Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-24
Shall We Buy Winter
/, Coal NOlD, or Wait?

osssisusd from Page One
tons have been undertaken from time
ID time. .
These Investigations, as in the case
h the Calder committee inquiry by
the United States Senate, have brought
forth testimony concerning the trade
which has firmly implanted in, the mind
Of the public, and reflected In the
newspapers, a fixed belief in the justice
Of this condemnation Of the producer.
II has been no secret that the anthra-
cite interests have continued for years
to send lobbies to Harrisburg and
Washington to fend of or defeat every
proposed investigation.
Il has sent Its own friends as mem
bsrs Of legislative bodies prepared to
fight my official inquiry into its meth
ods prices, profits and conditions OF
labor and production.
IN one instance at least. in recent
Years, an elaborately staged probe be-
csme the merest whitewash or camou-
hale.
The operators, their sales agencies or
the retailers in one instance alone col
lected millions Of dollars FROM tho public
under the guise Of a coal tax of which
the vast bulk was retained by them or
some Of them. The operators declare
that the retailer kept the money. Per-
haps! Somebody got 1t. When It
fcomes to passing the buck" coal
man possesses equal skill with a rail-
road official.
i 1t was the most gigantic case Of
obtaining money under false pretense
that the State has ever seen.
In no single instance has there been
an offer, from any coal source, to share
With the consumer any tax or increase
the public always pays the BILL"
The additional aggravation Ia that
not only is the legitimate wage advance
added to the price of coal, but 1t Is
doubled or trebled by the time 1t reaches
the coalbin.
Une OF the largest operators, q man
of wide experience, In the course Of this
inquiry bluntly asked the question:
"Tell me why 1t is that the news
papers persistently refer to anthracite
producers as coal barons, pirates and
pfo6teers? Why are we singled out and
81 designated? Why are not producers
Of gasoline, that supply $500, 600 900
worth Of automobiles with high priced
gasoline, 30 denounced?"
! endcavored to point out that he
was wrong in his assumptions. No man
possibly had ever been denounced more
6i0erly than Mr.. Rockefeller and
Standard on. or Mr.. Armour and the
meat packers, or the shoe manufac-
tursrs OF New England.
ducing areas all over the United
states. Anthracite has limited area
IN Pennsylvania, owned and operated
oy, few corporations. firms and indi-
Nduals: 1t Is daily necessity. 1t
means life or death, comfort or misery,
IN q million households, hospitals and
public institutions.
The largest ground for the con
samers antagonism, perhaps, has bee.l
Me arbitrary fixing of prices, the illegal
cYmoination Of railroad and coal cor
porations and the dense mantle OF
secrecy with which every movement OF
ING anthracite trade has been en-
vslqped
furthermore, for nearly two decades
.ne government has tried to break these
Wmoinations under the Sherman Anti
must Law. At every step the Gov
snmsnts legal representatives have
oeen fought, beak and talon, by the in :
crested railroads and coal interests.
every evasion, subterfuge, techni
ai.-s s"n oIhchiHk ueViCC thhI tH'
eeversst legal minds could conceive
na,e been used by the coal corporation.
sna their railroad allies In their at.
acks upon the Government to prevent
III enforcement of the law.
people. - ''''''
FOR the above reasons that thu
puIhc and conscientious newspapers
anu other publications and writer's rep
s'ehtlng the public have been forcet
regard the anthracite operator os {
n9onopollBt without bowels of compass
''Vn or fear of the law In his heart
dhis Is not, let 1t be fairly said, tn,
asatade OF certain industrial interests
VI OF certain manufacturers and indus
MAJ managers. Their attitude per
"aRs IL one OF indifference.
Inc wheels and spindles of thei
nn Ilh and factories are turned by {
Pswer generated by bituminous coal
s;, not thcn by the low priced ''stcan
mo"' es OF anthracite, which are coming
more aud more into competition Will
ms product of bituminous mines.
U.s., however. the view of the ac
En'ihg ,wardens and treasurers o
a' parishes who purchase hundreds o
trN Nas qt coal for churches and for dis
NJ tVu'.on ,h TO the poor of the community
t;one ,ne trehSurcrs Of charity organiza
vns, OF public officials " no buy thou
nn"i oi tons for SchoOlhouses, of hos
nv. mi stewards. of every dag busnes
"1m and OF the average citizen.
ne view of the roomer in the sid
basets OF great cities or the denizens o
h"o, h oack alley who must buy by tn
ouyIsetlull ouIs at the rate of $40 a ton ca,
0h!S be ,conjectured.
,Lr, aL There Is another side to this ah
ona neite question. 1t Is the side of tn
'NVta'of' 1t has never been given