South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-02-11
FOOD AND FUEL.


Editor News-Times:
The food and fuel question is the
most perplexing question the ma
jority of the people have 10 contend
with today and to think it has to
be without just cause.
There is d cause but not just
one, and it is not in the power OF
those on top to convince the people
that the prices we have to face to-
day are made necessary for any
honest reason.
The coal question is one that can
be handled by a method that would
save millions of dollars for the peo-
pie: il would put an end TO the
worry and suffering SO prevalent of
late, and remove hardship that has
preyed upon the public for some
time: it would be the means of pre-
venting a reoccurrence of these con
ditions and would be a blessing 10
humanity and civilization.
Just who is responsible for these
conditions | will not state, as the
blame is constantly being shifted
from one source TO another
In the first place the coal mines
should be controlled by the govern
ment and worked by the prisoners
who are sent up for crimes Of Ger
tain kinds that is. those which do
not come under the head Of death
penalty, according TO the laws of
certain states, yet men who are
more Of a credit outside OF a COM
munity than enjoying the freedom
Of the community
We may go further with this and
add those who today are responsible
for the coal famine and exorbant
prices.
Spread the net over the mine
owners, the railroad officials, the
commission men, and the retailers,
some of whom are correspondents
for the present prices
Instead of the government ap-
propriating several thousand Of dol
lars. appointing an investigating
committee. allowing a few months
time for this body to arrange and
adjust the affair and finally report
that the prices are justified or per-
haps too low. the public has been
buncoed again.
Start in and arrest the perpetra-
tors as soon as one is located, just
the same as you would thief or
murderer or any transgressor, have
him tried before a jury where the
deed was committed as would be
done with any criminal; if found
guilty. sentence him TO a term at
hard labor i'm a coal mine and you
lcan rest assured that in a few min
utes the news will he spread the
length and breadth OF this country
and the price Of coal will drop from
100 10 200 percent lower.
Do not stop at one case but take
All who are known 10 have been
guilty OF participating i'm this high
way robbery and murder as We are
justified in calling it when the lack
OF fuel has caused sickness which
led 20 death.
II II is a wealthy mine owner put
him to work with pick and shovel,
IL a railroad man let him push a
car i'm the mine; if a commission
man let him lift the coal as he is
used 20 raising prices: a place can
readily be found for the guilty re-
tailers. so there will he work for all.
There would be one great adVan-
tage in manning the mines with this
class Of men. They have been found
guilty OF a crime and are classed as
criminals. Should an explosion or
cave-in occur. as sometimes do. and
lives are lost. il would not be lives
OF honest. hard working men. but
lives Of men who have been declared
as criminals and any community is
better OF without them.
Our local courts would be willing
20 handle cases Of this kind 10 the
entire satisfaction OF the public at
large. and when once the coal men
were shown by a few examples what
the penalty was there would he but
few who would take chances on
spending term az hard work in the
coal mines.
The unnecessary long hauls of
coal is another item that adds 70
the cost OF coal and in many in