The Detroit times., 1917-07-05
BARONS OR
PEOPLE IS
/. COAL ISSUE
Times Writer Says
Baker Letter FOiled
PrOfteers
LANE SIDES WITH
FUEL MAGNATES
Car Situation Is Vital
Factor In High
Prices
an GILsoN GARDINER

NAShiNGlt IN. - IL july o.
Government control or private con
trol--whlch shall IL be- This is the
question involved in the wrangle
over coal Shall the government
have power 20 name reasonable
price on fuel and 20 control rs dis
tribution, or shall this bo left 70
speculators?
President Wilson thinks II time 10
call a halt on speculation in this
necessity. He favors the plan for
control worked out by the federal
trade commission. Secretary OF
War Baker agrees with him as do
Secretary OF the Navy Daniels and
Attorney-General Gregory.
Opposed 10 the president are
Franklin X. Lane. secretary OF the
interior. and the big coal operators
who make up the coal committee of
the advisory council OF national de
Tense. This is the committee head
ed by F. s. Peabody.
Added 10 this opposition Is
rroup OF powerful railroad bankers.
headed by what ia known as the
"steel trust crowd" who control he
railroad facilities, including coal
cars needed TO carry on the coal in
dustry.
These patriots are not averse 70
taking a famine price for coal. even
n they have 70 make the famine TO
get the price.
Ex-Gov. Fort, OF New Jersey, now
a member OF the federal trade com
mission, played the game OF the
privileged interests. as led by Pea
body and Lane.
Fort sat in on their conference"
at which II was agreed that price
OF SO be made for coal at the mouth
OF the mine. Forts presence. like
that OF Secretary Lane, seemed 10
give Official color TO an action that
was unauthorized and illegal under
the Sherman lay. Secretary Baker
called attention TO this fact In his
now famous letter.
When the federal trade commits
sion sent it's report TO the senate
about two weeks ago showing why
a coal famine exists. the private In
terests which control coal became
alarmed. They saw they were
threatened with a real government
control. What should they do?
The answer was obvious. Every
body hurry TO Washington. Get to-
gether there and make a loud noise
like patriotism. Then give out some
press dope that the coal barons had
suddenly reformed end were going
TO lay their cars, their mines and
their sacred wallets on the altar OF
their beloved country, Get caoi-
net officer 10 sit In; also federal
trade commissioner; and declare
this TO be the action OF the council
of national defense.
That was the program. and that
is how II worked. until Newton Bak-
er came along and pricked the buo-
BILE.
The truth ia that the price OF coal
At the mine is not what counts. Cars
at the mine are the necessity. The
real coal barons are the car barons
The real coal trust Is the railroad
trust. and until the coal carrying
facilities are pooled and brought un-
der control OF the government. the
coal famine will not be relieved.
The president knows this, and so
do Baker. Daniels, Gregory and the
members OF the senate committee
on interstate commerce. who are
now getting ready bill 10 carry
out the recommendation or the
federal trade commission.
One by-product OF the coal tight
Is likely 10 be abolition OF the coal
committee OF the council OF national
defense. as II is now made UP. This
committee has exhibited everything
except patriotism. and Is red-tagged
for an early canning.