Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-12
BLIND AS ALL DESPoTS ARE
THE FEUDAl LORDS OF COAL
The Purpose and General Significance
OF Current "$1s.a.Ton" Propa.
oa1d, Enon, 81. rkron..

sanda From the Thrones
HITHERTO the theory Of Government
IL ownership OF utilities has been up
tremendously rejected by public opinion in
the United States. Do the men who rule in
the coal industry yearn to revive that theory
and give 1t a solid basis. and prove con-
trary to the common impression, that It
must be accepted for the safety and the
well being OF the country?
Have they become suddenly radical?
Are they eager to prove that the Federal
Government must practice some Of the doc
trines Of socialism to protect the people
from a sort Of exploitation which even the
ordinarily complacent Nep York Times calls
'unjustifable and monstrous"? Are the
master minds Of the coal industry merely
irrational? What explanation is there for
the policy Of scientific plumber that appears
to have been accepted by the groups which
direct the anthracite and btuminous in.
dustry?
A mine strike Of unprecedented dimensions
is on in England. Virtually all British
mines have been idle for weeks. Famine
conditions exist as n consequence in the fuel
markets Of Great Britain and part Of the
Continent So the time is ripe for new
orgy of profteering and manipulation in the
American markets. We shall soon begin n
hear of a coal shortage due 10 the great
foreign demand
So extravagant and fantastic was the sug.
gestion Of an almost immediate increase Of
50 in the price Of anthracite that few people
paused to take II seriously. But 1t was
clear that that prediction. emauating as II
did from the headquarters Of the producers.
was intended merely to be the groundwork
nf future propaganda Of sort likely 10
prepare consumers for a bad shock
The nited States Sapata Nirtvnlly killed
III" Edge Calder bill. which was devised
merely 10 let in the light on tho coal bust
ness The Pennsylvania Legislature re-
Gently smothered n bill that would have
authorized coal investigation in this State.
On that occasion the representatives Of the
miners unions worked harmoniously with
the mine owners. They represented their
unions about as effectively as the average
member of the Legislature represents the
people who elect them. The way appears
clear and fsmooth 10 now orss OF proftcer-
ing. Conditions az home and abroad are
such as TO inspire in the heart of any coal
combine a veritable passion for new triumphs
Of exploitation.
But the American people. and especially
the people in Pennsylvania. will not pay
SIS a ton for coal They will not long con-
tinue to pay the prices now quoted. Any
one no believes that they will has a good
deal 10 learn about some Of the dangerous
phases Of American psychology.
The rank and file in this country are ex
traordlnarily patient. tolerant and good
humorPd. But there Is a limit TO their
liberation, and It has been reached by the
men who, for extortionate profits. continue
with scientific precision 10 withhold one Of
the first necessities of life and to create
something very much like an artificial coal
famine in country that has more coal than
il will ever know how TO use.
The obduracy, the short sightcdnoss, the
greed and the insufferable arrogance Of
few small groups which formulate policies
for the great mine owning and distributing
organizations more than once forced the
Federal Government to seriously consider
summary seizure Of mincs in this and other
States. Roosevelt was ready 10 take over
the anthracite business in Pennsylvania be.
fore the high fnanciprs who spoke for the
owners would consent n tho arbitration
necessarv for O decent settlement of n dis
astrous strike And the public whicn Roose
Welt served, though it has been defeated and
betrayed by some Of its own representative,
can and will frd way to protect itself
II will der nd protection from Wash
ington and it will have 10 be listened tn.
The people cannot be asked to pay $l0 or
SIS a ton for coal in n time Of a general
and sweeping decline of wages and prices
without being made to feel that there arc
hardships and iniustces from which ord
nary legislative processes cannot or do not
protect them. The reaction from their
present mood of tolerant scrutiny will come,
when il comes. suddenly and without warn
ing They will demand extraordinary cJ-
ecutvo action 10 prevent continuation ~
the coal gougc. and unless a remedy j.
quickly found they will ask for permanent
Federal control over the coal industry, That
way lies The road 10 the naturalization ~
mincs II course ot action so dtStRstoful
to the ncople Of this country and so foreign
to all our conventional beliefs is ever neccE.
sary the onportunsts and the prohterrng
rings in tho coal fields will be alone re-
sporsibe.
Coal prices arc being artifciely main
tanned No apologies, no technical rNpla-
nations. can hide that obvious fact II con.
prices are increased they will increase not
because OF strikes or troubles of any sort
M the source. not because OF Increased costs
anywhere along the line from the producer
10 he consumer, but because the manipu-
lators want to wiring moro money ont OF
consumers who are supposed TO be unable 10
help themselves.
Coal is necessary n life in this climate.
II is necessary 10 industry. Restricted sup
plies have a deterrent effect on all sorts Of
industries. man who deliberately sets
out to restrict or impede "A free supply ot
coal is quite as dangerous a citizen az the
man who would attempt 10 stop the general
supply NJ water. The days of feudalism and
baronial authority are past The coal trade
has no rights above other trades. II will
have to conform to changed conditions or,
as the Times observes in its sudden aston .