Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-07-28
COAL NINE OWNERS
WILL FIGHT To KEEP
INFLATED PRICES
STATE DEFENSE COUNCIL Ex-
PECTED TO TAKE DRASTIC
MEASURES TO MEET THE SIT
UATlON.

lHere VIII De no reduction Ill Goa
prices by Illinois mine operators with
out fight.
The Illinois State Council of De
tense is prepared to resort to stern
measures to meet the situation and
may make full use of the broad pow
ers given under its state charter
These facts became evident yester-
day when the joint committee, COM
posed of council members, coal oper-
ators and union leaders. broke off ne,
gotiations for peaceful settlement.
Since Monday morning this commit
tee had been engaged in strenuous
session Late yesterday afternoon
the deadlock was admitted.
Chairman Samuel insult of the state
council committee, who also was head
Of the committee, when the session
broke up at about 5 o'clock issued
this significant statement:
IAN adjourned joint meeting of the
state council committee and the com.
mittee of the local coal operators was
held at p. M. at which meeting the
council committee announced it had
resolved to refer the whole matter I'M
der discussion local supply and prices)
to meeting of the entire state coun,
Gil, which will be held next Tuesday
morning at II o'clock.
mot word further" Mr.. insult
said when pressed for an explana-
ton.
DR.. F. C. Honnold, secretary of the
Chicago Big Muddy Coal and Coke
Company, who acted as spokesman
for the operators. said:
THE operators have no statement
to make. Mr. Insults statement is all
that is to be said"
The insult statement, however. in.
Inmates that the council members
committee, feeling that further argu.
ments would be unavailing, had called
the conference to halt and will re-
port to the state council that fact.
While no member OF the council
committee could be induced to dis
cuss what may follow, it is believed
that drastic action will be taken.
Some steps which are known to have
been suggested are:
That full report with recon-
mendations be made to the National
Council Of Defense and the federal
trade commission regarding the ILL.,
nois situation.
That state councils Of other coal
producing state be invited to
joint conference at which the coal
situation Of the country would be
investigated and report made to
Congress with view of recommend.
ing the passage of drastic regulatory
measures.
The institution OF proceedings
against the coal operators, not only
by the Attorney-General but also
by states attorneys in the coal pro.
ducing counties Of Illinois.
The calling of special session of
the state legislature or the holding
OF public inquiry is not being con.
sidered at this time. Governor Low.
den, who Is intensely interested, has
slgnified his willingness to call a spe.
cial session il the situation requires
and it can be shown him what legisla
ton Is necessary to correct matters
AS regads a public inquiry it is
pointed out that this might drag
along for months and a crisis arrive
While such an investigation was hold
ing real action in allegiance. It is un
likely that either measure will be re.
sorted to, as the council has not vet
used any of the powerful weapons
II has at hand to force an adjust.
ment.
The conference it is known, did 1T
tie other than to place the operators
on record as to their stand. While
they readily admitted, and data SUP.
ported the charge, that coal prices
at the mine had been raised in iii.
nols after the Washington conference
had established the maximum prices
OF SITS and $3.50 ton, the operators
contended these prices were not out
OF proportion to the cost.
Their principal argument was that
Illinois. and especially Chicago. OBJ
tanned fully go per cent. of its supply
from Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana
and other states, and that If they
were compelled to reduce prices they
would not have fair break with
their outside competitors. They also
charged that a great deal of Illinois
coal is now going outside of the state
and that If price were fixed for
Illinois they would have no other
recourse but to ship even greater
Quantities in interstate commerce and
that coal famine here would be the
result.
While the operators refused to dis.
cuss the situation and are sitting
"speechless" awaiting next Tuesdays
council meeting, George W. Gushing,
editor OF Black Diamond and coal
authority, issued statement, attack.
ing efforts in Congress to place coal
lands in the hands Of the federal
trade commission and declaring 1t was
case OF playing politics with a