New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-18

il appear that coal is the author or all
ills and the one reasonable excuse they
have for increasing their prices.
Some electric light companies are
appealing for an increase in lighting
rates They give as the reason that
the price of coal has gone up.
Some gas companies are appealing
TO be allowed to decrease the quality
of gas and to increase the price. They
give as the reason that the price OF
coal has advanced.
The railroads ask the public 10 grant
an increase in rates and that the pub
lie be content with less service more
imperfectly rendered. They give as
the reason that the price OF coal has
gone up.
The baker appeals FOR consent TO
make a smaller loaf and to be allowed
to charge an increased price. He gives
as one of the reasons-that the cost
OF coal has gone up.
Certain street railway companies are
asking the people to pay more for
transportation. They give as reason
that the price of coal has gone up.
Most daily newspapers have in
creased their price per copy from l
cent TO cents. One or two have
given as one reason that the price o.
coal has gone up.
The manufacturers OF steel announce
300 per cent increase in price over
normal. They give as one reason that
the price of coal has gone up.
The manufacturer increases the price
of his product and gives as the princi-
pal reason that the price of coal has
gone up.
The Logical Conclusion
The householder sits down at the
end Of the month to take an inven-
tory. The grocery bill has advanced,
the light bill has advanced, the gas
bill is higher, the coal bill is higher,
and everything he touches to-day is
vastly higher than it was a year ago.
The common explanation for il all,
coming from every source of supply,
is that the price of coal has gone up.
lie comes TO the inevitable conclusion,
since that is what every one says, that
the coal situation contains the root
Of all this trouble. 1t is directly re-
sponsible-at least so his sources of
supply say-for the increased price
of everything The householder natu-
rally rises in rebellion against the
common cause of so many increased
expenses. He says:
"If we can only control the coal
situation, the cost of living Will in
stantly come down. The price of gas,
electric light, coal, rent. bread, trans
portation and everything else that |
use will instantly return to normal
II what these manufacturers say Is
true, the one explanation for the In
creased cost Of living from the start
has been the higher price Of coal.
Coal Alone Is Greedy?
"The coal people alone are corrupt,
greedy and dishonest All the others
are philanthropists and altruists.
They pity me in my dilemma. They
will not add q penny to their profit
at my expense. The only man In the
whole world who Is taking advantage
of a bad situation is the producer and
distributor of coal. He started the
cost of living up. He keeps it going
higher. IL we can only maui him
hard enough. he will put the cost of
coal, and hence Of living, down"
In word. the coal man is the evil
genius of America. He holds the
destiny Of the nation in his hands
and he is both INSCRIPTIONS and in
ordinately greedy Mt this time. If the
public can but whip him into shape,
the whole scheme Of world economics
will be readjusted to normal levels
almost over night.