Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-08-23
COAL BAR0Ns TO
BREAK CONTRACTS
OPERATORS CONTEND WILSON'S
ORDER TENDS TO tNvALloATE
EXISTING CONTACTS.
SOME MADE RECENTLY
At ATTRACTIVE PRICES
Operators Agree to Accept Presidents
Price, List Without Protest-Fear
Seizure Of Mines If They Show op.
position-Justiee Carter Withholds
Price Stipu.as;ous in illinois,

Chicago Aug. 3.-Abrogation of all
contracts with consumers for the sale
of bituminous coal at the pit mouth
probably will be asked by the coal pro-
ducers of Illinois as their first act un-
der the price slashing order of Presi-
dent Wilson. Between 20 and 80 per
cent OF the output of the mines of the
state is covered by contracts, some OF
them made recently at higher prices
than the scale fixed by the president
Definite action on the part OF the
operators will be delayed until the re-
turn from Washington tomorrow OF
DR.. F. C. Honnold and other spokes-
men who conducted negotiations with
the state council of defense. They are
expected to prepare a petition TO the
president asking he take immediate
steps to cancel all contracts that have
been made for selling coal and that all
consumers be placed on an equal basis
in the coal morket.
Operators Look UP Law.
Several operators expressed the belief
that all existing contracts Were auto
maticaily cancelled when the president
prescribed the scale Of prices for BIZ
luminous coal at the mines in the sew
eral coal producing districts.
Attorneys for the operators carefully
examined the law under which tie
president took action to see IL 1t con-
tains anything that can be construed
as fixing the price for all coal coming
from the mines, regardless of contracts
that have been made by the producers.
In view OF the sta:emca. Of the nresi-
dent that subsequent measures are to
be taken to establish fair and equitable
distribution, the operators declined to
comment on the matter now.
The president seorder was wholly I'M
expected by the producers. They will
undertake to comply with it N every
way. however. according to informal
statements. They did not. attempt to
the matter.
Fear Seizure Of Mines.
State regulation Is preferable 20
this mess we have got into at Wash
ington,'' said one producer, between
snorts OF rage.
What we did was to jump out Of the
Lowden-I insult frying pan into the fre
the president was building at Wash
ington. No. / have no criticism to
make, because I don't want to be in
termed for the war; besides. the pres
ident may seize the mines next. and
we probably never would get them
back.
The order Of the president. under In
terpretations Yesterday, became ap-
plicabIe when issued, and the operators
sold all free coal at the mines during
the day at prices named In it.
The state authorities accepted the
prices fixed by the president, and after
sending In messages OF congratulation
to him. announced further action on
their part will not be .aken. Chief
Justice Carter closed his work as coal
director for the state and gave out 4
statement Withdrawing from the post
ton. He did not make known the scale
Of prices which he had intended to an
nounce yesterday as applicable to the
state, but said that they did not vary
widely from those established by the
president.
Prices Liberal, Says Carter.
He said further:
THE psices 6xed by the president.
while liberal to the operators. do not,
in view Of present war conditions. re-