Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 December 1886 — HOW DO YOU LIKE $8 COAL? [ARTICLE]

HOW DO YOU LIKE $8 COAL?

DEALERS SAY IT MAY REACH THAT PRICE BEFORE SPRING. The indications are that coal will take another jum p during the next tw nty days. The Chicago Coal Exchange held a meeting yesterday afternoon, and, while the price of coal was not m.-ntioned, there are outside combinations working that will raise the cost of it materially. All the shippers stave received notice that after ihe Ist of next mon‘h the freight from Buffalo to Chicago will be increased 25 cents per ton, making it $2 instead of 81.75 as at present. The dealers say they cannot themselves aland the advance and the result will be that it will come out of the buyer. Hard coal is now selling at 86.75 and 87 per ton and soft coal all the way irorn 84 to 86.50, and the prospects of stopping a further jump are not pleasant. “The gen ral public say we are forming combinations and almost look upon us as a set of thieves,” said a prominent dealer yesterday after the exchange had adjourned; “while the truih of the matter is we are not responsible for the raises. You don’t see coal men owning houses out on Michigan avenue or becoming very rich, do you?— The only one who makes any pretensions to being wealthy is Robert Law, and he brought his money here with him and is engaged in other schemes. .1 tell you, the coal dealers do not make any money. V\ e are not responsible because the railroads raise freight im us, are we? Now, just let’s see how much mone y there is in this coal business. You take the operator, for instance. It costs him about 8150,000 to put up his machinery, and he has to pay 70 cents a ton to get the coal out. The circular price to the dealer is $5.75, and they are now selling it to dealers at 25 cents above (lie circular price. Tne dealer cannot make more than 81 out of it at best, and after you have deducted 50 cents for hau ing that leaves him only 50 cents net profit. Instead of the Coal Exchange conspiring against the consumer, it really protects him, as it k ? eps unscrupulous dealers from charging more than the market price, and regulates matters generally.’’ Another dealer thought rang® coal might go unto $8 be-‘ore spring Nearly all tlie poor people in Chicago buy their coal by the bushel, paying from 50 to 35'ceii s for it, .md their coal cost* them, about 812 a ton. There is no regulation to this classo; trade. Chicago Her-

An interviewer recently asked Con essman Reagan, of. Texas: '• \\ hat do you consider the prospects of the Democratic party are, and what measures would you recommend to promote its futur success?” “If it goes along trying to compromise with outside elements its chances of success will depend upon whether the people will tolerate itgor the republicans again.— 1 do not approve of the milk and cider platform of 1884. Our people want a strong out-and-out declaration of principles. The people of the wHole country will demand a reduction of taxation. The time is soon coming when we will be unable to use the surplus money by redeeming bonds. They will not consent to congress appropriating money to outside purposes, as for education, or for distribution among the states to keep up a high tariff and rob many for the benefit of the few. Ido not blieve the democratic party will ever be placed on a solid foundation until we distinctly and squarely antagonize the whole robber policy of the republican party —for instance, such acts as that, of 1839, paying bonds in gold, thus robbing the tax-payer in the interest of the money-lender, and the act of 18712 suspending the coinage of silver, the funding of $400, 000,000 of legal tenders. The granting to corporations of 200, 000,000 acres of public lands, the transfer of many million dollars annually from (he pockets of the many who use these articles to the few who make them, is a standing menace to the prosperity of this country. The money pjwer knows that the republican party belongs to them, and the government belonged to them as long as the republican party had it under their con Hoi. When i

we get our consent to declare for a tariff for revenue, that gold and silver shall be the money of this country, that the government shall be run in interests of the people, then we will sweep the country from one end to the other. Until we do that we are not worthy to be called the democratic ''arty. The grange, the greenback, the labor move shows a spirit of unrest in the people, and that this country is going to have a party that will represent the labor and agriculture of thi# count y, as well as the corporations and monopolists—l do not mean one hostile to wealth — and 'f the democratic party fails to be that party, the people will have one. It ought to boldly r.ssume the defense of the rights of the people, and tlie control of the corporations and monopolists, and make itself what Jefferson and the great fathers of the democracy meant it to be- a party of the people.” When the republican Senatorial obstruction is once removed, the Democratic House will be enabled to bring about the state of things suggested by Judge Reagan. We call attention of our readers to an advertisement of the Chicago Cottage Organ Company in another column, and we take pleasure in recommending to the general public a company whose Organs have attained a popular reputation for their superior musical qualities, art stic beauty, and general excellence. This company ranks among the largest and best in the United States, having capacity for manufacturing 1200 Organs per month, and its organs are shipped into nearly every inhabitable portion of the globe. The members composing the firm of the Chicago Cottage Organ Company are men of experience, in tegrity, skilled in their line, con duct their business on an equitable basis, and their future is destined to be a bright one. Buy overcoats for your boys at Ralph Eendig’s. He has a splendid stock, good goods, ~t the lowest figures.