New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-20
BRITISH king COAL" IS
HERE TO BOLSTER TRUST
D. A. Thomas. Dictator Of
Welsh Industry, to Strengthen
"Cambrian Combine"
BRITAIN'S BIGGEST BOSS
Once Thought to Oppose As
quith for Premier; Outwitted
Lloyd George and Twice
Declined a Peerage.

D. 4 Thomas the British coal kiuG.
has Just landed IN New York lie was a
Passenger OF the Msuretania, leaving
Liverpool saturday January Il. and
reached this city Yesterday
He II Britain's biegcs, boss. and liter
ally king OF the coal world ~ England
lie commands more capital. large out
put and a greater number - men than
any coal magnat" ir Great Britain.
lie determine practically the price of
British coal. the conditions of coal min
inc in Wales. whether a strike shall o.
shall not take place. and. If IL does. which
way it shall end
Head OF VIVA; is known a. the Cam
brian Combine" he has added coal mine
10 coal nine and company to COMPANY
until he is now monarch OF all he sur-
veys. The coal mines directly controlled
By him have an annual output OF 5."''
tons. and their present capital exceeds
100000 lie could easily command tho
use OF nvc times that amount 81 capital
If he so desired
Mr.. Thomas. who came over with his
wife wishes 10 learn why American coal
is cncroaching on the Welsh in England
and South America He said a strange
feature Of the coal trade was that Amer
lean coal is cheaper at the scabOald, sev-
eral hundred miles from tho mines. than
Welsh coal is from its scdbOard. fifteen
miles distant. He said that he would Ike
to get some Of the American mines 10
ntcr the Cambrian Combine.
II leaked out month OF so ago that
he was about to "amaigamate' or con
solidate" some OF the companies hc con-
troncd The immediate "esult within
twenty four hours was to send up the
price Of shares in his company from 81 ~
share to .l3 The - shares of another
Of the companies nc proposed TO con-
solidate have now doubled in price, being
easily sold for 81. The proposal to con-
solidate has been postponed until he re-
turns from America.
The object OF Mr. Thomas in coming
here is said 10 be TO Inspect American
methods OF coal mining chiefly in Penn
sylvania and Virginia. Some American
owners have boosted they can deliver
| coal al British ports at lower prices
| than the COAL producers OF the United
! Kingdom" Mr. Thomas is anxious 10
satisfy himself on this point, and whether
| he believes finally that there is or is
not foundation for the boast. his visit
will have a determining influence on the
| course OF Welsh coal mining develop
ment for generation
! lie is as keen politician as he is a
business man. and holds the record a.
being the only man who has successfully
stood up to and got the better OF M.
| Lloyd George. who has never forgiven
| him. lie was a member Of the British
! Parliament for twenty years. and was
| generally recognized as the ablest man
| whom Wales ever sent to Parliament
Had he devoted himself 10 political life az
he did to business. the highest position
would have been easily within his grasp.
| Mr.. Thomas is known 10 have twice re-
| fused a peeragc. lie was offered ii on the
! first occasion by Sir Henry Campbell Ban
| herman on condition that he contribute
800 90 TO the Liberal party's war chest
Twice that amount he could easily have
given, but he simply laughed IN the face
| of the ambassador who brought him the
| offer. The next time the honor was prof
fercd him Internationally, and was cour-
! teously declined
lie was the only man who could hold
Cardiff for the Liberals against the great
Butte innuence-the Marquis OF Butte own
ing all the Cardiff docks and mich OF the
town itself. When he vacated the seat.
three years ago. it was easily seized by
Lord Ninisu Stuart, brother Of The pres
ent marquis
His patronymc is Thomas: his full
name is David Alfred Thomas. He is AZ
fcctionately known as ID. A." by which
ne is spoken Of by nine out Of every ten
persons in his native land He has a
beautiful palace. standing In a great park
near Newport. in Monmouthshire. while
his business Offices in Cardiff are the
rost nalatial buildings in all Wales. At
his Newport Park farm nc breeds the
choicest stock. and successful in this as
i'm all other things. he has carried or
first prize, making King George himself
nc glad OF second prize, al the National
Agricultural Show.