The Butler County press. [volume], July 09, 1920, Image 1

About The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946

Image provided by: Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH

                
VOL. XX. No. 12.
MINGO COUNTY
MINFWORKERS
Where Battle Occurred Now
Organized Hundred
Per Cent
Indianapolis, Ind.—It was announc
ed at the headquarters of the United
Mine Workers of America, today, that
the coal miners of Minpfo county, West
Virginia, are now 100 per cent organ
ized. Every mine worker in the coun
ty, numbering approximately 6,000,
are now members of the union. It
was at Matawan, Mingo county, that
the battle occurred on May 19 between
Baldwin-Felts' private detectives, cit
izens and miners, resulting in the
death of ten men. The Baldwin-Felts
gunmen were in the employ of coal
companies, and their principal duty
was to prevent miners from joining
the union. A local union was organ
ized at Matewan and the company
sent the detectives to Matewan to
evict the union men and their families
from company houses. This caused
the conflict in which Albert Felts and
six other detectives were killed, along
with Mayor Testerman and two min
ers.
Immediately following this battle,
the United Mine Workers started an
intensive campaign of organization.
The remainder of the detectives disap
peared from Mingo county and the
miners flocked to the union. Mingo
county, heretofore, has been one of
the strongest non-union fields in West
Virginia.
For the first time in the history of
the county, a convention of United
Mine Workers was held at William
son, the county seat, a few days ago,
and demands for better wages and
improved working conditions were
formulated for presentation to the
coal companies.
SI 7.50
Officials of the United Mine Work
ers say they regard the successful or
ganization of the miners of Mingo
county as one of the most important
pieces of work yet done in West Vir
ginia.
"CAN'T STRIKE" LAW
CONDEMNED
Confiscates Liberty and Hu
man Rights of Labor
The Hot Days
Are Here
Montreal, Quebec.—In a sizzling
resolution the Kansas "can't-strike"
law was unanimously condemned by
the A. F. of L. convention, which de
clared such lgeislation is confiscatory
of the liberty and human rights of
labor.
—this store is ready with
clothes that will help you
meet Old Sol with a smile.
TORRID-DAY suits, single or double breasteds
—beautiful fabrics that give the breeze a chance
to get at you and cut off the heat waves.
President Alexander Howat, of the
Kansas miners, who was jailed be
cause he refused to recognize this
legislation, told the convention that
the miners will strike whenever they
believe they have cause to strike. The
trade unionist defied Governor Allen
to enforce that law
"We will show Governor Allen,"
said the speaker, "that he has under
taken a bigger task than he antici
pated. Every mine worker in Kansas
is willing to go to jail before he will
surrender his rights as an American
citizen. Governor Allen says he is
going to be patient until the miners
come to their senses. The truth is he
realized he has a law he cannot make
good."
They're the real thing—just what every man is
looking for in this kind of weather.
Make you look smart and well-dressed when
others appear fagged, wilted and pep-shy.
Kuppenheimer Palm Beach
Mohair, Kool Cloth, Air-0
Weave and Breeze- Weave Suit£
The convention instructed the exec
utive council to take such steps as
necessary to support organized labor
in Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado in
fighting anti-strike legislation to a
finish.
ri KI i*
-BUY A BUILDING BOND——
PRICED AT—
60
*20 *2250 *25
hold their fit—do hot bag or sag after you are
in them for an hour or two. These are summery
"fabrics that will give you lots of wear for your
money.
MOTAIR SUIT SPECIAL—Elegant Mohairs in
greys, blues, blacks, stripes and $17
checks. Specially priced at
TROUSERS—The largest assortment of outing,
work and dress trousers in the city. We can
match your suit. Prices from $2.50 upwards*
MAXEEPH-MTH
O&CL.TLTS1VE CLOTHIER FOR MBK
HATII-TO4 HOTEL BL.DC*
50
v.•/
Before the end of the 19th century
the railroad companies, either operat
ing directly or through their coal
companies, had come into the owner
ship of over 90 per cent of the un
mined coal. If we add the amount
controlled by contract the percentage
of unmined coal free from the control
of the railroad companies amounted to
less than 4 per cent
'The majority of the anthracite
roads came to be represented in the
mining of anthracite by separately in
corporated coal companies either cre
ated by the railroads or acquired
through stock purchase. Until the
period of reorganization the entire
stock of these coal companies was
held by the separate railroads
"The railroads established such high
rates for the transportation of anthra
cite coal that it became impossible for
a coal company to operate at a profit
The railroad coal companies were
then supported on the basis of sub
sidies granted in one form or another
by the parent railroad company. This
was made possible by a bookkeeping
system which rendered the finances
of the coal company and the railroad
company practically one. The parent
railroads carried the bonds, made
good losses, granted working capital,
and in other ways assisted the coal
companies financially either at low
rates of interest or without charge
"The coordination of the various
companies which composed each one
of these anthracite systems is conclu
sively demonstrated by the all-per
suasive treatment of profit policy
from a single standpoint. The rail
road coal companies have practically
without exception failed to make
profit. The profits of the industry
have appeared almost together in the
dividends, reserves, and bond interest
of the seven anthracite railroads—re
cently also in dividends of certain
sales companies whose stock is owned
by the stockholders of the railroads
"The history of the largest compa
nies in the anthracite industry is
marked by financing methods, charac
teristic of the reorganizations in
which the bankers have had a hand
These have resulted in heavy over
capitalization, which affords a basis
for high prices and low wages
"The combination of excessive
transportation rates with the conse
quent coal company losses has fur-
RAILROADS CONTROL COAL MINES
UNITED MINE WORKERS EXPOSE PROFITEERING OF COAL
TRUST DOMINATED BY SEVEN RAILWAY SYSTEMS
Union Engages Expert Who Delves
Into Hysterics Of Wall Street
And Coal Combine
Scn.nton, Pa.—Charging that thej nished apparent justification for high
anthracite coal industry, made prices and low wages. It has amount
up of seven distinct railway systems, ed to a process of writing the losses
is knitted closely into a single monop- of coal companies into the cost of
oly by inter-stock ownership, by inter
locking directorates, by informal con
ferences, and in general by the en
grossing control of the great Wall
street banking combine which centers
about J. P. Morgan & Company and
Railroads Established High Freight
Rates
"This domination has resulted from
i consistent effort to render secure for
all time an adequate proportion of an
tracite traffic. The only surety for
this lay in buying up the majority of
inthracite coal lands, reserves and
operations, or securing permanent
control of the output of independent
operations
the National City bank, W. Jett Lauck, nection it should be pointed out that
consulting economist for the United the enormous inflation of capital and
Mine Workers of America, today laid
before the anthracite coal commission
a survey which, he stated, had been
made to discover the degree of inter
relationship and combination to con
trol the production, transportation
and market which prevails in the an
thracite industry. Mr. Lauck declar
ed that this survey pointed to the fol
lowing conclusions:
"The anthracite industry is today
dominated by seven different rail
roads, each of which controls the pro
duction, transportation and sale to lo
cal dealers of a certain proportion of
the total anthracite consumed, a pro
portion which tends to remain con
stant
•. •_ ••a
Anthracite Coal Commission Be
gins Hearings In Demand
Of niners For Six Dollar
Wage Scale
transportation, thus justifying high
traffic rates and then the writing of
these high transportation costs into
the price of anthracite charged to the
local dealer, thus justifying high
prices to the consumer. In this con-
bonds through the assumption of coal
company losses by the railroads and
through payment of inflated prices for
coal lands has resulted in enormous
fixed charges which enter into the cost
of anthracite transportation because
interest on bonds is treated as cost
and not as profit
"The resulting high rates have en
abled the anthracite railroads to pay
dividends far above those of the other
railroads in the country
"The process just described from
which these high profits have resulted
is such that it is well concealed from
the public and difficult to reach for
these methods have enabled the an
thracite corporations to show margins
between the cost of producing anthra
cite and the price at which it is sold
at the mine, between the cost of trans
porting anthracite and the rate charg
ed by the railroad, and between the
total cost of the anthracite before it
is delivered to the dealer and the
price at which it is delivered to him.
which are to all outward appearances
no more than average
"It is, therefore, unjustifiable to
claim on the basis of such margins as
are exhibited (particularly in the pro
duction end of the business) that the
anthracite industry cannot pay higher
wages without increasing the cost
"The anthracite industry made up
of these seven distinct railway sys
tems is closely knitted into a single
great monopoly by inter-stock owner
ship, by interlocking directorates, by
informal conferences, and in general
by the engrossing control of the great
New York Banking combine which
centers about J. P. Morgan & Com
pany and the National City bank.
This group dominates companies ship
ping over 75 per cent of the total an
thracite tonnage. These bankers ap
parently control the situation and
reap the benefit through dividends on
watered stock as well as through mil
lions of dollars of interest on bonded
indebtedness
"The conclusions drawn from this
study seem to be that as the result of
the combination which has been
achieved, we must look for anthracite
profits not in the coffers of the coal
companies, but in (a) the profits of
anthracite railroads (b), the profits
of sales companies (c), the profits of
those who control the banking com
bine which has engineered the anthra
cite combination."
The miners buttressed their de
mands for a wage increase and recog
nition of the United Mine Workers of
America with a formidable array of
data and exhibits covering one thou
sand printed pages. These exhibits
embraced every phase of the anthra
cite coal industry, special emphasis
being laid on monopolistic control and
profiteering in the industry, and in
cluded also a survey of the increases
in the cost of living in the anthracite
region, comparisons of the earnings
of anthracite mine workers with the
earnings of workers in other indus
tries and a resume of the sanctions of
the living wage, the eight-hour day
and collective bargaining through
unions.
Profiteering to the extent of a 500
percent increase in profits tor the
period 1916-18 as compared with the
pre-war period of 1912-14 was charg
ed by Mr. Lauck, the offender in this
instance being the Philadelphia and
Reading Company. "Th s company,
which had no selling device for con
cealing its profits," said Mr. Lauck,
"increased its'production only 11 per
ccrt, during the war yoirs, but in
creased its profits nearly 500 per reijt.
and its profits per ton of output 4K5
rer cent." Mr. Lauck's iumary of
ti'c evidence as to profiteering was rs
fci'ows:
"A \ey of the anth-U'ile industry
shows an increase in net profits of
the principal operators for the period
191G-18 over 1912-14 of near1*,* 90 peri
cent as compared with an increase in
production during this period of less
than 12 per cent. For the yev 1919
the available figures show for two
respective companies an increase in
net profits over 1918 of 18 per cent.
The figures quoted are exclusive of
the profits of the separately-incorpor
ated selling companies through which
certain of the principal operatoi*s
market their product. These compa
nies, since their organization, have
paid annual dividends ranging from
20 per cent to 30 per cent."
"In the case of seven representa
tive mining companies there was an
increase in net profits during the per
iod 1910-18 over 1912-14 of 69.7 per
cent. Expressed in terms of dollars
the total net income of these com
panies advanced from an aggregate
of $23,354,898 for the period of 1912
1914 to $55,52^,849 for the period
1916-1918, an increase of $26,173,860
or 89.2 per cent. In other words,
their average annual profits during
the war were nearly double their
yearly profits for the pre-war period
though their total production increas
ed only 11.6 per cent. The net income
earned by these companies on their
capital stock outstanding during the
period 1916-18 ranged from 20.4 per
cent to 36.6 per cent, as compared
with a net income in 1912-1914 rang
ing from 14.2 per cent to 18.9 per
cent. Their combined aggregate out
put during the seven years ending
December 31, 1918, it should be not
ed. was about 56 per cent of all ton
nage produced during that period.
"The immense profits reported by
three of the principal mining com
panies for 1916-1918 are exclusive of
the earnings of their separately-in
corporated selling departments and
represent only a fraction of their ac
tual profits. Since its organization in
1910 the Lehigh Valley Coal Sales
Company, for example, has paid an
nual dividends at an average rate of
nearly 20 per cent. The Delaware
Lackawanna and Western Coal Com
pany since its organization in 1901'
has paid 300 per cent in dividends anc
has accumulated a surplus of $5,973,
"95 or more than 90 per cent of iit
capital stock out standing. The capi
tal stock of these companies, it is in
teresting to note, was paid for out o
dividends declared for that purpose b?
the anthracite mining companies.
"The actual increase in profits dur
ing the war years of the coal com
panies which market their own pro
duct is indicated by the income ac
count of the Philadelphia & Readinj
Company. This company, which ha
no selling device for concealing it,
profits, increased its production onl
11 per cent during the war years bu
increased its profits nearly 500 pe
cent and its profits per ton of output
435 per cent. The Temple Coal Com
pany which also markets its own pro
duct, reported net profits in 1917 of
$1,691,324, an increase as compared
with its average yearly profits for th
period 1912-1914 of more than 80 pe
cent. A combined statement for th
Lehigh Valley Coal and Navigatio
Company, the Lehigh and Wilkesbari
Coal Company, the Lehigh Valle
Company and the Philadelphia an
Reading Company shows that the a
erage annual net income of thes
companies advanced from $6,923,5S
in 1912-1914 to $13,155,932 in 1911
1918, an increase of $672,337 or I
per cent. Six smaller compani
whose income tax returns were pul
lished at the request of the Unit*
HAMILTON, OmO, FRIDAY, JULY 9,1920 ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR
States Senate show an increase in n
profits in 1917 over 1916 of $509,00
or nearly 90 per cent.
"The available figures for 1919 ii
dicate even larger profits for this pe:
iod than the earnings reported for
1918. Thecpal department of the De­
SHOULD ELECT
JUDGES
Woolen Company Decision
Splendid Argument In
Its Favor
Madison, Wis.—The Capital Times
uses the dismissal of the American
Woolen Company of profiteering
laware and Hudson, for example,
shows an increase in net profits in
1919 over 1918 of $707,252 or 43.9
per cent. The Lehigh Coal & Navi
gation Co. reported an increase in net
profits in 1919 of $69,794, or 2.5 per
cent. For the two companies co
bined, there was an increase in net
profits in 1919 of 1918 of $777,046, or
17.6 per cent."
HAMILTON'S
LEADING
LOW PRICE
STORE
Shoe Prices Smashed
THE DAN COHEN CO.
704-X 242 High Street
PRESSMAN'S
36 Hi«h St. HAMILTON. O.
A CLEAN SWEEP ON ALL SUMMER GOODS
........... 57c
64c
47c
69c
69
69c
47c
Men's 85c Shirts and Drawers
go at
Men's $1.00 Knee Length Union Suits
go at ..................
Boy's Sport Waists
go at
Boys'Sport Shirts
go at
Boys' $1.25 Khaki Knee Pants, small sizes
go at
Boys'Blue Striped Overalls,
2 to 8
1 lot Mer.'s Athletic Union Suits,
slight?v soiled
1 lot of Men's Shirts, attached collars, slightly dj| on
soiled- sizes 16 to 17Va vl -JSf
All Men's Work and Dress Pants for less than the wholesale
cost.
All Men's and Boys' Summer Caps for less than cost.
Second Floor DR Y GOODS Second Floor
All Summer goods such as Voiles, Organdies, Muslin
Underwear, Ladies' Summer Gauze and Pants, Hosiery,Dra
peries, Piques, Poplins, Tissue Ginghams, Silk Poplins, etc.,
ridiculously marked down. Don't miss it. JUST RECEIVED
—a shipment of new Ginghams and Percales, the very latest
shades and patterns, and our prices as usual far less than
any other store in Hamilton.
SHOES! SHOES! SHOES!
Our entire Shoe stock must be turned into cash. If you
need any shoes for yourself and family don't miss this oppor
tunity and supply yourself for the Fall and Winter.
SPECIAL,
All Ladies' Oxfords and Pumps, black or tan
values to $8.50, go at
All Men's Oxfords, values to $11.50 n
go at
All Children's Slippers and Baby Dolls for less than whole
sale pr»ce.
MlMtMt
charges as an argument In favor of
the election of judges by popular vote.
"The court holds," says this news
paper, "that while the Lever law ap
plies to retailers of clothes and would
punish them for making a profit of
50 to 100 per cent, it does not apply
to the makers of materials for clothes
who may be making 300 per cent. It's
a net that catches the little fish, but
is not strong enough to catch the big
fish. They break through and get
away.
"The judges say that while clothes
are 'necessaries,' cloth of which clothes
are made is not a 'necessary.' So
cloth costing $2 a yard may legally
be sold for $6.
"Seldom have any millionaire cor
porations or officers of such corpora
tions ever been indicted, much less
convicted."
Pi 1* I*
BUY A BUILDING BOND
Outlet Sale!
^(.00, $10.00. $12.00
Slid
$15.00 Values
$2.85, $3 85, $4.85
NOTHING HIGHER—NOTHING RESERVED
HAMILTON'S
LEADING
LOW PRICE
STORE
PRESSMAN'S i
HAMILTON'S LEADING LOW PRICE STOKE
v
$3 95
I