Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-08-18

OUll, CudSI0AAA CV4AA0SOA4So "a 0SNSeAS~s'
and state councils ct defense.
Telegram received. Can assure you
that the matter - receiving the most
careful attention and everything that
can be done VIII be done.
woodrow WilsJ
Chicago, Aug. 1s-The conference OF
governors and state councils OF de-
Tense, which. In the name OF the MIDDLE
west, on Thursday, sent by wire their
report and resolutions on the coai
crisis to PreSident Wilson, YESTERDAY
received the answer quoted above.
Meanwhile the coal mine operators
Of Illinois publicly repudiated the con-
tract they had signed with 90 'ernor
Lowden. BY their attorneys. they ap-
peared before Chief Justice Cart,-. the
governors coal director. and stated
their decision not TO live up to their
agreement. They then withdrew.
Acting under instructions from Gov
ernor Lowden, Judge Carter went
straight on with the hearing, at the
close Of which he will fix the price to
be charged Tor coal at the pit mouth
In Illinois.
Case Against Operators.
Speaking on behalf Of the state coun-
Gil Of defense, represented at the hear
ing by Samuel insult, J. Ogden Armour
and Levy Mayer. the latter presented
the case Of the people Of the state
against the coal mine operators.
Mr.. Mayer referred scathingly to the
In IA.
pudiatins ti1s;tT contract VIII Governor
Lowden.
~ .sWouldn't Il have been moro man
ly." asked Mr.. Mayer, III the coal OPP
orators had come before this tribunal
and said, We have considered the
agreement which we made with the
governor. We have no excuse to make
for breaking 1t, except to say that we
made an agreement which we think
ss contrary to our own personal IN
terests, and No arc going to break 1T
'.But when they advance puerile, alb
surd, and unsupportable pretenses as
reasons f0r violating this solemn
agreement, they are simply taking an
other step along the line Of endeaNor-
ing to continue the exaction OF unrea-
Sonable and extortionate profits In the
/. sale and distribution Of their product"
Much Coal Moving.
Charles n. Markham, president OIL
the Illinois Central, and r. H. Ashton.
president q tho Chicago and North
western, speaking on behalf Of the
railroads. explains that the railroadf
81 the country we're not only storing
vast quantities Of coal on their own be-
hauling
from the mines nearly one-third more
soft coal each month than during the
same period Of last year.
For more than, an hour Mr.ssMayer
presented facts and figures showing
the present cost Of producing soft coal
in Illinois. It was stated. for instance
that Francis g. Peabody whose mines
produce nearly one-f1fth Of all the Goa
mined in illinois, was able to sell his
product at an average price Of $1.A
ton. this sum providing. in addition t6
the direct cost, for interest on the In
zsvestment, depreciation. and = fixec
percentage of prodlt. Meanwhile the
average price Of soft coal mine run al
the pit mouth u SITS and 50.
May Fix Price Monday.
A At 4:80 in the afternoon Justice Car.
ter adjourned the meeting until Mon.
3 day morning. At that time he has
asked the state council Of defense t.
Z, state their idea Of what would be fail
prices for soft coaa at the mine mouth
in the different districts OF Illinois
! Judge Carter announced his intention
of fixing the price az soon as possible
and 1t will not be surprising II he
names the hgures ON Monday next.
II Judge Carter does set the mine
mouth prices on Monday the mine op
orators will then be given chance tc
live up to their contract by putting
such prices into Immediate effect. Il
they fan to do 80 it Is safe to pre-
dict that Governor Lowden will take
steps to enforce the terms Of the con
X tract. It Is anticipated that he will
not hesitate to take possession OF the
coal mines and operate them in the
/ name Of the state. Il that proves neces'
sary.
n Alternative Action.
The only contingencies. which VII
prevent such action are either q death
I bed repentance on the part Of the mine
: operators or q declaration on the par
i of the national government that 1t vii
at once take control Of the whole Goa
W situation.
i That the action Of the mine opera
I tors in repudiatins their contract wa!
bitterly resented by Governor Lowden
/ " indicated in the speech he made a.
f jacksonville during the day. without
4 naming the Offenders he denounced
those who. Sin such times as these at