
for years has had the people of
northern Minnesota and Wisconsin
at its mercy.
Coal Dealers Deny Trust.
Wholesale and retail dealers deny
that there is any combination in re-
! straint of trade. Prices are not fixed,
| SO they say, but fix themselves on
| margin so narrow that nobody
cares to disturb it. The field is open,
| profits are small.
"Then why did the wholesalers tell
| us they could not sell to US unless we
| Joined the retail association?'' is the
unanswered question of the people of
| Two Harbors.
I'VE are proving too much" say
the Socialists. 1--WE were getting let
ters from all over the country asking
| about our scheme. We sold coal So
cents a ton less than the established
price for nut, 60 cents for other
anthracite, rs cents less for soft COAL
| We paid 43 cents ton for delivery
under a contract and the contractor
made a satisfactory profit. We allow
| ed 10 cents for clerical fee. And the
first car showed net profit of 1851,
or IS cents ton; the soft coal half
as much.''
| City Is Out of Business.
At present the municipal coal
agency is out of business. The only
| other way Halliday can see is to buy
a vessel cargo and handle it over the
dock and for that they would need
| about $4,000 working capital.
The act of the wholesale coal deal
ers in refusing to sell to a municipal
| ity unless it Joined the Retail Coal
Dealers association is anything but
CONSTANT with their open attitude,
We recall, during the 'open shop
fight against the trade unions in Du-
luth, that among that famous COM
m1ttee of 100 there were not a few
very prominent Duluth coal dealers.
who, with members of the Duluth
Board Of Trade, the Duluth Real Es-
tate Exchange and other "closed shop
attempted to crush the pride and
spirit of the "Best Workingmen on
EARTH" for no other reason than that
they banded themselves together to
obtain living. not an extortionate.
wage.
Compel "Union'' Membership.
Now we have the admission from
their own lips that no person can en-
gage in the business of selling coal
unless he becomes a member of the
Retail Coal Dealers union
The workingmen of Duluth have
an opportunity at last to pay the coal
dealers back with their own kind of
medicine. Let every men who is in
terested, send a letter to congress
urging that the fullest inquiry be
made. Let us have the facts. If
there is coal combine at the Head
of the Lakes which is conducting its
business in illegal restraint of trade
the quicker the people know it the
better it will be for them.
We have just passed through a. bit
ter winter Around us thousands of
people have been on the threshold of
poverty. Labor has been unemployed.
Business has been stagnant But the
coal combine has been raking in the
shekels from every household, from
the high and low, and the rich and
poor, showing mercy unto none. It
f1xes it's combination price to con-
sumers on one hand, and on the other
1t starves It's miners while they delve
into the bowels of the earth, facing
the terrible risks of a most hazardous
industry that the people of this
climate may be kept warm.
Coal Combine Does Exist.
The Labor World is of the opinion
that an illegal coal combine does ex-
list; that it's members meet regularly
to fix prices; that they are q greedy,
mercenary and merciless set who care
nothing for the interests of any ped
sons but themselves.
II the people are tired of beins
robbed, and IL they are really anxious
to have the searchnght of truth turn
ed on combination that has prayed
npon them for years, now is the time
to food congress with demands for 8
speedy and thorough inquiry into the
alleged illegal practices they believe
exist. ~ H.. ....s
Every organization Of workingmen
and every body Of Independent mer.
chants should pass strong resolutions
calling upon congress to do it's full
duty in the matter.