Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-11-03
PALMER R ASSAILS
COAL OPERATORS
PROTEST AGAINST
MAXIMUM Price
Attorney General Reads the
Riot Act to BaronS Who
Ask That the Supply and
Demand" Rule Be Followed,
GOVERNMENT WILL NOT
PLAY ANY FAV0RITES
viii Take the Same Action
Against ProfiteerS as Was
Taken Against the Union
Officers, Statement Says,

IVY MORNING JOURNAL sFrC'hl IFAsEp MtREl
Washington. Nov 2.--Suggestion
from the Wholesale Coal Trade asso-
citation of New York that the govern
ment should not fix maximum price
for coal or interfere with the normal
course Of supply and demand during
the strike brought from Attorney
General Palmer today the vigorous
assertion that he would take the same
action against persons enhancing
prices as was taken against the union
officers,
"The action of the government was
taken solely in the general public in
terest" Mr.. Palmer declared "and |
shall not permit it to be used directly
or indirectly for the benefit of the
employers side of the controversy.
w A. Marshall, president of the
association, wrote MIR. Palmer recon-
mendng that miners who want to
work be given protection and that
| coal consumers be allowed 20 obtain
coal through the usual, norma! chan
nels He asserted that with adequate
| protection enough coal would be pro-
! duced to meet the emergency that
! fixing a maximum price would curtail
! the operators ability to meet abnor-
NAL production costs caused by the
| strike and discourage their efforts to
continue work, that priority lists
would overstock certain consumers
and allow others to go without, and
that the fuel control act would be
used to prevent attempts at profiteer-
| ing.
| Amazed at Operators Nerve.
! II am in receipt Of your letter and
/ q h,. nye
general replied
"While. of course. proper protec-
| ton will be given to all miners who
are willing to continue at work. It
must be perfectly plain TO you that
1 even IN dor such cbrNtf'A letss''r.' 4
! of coal must be far from normal.
! Your proposition amounts in effect.
to a declaration that coal dealers
should be permitted to take advant-
/ age of these abnormal conditions and
| have their prices based entirely upon
| the law of supply and demand, which
! is only another way of saying that
| they should be permitted to charge
| the public whatever they please. The
| demand for fuel will be constantly
| increasing and with the supply de-
! creaslng, unless there is government
regulation, prices charged to the pub
| lie will be outrageous and the profits
| accruing to dealers uncomfortable.
| You ought to be quite as willing as
! other citizens to cooperate in the
| general public welfare in this emer-
! gency, even to the extent of sacrifice
| ing profits
"The action of the government in
! restraining the officers of the mine
workers union from furthering the
| strike order already issued was taken
! solely in the public interest and 7
shall not permit it to be used directly
| or indirectly for the benefit os the
| employers side of the controversy.
! If any advantage shall he taken OF
| present conditions by any arrange
ment or agreement of two or moro
persons to restrict either production
or distribution in order to enhance
| the price of fuel I shall without hes
| itation take precisely the same action
against such persons as has been
taken against the officers Of the mine
workers union"