Denver labor bulletin., 1917-07-28


United States mails.
Under the caption so the People
May Know" the Denver Post says:
The Coal Trust-they call them
selves "the Coal Operators of Colo
rado' met Friday in Denver to har-
monize their prices with the govern
ments' plan of price regulation-of
establishing maximum prices that can
be charged the public for certain ne
cessities of life, among which coal has
been listed, and this is what the coal
trust did:
They resolved that from now until
the first of September, Ignite coal
would be sold at price not to exceed
$685. per ton. After the first of Sep
tember these same patriots will sell
ceed $40 per ton. Coal from the
southern fields will be sold at a price
not greater than S7.S5 per ton, up to
Sept. l, and after that it will be sold
at price not greater than $50 per
ton.
Now mark the prediction of The
Post. They will begin Immediately
and charge the limit of these prices
$6.S5 for Ignite coal delivered and
S7.S5 for southern coal.
All the coal operators practically
agreed on these highway robber
prices, for which there is no justifica-
ton. These gentlemen have agreed
and planned that while the getting
and the robbing is good, they will get
theirs, and our impotent state, city
and county governments see the laws
of the state violated in the very
shadow of the capitol, without a pro-
test and without an effort to save the
people from the greed of these COM
merclal vampires, hyenas and pythons
Clearly this body of coal operators got
together and agreed to raise the prices
as above. Clearly this agreement is
in violation of the common laws of
the country and of the laws of the
state of Colorado. Yet nothing is
done to protect the people from this
overcharge- for one Of the necessities
of life-coal
These coal pirates are now going
to devour the public-and then what?
The Post will tell you what may hap
pen. If grating and selfish men are
permitted either by the United States
government or the state governments
to use the excuse of war to rob and
rape the common people, laying up
additional millions and depressing the
masses of the people, it will be a
death knell to patriotism and it will
IN their righteous Indignation and
drive forever from our midst these
wolves and vultures who hope to feed
and fatten upon the corpses of those
whom they would destroy.
Our country today is in the throes
of worldwide war. We have been
told that we were fighting in this war
for humanity, for universal liberty
and justice, but ghoulish, unprincipled,
unpatriotic and selfish men are now
using this war as an opportunity to
betray and destroy mankind. Are
they gong to be permitted to starve
and enslave the common people? Are
they going to raise the price on every
thing which the masses consume, and
then refuse to increase wages? Are
they going to reverse Christ's sermon
on the Mount and say the laborer is
not worthy of his hire, and actually
and literally cruelty mankind upon a
cross of gold?
Are these the appalling plans that
you powerful and greedy and un-
scrupulous ones are seeking to en-
ploy against the common people while
they are engaged in fighting for ev-
erything that is worth fighting for?
If these are your schemes, then you
are going to baptism of blood that
Will reek and wreck everything your
withered hearts hold dear Better not
play the game too far. The world is
in curious condition; it is in the
humor to destroy oppressors-not
only kingly, but commercial oppres-
sors as well. 1t is in the humor to
uncrown kings and to overthrow capi-
tai.
If you are going to increase the cost
OF living 100 per cent you had better
take good care to give labor it's fair
share of this increased cost, or the
Temple of Mammon that your greed
is so carefully planning to build will
be destroyed, and you will be de-
stroyed with it.
Selfishness and greed are again
planning to cruelty the world.
MTNICpC, CTDTHC