Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 December 1908 — STATES THAT BAER WORRIED OVER POOR [ARTICLE]

STATES THAT BAER WORRIED OVER POOR

Hearing In New York Brings Back Coal Strike Bays. New York, Dec. 4.—ln the government’s suit against the alleged combination of coal producers and carriers for violation of the Sherman anti-trust law, C. D. Simpson was asked about the sale of collieries to the Temple Iron company. He said; “I met Robert Bacon of the J. P. Morgan firm, and he asked my price for properties I controlled. I answered and he replied: ‘Too much.’ I didn't know the collieries were sold until I received a $5,000,000 check.” Questioned about a contract with the Phiiade.phia and Reading railroad following the big strike in 1902, by which the road was to take all his coal at the tidewater price of 65 per cent of the selling prace, Mr. Simpson said: “After the strike we could get almost any price for the coal. President George F. Baer of the Philadelphia and Reading wanted to keep the price down. I protested and he said we were getting our 65 per cent. I knew that but we could get $lO or more a ton then. ’Who’ll protect the poor if the price of coal is put up now?' asked President Baer. “I replied: ‘You protect the poor if you want to, and I’ll protect the rich.”