Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-08-09
COAL BARONS TO
OPPOSE SEIZURE
Lar Foundations for Legal Fight t.
Prevent State From Taking Over
Their Mines.
OPERATORS CHANGE THEIR TUNE
Drop Mailed Fist Tactics Used in c hi
cage and Try 10 Use Diplomatic
Argument to Governor.

dUEeFE whose mining AltGA Eat@ NGA1A1A
largely in Franklin county laid the
foundation here yesterday for combat
ing in every legal way the possible
state seizure Of their mines on grounds
Of ax0rbitant and uniustified prices FOR
fuel. For Eve hours theye we're en-
gagged in conference with Governor
Lowdeu. pointing out legal obstacles In
the way of SEEING the mines. and urg-
ing that the state wait for the federal
government TO intervene in the coal
situation under the new food bill
Although the hearing was behind
closed doors. it was understood that
the governor stood pat in his attitude
and emphaticalIy declared coal prices
must be cut at once by the operators
OF drastic action you'd be taken.
Authority Is Delegated.
The report of the state council Of de-
tense, made public Tuesday was laId
before Governor Lowden at the outset
of the audience with the operators, to-
Eether with q resolution empowering
him to proceed 10 take possession Of
the mines. The report stated that the
action can be taken without legal pro-
ceedings. but the operators with their
attorneys disputed this declaration.
The meeting adjourned with both
sides declining 10 state what had taken
place Further developments are look
ed for Immediately. Another meeting
viii be held i'm Chicago Thursday, but
who will attend it and whether Gov
ernor Lowden viii be present was not
disclosed.
The committee Of coal men consisted
Of eight producers in the state, among
whom were DR.. T. C.. Hounold. ID. W.
Buchanan. j. e. Rutledge, and Harry
r. ~ "a
compauied by Frank harrington, pres
ident Of the Illinois division of the
United Mine Workers. and, Attorneys
Rush c. Butler and Ralph NJ Shaw OF
Chicago.
Operators Plans Altered.
The trip to Springfield was decided
upon by them Immediately after the
report of the state council fell like a
thunderboIt IN their midst The action
proposed by the state council came as
q complete surprise to them They
had anticipated the announcement Of
plan t1 reduce prices of coal. and had
armed themselves beforehand with
petitions for iuiuncti0us and other re-
lief iu court. which they expected to
take as soon as the state council made
known its report.
The suggestion of seizure of the
mines left them with the aiterna-
tive of making a plea to Governor Low
dent. and they left for Springfield on
the first train for this purpose.
Governor Lowden al the outset of
The session insisted that the coal men
coucede the right Of the state TO take
possession of the mines. They stead
lastly refused to do this. and urged
delay by the state as q matter of good
policy. and possible interference other
wise with plans of the national govern
meut.
Change Their Tune
The aggressive attitude and mailed
fst" tactics employed by spokesman
of the coal men in dealing with the
state council in Chicago were wholly
absent in the conference with the gov
ernor The coal industry Of Illinois
was pictured as d vast enterprise shat
would .be immeasurably injured by any
attempt ON the part of the state to take
over the properties.
u have no statement to make" said
Governor Lowden, as he left his Office.
The conference was not c0ncIusive.R
DR. HonnOld, chairman of the COM
mlttee. was even more retIcent than
the governor, as was his attorney Mir
Butler. MIR. Adams, representing tbe
coal men Of central Illinois, indicated
tors is essentially the same as that
taken in the June conference, when an
agreement was reached that maximum
coal prices should not exceed S2.75 for
screenings and mine run coal, and
$3.50 for preferred sizes.
III there is any statenRent to be
given out. 1t must come from the gov
ernor," said MT Adams.
harrington Quits Conference.
Mr.. Harrington left the conference
at noon and went to Chicago He gave
indication of being disguised with
something, but would nos give voice
to his feelings His position in the
sessions with the state council was
identical with that of the coal opera
tors. Governor L0wden later said that
Mr.. harrington left the conference to
keen a previous engagement in Chi
cage.
Speculation of every kind is rife az
a result Of the conference, and appar-
entity authentic reports are that the
governor told the coat men that the
prices now being charged for free"
coal in the state by some of the mine
owners are too high, and that unless
they come down to q reasonable basis
the remedy proposed by the state
councils report Will be applied The
governor indicated, il is said that
there are coal producers who are not
charging an abnormal price for their
output now, but are taking what may
be called a reasonable profit.
L0wden Guards Plans.
The governor was asked almost at
the outset Of the conference what he
proposes 10 do with the mines when he
gets them. He declined to disclose his
plans. but announced that the state
would be equal to the emergency
Several coal operators who were not
members of the committee came TO
Springfield from southern Illinois dur
ing the day
THE operators are not trying their
case in the newspapers, said one Of
them They have been mallgued and
misrepresented in every way. and are
simply stating their position 10 the
governor. # the government believes
the maximum prices decided upon at
Washington are TOO high they viii ac-
cept whatever price the national trade
commission decides is fair
-gr-.-