Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-05-23

we need education to acquaint the
public with the facts and to induce
a more even demand for coal?
think it is the latter for no matter
now many laws you may pass you
cannot by mere legislative enact
ment take ton Of coal out OF the
earth or transport a single car over
the railroads. 1t takes labor and
money to dig coal and it takes cars
and engines to haul it
Mr.. Cornwell pointed out that
high wages in the mine under an
agreement made by government SUI
perV1sion with ten months yet TO
run and high freight rates made
reduction in coal prices for the
present unlikely. In spite OF this he
added the public ta Withholding its
| coal purchases so that a shortage at
the beginning Of winter was not i'm
probable.
The Chief Job
'It appears to me-" continued Mr.
Cornwell, that the job the coal as
ISOLATION has ahead Of it is to put
that question squarely before con
gress and the country, to educate
the statesmen as well as the gen
eral public as to the situation and
tho probable consequences. 4"
1T the people can get coal, get 1t
when they want It and get it at fair
~ decent prices whatever the poll
ticians may say or want, the people
M NJ an n
take over your business, to man
age II or to handicap 1t in anyway.
1T is partly with you gentlemen
TO decide whether there will event
ually be government control of the
industry. 1t comes up to You in this
way: No one else is so much In pos
session OF the facts OF the real stu
alton as yourself, and no one else
) so vitality interested in putting
these facts before governmental au-
th0rities and before the public so
as TO bring about the cooperation
Of the government and the public
rather than to invite their hostility.
1t is up to you to do everything
you reasonably can to meet and
deal with the situation, no matter
who may be responsible for it and
to see at all times that tht public
gets a square deal, not only from
the producers OF coal but also from
the dealers and agents who handle
it.
III the railroads had been square
and reasonable in their early his
tory the interstate commerce law
would have been unnecessary and
might never have been created. But
the railroads were not operating on
the square in those day. They were
charging more for short hauls than
for long hauls, they were favoring
certain communities and were dis
eliminating against other commun-
tiles. The result is they have been
regulated to death and the country
is suffering just as much as the
railroads are suffering. 1t matters
not that the railroads generally
quit their unlawful and unfair prac-
tees, the regulations are still with
them and will remain with them
and there Is a large element con
/ tending for government ownership,
and another for the Plumb plan,
etc.
At think the history of the rail
road control and railroad legislation
may furnish a counterpart of what
may happen in the coal business. Il
the operators can furnish the coal
and furnish it when demanded, at
reasonable prices, there will be no
government regulation; otherwise
il will come whether wise or not.
Hence the importance Of getting the
demand spread over sufficient
length OF time each year for the op-
orators to produce it and the rail-
roads to transport it.
However anxious you may be to
meet the requirements OF the public
you have a difficult task and you
therefore, need the support OF the
public and need to take 1t into your
confidence. You can't get that coop
Grafton If some coal operators OF
dealers gouge the public every time
they have an opportunity
Mr.. Cornwell urged that the Goa
association tighten up" and make
the "outlaw operators" who "gouge'
the public play the game on the
square" Speaking of the public II
relation to business, Mr.. CornweI
declared that You cannot afford tC
antagonize the public aside from
the fact the public will tie you VI
with government control.
"The question of the nationaliza
tiOn of coal mines in this country