Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-03
THE NATION WILL NOT
STAND FOR EXTORTION

lTNoMoRROw all the great democracies
= OF the world will celebrate the pro-
psuigation Of the Declaration Of Independ-
ence, the modern charter Of political
liberty, the principles Of which have
already destroyed dynasties and changed
the fundamentals of government through.
out the Western Hemisphere and in most
parts OF Europe. The political independ.
snce Of which We boast loses part of its
Significance and much Of its privilege If
IL is not translated into economic pro
lection against ruthless proft.taking on
the part of any great industry. Such pro
lection we have not had in the past. We
are beginning to get it now, under the
pressure of war We have, in fact
entered a new era, and there seemed
TO be abundant cause for rejoicing when
the announcement came from Washing
ton last week that soft.coal producers
had made price concessions which would
save the public virtually S2OO,OOO,0OO a
year almost enough to pay the interest on
two billions of Liberty Bonds for three
years.
II appears, however, that the public's
Sigh of relief from the extortion which
has been practiced against 1t is a trhe
premature Ordinary citizens naturally
wonder why the robbery Of them TO the
tune of 5000, 100000 a year was per.
mitted Their indignation will grow when
they are finally shown that Secretary
Baker is dealing only In facts, and very
hard facts, when he asserts that even the
lower prices proposed constitute highway
robbery, bordering closely on theft.
A price Of SO a ton for soft coal at the
mines means a profit larger than that
which any other industry OF which we
have knowledge would dare try TO get.
The cost OF coal is not hard to discover.
The volume that can be taken from any
mine is known. What the removal of
every ton means in the way of impair.
ment Of the capital investment is deter.
minable. Every owner knows at what
figure his profit begins to run. We believe
II to be a fact that everything over 50 a
ton for soft coal in the Pennsylvania
fields is profit. 1t is likely, indeed, that
I'm most cases everything over $3.50 is
clear profit. AS matter Of fact, until
recently $3.50 per ton at the mines was
enough to assure a big profit and there
are Industrial establishments in this
territory paying that much as a basic
price right now although adding a bonus
In some cases on account Of extraordinary
conditions.
The daring effrontery and downright
heartlessness of many coal operators en-.
title them to the epithet of "barons."
They are "barons" of the medieval sort,
pillaging right and left, levying whatever
toll the traffic will bear, and conspirlng,
the evidence seems to show, to mulct even
the Government itself in period of war.
It was a clever thing, of course, to drive
general prices to an unheard of level and
then patriotically agree to a reduction
that would save the public tens of
millions. Il could take everything you've
got seems to be the argument but III
be charitable and leave you your shirt. d"
II is reported from Washington that
the President is backing Secretary Baker
IN this fight. We do not doubt it. No man
has clearer grasp than he of the eco
nonic evolution now under way. and a
Chief Executive who has commandeered
the resources of the entire nation to com
bat injustice and ruthlessness abroad is
not likely to sit still and complacently
watch equally infamous commercial ruth
Itssness at home.
Let every citizen get this fact firmB
fxed In his mind: Selling coal at from
So to 100 per cent profit is not legal bust
meas; Il is extortion.