New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-05
The Coal Middle
Blu Charles Law Watkins

ubole. the leaders of our thousand varied IN
dustries. can read only one lesson IN the
stand of Messrs. Baker and Daniels on coal
The regulation Of prices in this country II
these gentlemen are to have their way is not
10 rest upon reasonable agreement and CO.
operation. but on socialstic confiscation.
Pacif.ts vs. Business Men
Tn. men who stood by and sent this eoun-
try into war unarmed and unprepared nave
extended their activities from the depart,
ments which they have wofully mismansgeo
into the only field which has as yet demon
strated any efficiency or actual accomplish
ment in carrying on this war. They nave
arraved themselves against American bust
ness-and if there is any power IN TINS
country which is of any immediate AID 10
our allies or ourselves other than American
business, it has yet to show itself. The war
Department has sent 10000 men to France,
who must borrow foreign artillery or stay
in training camps. The Navy Department
has sent small fotilla of destroyers 70
England, and it could not well spare those
But American business has armed and NUM-
toned the Allies. The S2,00O,0O0,Ooo loan
could not have been financed without wall
Street and corporation advances for en-
Moves. The sl0O,O00,000 Red Cross Fund
is due to the genius Of one Of our bankers.
II this war is won within two years, II
will be American business which will have
contributed Americas share, for our man
mower cannot count within that time, and no
one knows it better than the quondam
uacifsts, Messrs. Baker and Daniels
Without the hearty, devoted cooperation
of our business men America cannot win TINS
war. They have given themselves unstinted-
ly to what we have considered a great
democratic government. They Will not ell
fectually support an ADMINISTRATOR 'H'
is radical and socialistic.
Other and greater Liberty Loans are to
be forthcoming; other and greater Red
Cross Funds are to be called for; other and
greater demands are to be made on our
mines our factories and our railroads. In
what spirit do these men expect the ousi-
ness leaders to meet these demands In the
future?
Here lies the national crisis: At time
when every hand Is needed to pull together,
and strong hands, too, is the Administrator
going to strike down the strongest! At
time when cooperation is vital are TWO
small men to be allowed to array the busi-
ness interests of this country against
radical Administration? For that is the sit
uation which is at hand.
A Coal Company in the War
As YOU may have guessed, | am coal
operator, and for this reason feel constrained
to say word about my company, lest our
attitude be misinterpreted.
It's vice-president, a man Of thirty-one,
with three children, is at Plattsburg IN train
ing for a commission in the infantry lts
secretary and treasurer, also above the draft
age, is at the same camp, in the field artii-
lery. One of its directors, man OF thirty
two, with a family, is at Fort Madison
Every employe in New York and Phila-
delphia and many more at the mines con.
tributed to the Liberty Loan and the Red
Cross Fund. ! have spent six months on
the Western front in field ambulance, and
my application is in for re-enlistment IN
the French army in the artillery. say
this to show that the men who control 80
per cent of the company's stock have some
thing at heart besides the making OF an
honest or a dishonest dollar.
What want to know before we leave for
France is whether we arc to make our
sacrifice. for democracy or socialism,
How long are the lives Of our soldiers
and the future Of our business to remain
in the hands of Baker and Daniels!
Is il truer patriotism to sit mum and
do ones bit, or TO stand up and speak the
truth about two men who I firmly believe
by their attitude toward American business
and their records in their Offices have shown
themselves a greater menace to this coun-
try's success in the war than the entire
feet of German submarines?
| believe your paper could do no greater
service to its country than by abandoning
its splendidly self-contained policy toward
these gentlemen and opening the attack
which will lead US to a Coalition Cabinet
and ultimate victory.
New York, July 3. 1917.