South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-11-11
COAL MEN MAKE
CITY OFFICIALS
APPEAR FOOLISH
Explode Verbal Bomb in the
Council Meeting and Walk
Out of Chamber.

South Bend is not facing a coal
famine. Never was. Never will
Such was the marvellous discovery
made at the joint meeting OF the
city council and members Of the
Coal Dealers association in the
council chamber at the city hall on
Wednesday night. When these facts
were blWted out at the meeting it
struck the council in the light of a
revelation and the members sat
around looking foolish at each other
and each wondering why ne was
present Each had been under the
impression that South Bend was GO
ing TO freeze TO death in the course
OF the next week and timely action
was all that was going to avert the
Cata strOphe.
The coal dealers present were one
and all a little hot under the collar
and minced no words In telling the
council they saw no reason for the
meeting. They also were not long
In showing the council they resented
the interference and practically in
timated that the city would have n
lovely time getting coal IL the coal
dealers themselves were unable TO
get il.
Open Meeting.
The meeting opened when Coun-
Gilman Wisniewski stated the reason
for IL and explained that the city
vas IN bad shape for coal that the
dealers were not delivering il and
asked what position the dealers were
going 20 take on the matter.
Where dye get the idea that we
are not going 10 supply cot" do
manded Coal Dealer Arthur Miller,
jumping to his feet
Now wait a minute; let Mr..
Luther state some facts he has gath
cred" said Chairman Wisiewski
Mr.. Luther stated that he had
tried TO buy coal at FcaSer's coal
ward and not succeeded and that he
had walked by several coal yards
and was unable TO see any great
amount OF coal on hand against a
sudden cold SNAP.
Mr. Miller then took the floor
again. saying. 'I have only a few
words TO say and when they are said
I am going. as this meeting appears
foolish 20 me. I can't understand
all this agitation. Il must be po-
'itical. There has been more coal
delivered this summer and fall than
in any previous one. 7 myself have
delivered 1. .294 tons OF soft coal and
.74O tons OF hard coal more than
ever before. I don't think any one
has been refused coal In the city
and I don't think they viii be. And
finally I'll say that IL the city thinks
they can operate and want 20 op-
crate a coal yard for the people they
can have my coal yard on Sample 81.
/ and I'll help them all ] can. Good
night"
Silence EmbarTaSScS.
After the embarrassing silence
that followed Mr. Nii'ler's exit.
Mayor Carson took up the burden
Iand said well. gentlemen. from all
can gather he's bout right What
we want is for the coal men 20 az
sure us that there will be plenty OF
7 coal IN the city al winter"
Jacob Hoffman and Mr. Knob'ock
of the Martin and Knobiock Coal
company then attHnpted 70 assure
everyone present Mr. Hoffman
stated that he believed more people
i had more coal in their bins I'm the
/ -itv this wear tha never before and
7 This because the agitation going on
/ .1 the country concerning railroad
T strikes. anthracite strikes and the
I freight rates had warned the eoplo
20 lay in more coal in preparation
I He believed that this great demand
i i- what has kept the coal yards emp
! ~ and not because the dealers
could not o. would not buy the coal
Mr.. FuobIock substantiated his
Statements and said that only q
strike AZ the mines or n railroad
strike would. stop South Bend from
I CONTINUED on PAGE FOUR)