Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 June 1917 — DEMOCRATS WILL SWAT COAL PRICE [ARTICLE]

DEMOCRATS WILL SWAT COAL PRICE

Federal Government May Show Republican State Officials the Way. GREATHOUSE FOR CHAIRMAN Indiana Capital City Had Clean Bill to Present In Contest for Military Camp. By Willis S. Thompson. Indianapolis, June 13. —The federal government has entered the state to inquire into the reasons why coal should be costing more than several times a reasonable price, and why arbitrarily the coal operators should be advising the people to put in their winter supply if they-do not wish to pay still more. With the coming of the federal inquiry there is prospect that people may have an answer to some of these interesting questions. L. Ert Slack, United States district attorney, will act for the federal department of justice. While the Indiana public service commission got no further than to make the discovery that prices were high, limiting the punishment to the calling of ugly names to some of the operators, and concluding with the announcement that there was no remedy for the conditions, the commission got about as far as the people who understand conditions expected. But the people do not believe “there is no remedy.” The people have always believdU there was a remedy for such a coalition of highway robbery and burglary, else why are we in this war fighting for democracy and against autocracy? One of the hard-headed practical members of the. council for defense appointed by Governor Goodrich had an argument with an operator at one of the meetings the other day. The operator was commenting on how operators had been abused in the utterances of the public service commissions This member of the council reminded him that the young men who were enlisting to go to the front, one of the objects attained by the sacrifice of life and money being to protect such property interests as those of coal operators, might feel disposed to balk at sacrificing life for thirty dollars a month, when it was apparent that all the thirty dollars was to be taken away from the soldier’s family by the coal barons back home. There are conditions of ownership among the operators which did not serve to encourage consumers to expect any great things from their state government. For officials- however sincere, are not usually anxious to have their own oxen gored. But the federal investigation is not likely to respect persons or their likes or dislikes. It will probably insist upon answers to some important questions, however annoying they may be to ariy on€. And when it is over there is reason to believe some remedy will be found that will be effective. War prices need not prevail beyond the legitimate advances in the cost, of labor, of reasonable transportation charges and fair profits to operators. It might not be impossible for the government to become an operator on its own account as a war measure, and for the good of all the people it might be found to be a first-class arrangement permanently.

Earnest effort is being made by Indianapolis to secure the permanent military camp. Louisville won the temporary conscription camp. One of the government requirements made on all cities were clean surroundings, and in this the city of Indianapolis appealed especially. While things were, far from what they should have been when the Republicans capitulated to Mayor Bell and the Democrats, public gambling places, open saloon violations and undesirable vice conditions have been eliminated. An occasional violation appears, and because of its scarcity the unfriendly press exaggerates the discovery into matter of importance, and would give the impression that such conditions are the rule rather than the exception. ■ When the present city administration came into power, wide-open gambling and vice resorts were the rule and not the exception. Newspapers were silent on the subject. Lew Shank admits in all his- campaign speeches that persons connected with his administration levied tribute on these disreputable resorts. He says it was because of this he resigned. Indianapolis wishes to continue a clean city, and it is because of this, for one reason at least, that Dick Miller is receiving such generous support from voters of all political beliefs, as the Democratic nominee for mayor.

In discussing the selection of a Democratic state chairman, and the willingness of Charles A. Greathouse to serve, ,the Democratic press seems unanimous. The Fort Wayne JournalGazette expresses what is taken as a fair sample of the combined editorial opinions. It says: “Mr. Greathouse has all the qualifications. Young, energetic, original, enthusiastic, tactful, popular, progressive, he is just the man to lead the party of Woodrow Wilson in the next great battle. Although always interested in politics he has never been a politician in the wire-pulling, self-seeking sense. His record as superintendent of public instruction is brilliant. His work in connection with the introduction of vocational education into the schools of Indiana attracted the attention and admiration of educators 'throughout the nation. His work was constructive. It was constructive because his mind is constructive. And there is no room now for a party leader who is lacking in the constructive genius.”