Coal Scarcity and Corporate Greed
Coal is not only a “household word” just now, but it is the leading subject in many business and political circles. The great strike of coal miners in Pennsylvania started a scarcity of anthracite coal. This was made a pretext by the producers, the carriers, and the wholesale dealers throughout the Northern and Western States for holding back supplies, and putting up prices of all kinds of coal, when there was no reason for a plea of scarcity only the desire for gain. And most of the known great sources of coal supply are so owned and controlled by corporate combinations that such conditions can be brought about at any time the owners desire. The greed of speculation is the prime cause of the terrible suffering that is laid to the scarcity of coal. It is part of the process and of the effect of heaping treasure together for the last days, as prophesied by the apostle James. The full result is evidently not far in the future. In Chicago, where the Board of Health reports 2,000 persons suffering from disease consequent upon lack of fuel, a special grand jury has indicted forty men for conspiracy in keeping supplies down and prices up. In Omaha, where there was a complaint of scarcity, it was discovered that there was plenty of bituminous coal available, and a supply of anthracite sufficient for immediate needs. A man in Lancaster, Pa., was arrested for stealing a small quantity of coal, which he could not buy, in order to save his family from freezing. When arrested, he was promptly dismissed by the magistrate. More or less coal is stolen from every coal train that passes through the city. At Tuscola, Ill., citizens seized a coal train, and distributed the coal. The mayor and Board of Health justified the act, and the coal was paid for. At Detroit, Mich., complaint is filed by the prosecuting attorney against thirty local coal dealers, charging violation of the State Anti-trust Law. As an effectual remedy for the present stress, Congress has passed, and the President has signed, a bill removing the duty on coal.