Evening Star Newspaper, April 7, 1935, Page 41

Millions in Bootleg Coal (Continued From First Page). which are spent for mining supplies, house rent, food and clothing. The question naturally arises, if the bootleggers can sell 5,000,000, or even 3,000,000 tons of coal a year, why | can’'t the coal companies run their mines and get this busincss? Let the | general msnager of one of the coal | companies answer. ‘“The coal com- panies,” he says in substance, “canfiot produce coal as cheaply as the bootleg miners. They are bound by the union wage agreement of 1930. which com- pels them to pay outside workers $462 a day and underground men $5.96. Moreover, the mine operator must use safety devices in his mine, employ safety engineers and pay acci- dent compensation. He must employ check weighers and furnish weight certificates. He must maintain the quality of his product; his coal must be thoroughly cleaned, sized and ‘washed. “I sympathize with the plight of the unemployed mir >rs, but the mines were closed by cold, hard, economic facts.” Retail coal dealers in the area cov- ered by the coal truckers have raised a hue and cry over the invasions of their markets and have endeavored to | gtir up city governments to prohibit | or limit coal trucking. In Philadel- | phia, for instance, an ordinance was recently passed, effective January 1, | requiring any person or firm engaged | in the coal business to secure licenses and abide by certain rules which were | designed to check sales of the bootleg | product. | Short weight has been a frequent complaint of purchasers of bootleg coal. The saying goes in the anthra- | cite field that the bootleg trucker buys | five tons, gets six and sells seven. | In Philadelphia, again. the Bureau | of Weighis and Measwes has had 20 inspectors on the streets since | September 1 investigating complaints | and checking weights of cogl deliv- eries. In one fortnight they weighed | 196,029 pounds—the total shortage was 53,771 pounds, or 27 per cent. The Pennsylvania State highway patrol has carried on an active cam- | paign against coal truckers for sev- | eral years on the score of tmmc-lawi violations. While the daylight motorist may count his coal trucks by the hundred, | the heaviest travel of bootleg coal is | “by night. Probably a thousand coal | trucks are moving every night. The highway police work night after night. checking licenses, equipment and | weights. But bootleg truckers have developed a system of signals to warn each other, and loaded trucks are often detoured around danger points. Efforts to Obtain Action. Various efforts have been made to induce the State government to take action. In September, 1932, the presi- dents of the anthracite districts of the | United Mine Workers of America and the international secretary-treasurer of this organization appealed to the Governor of Pennsylvania to stop bootleg coal mining and distribution on the ground that it works injury to | the anthracite industry and to the} men legitimately employed in it. | Some of the larger coal companies | have asked for State police to protect | their property. These requests were refused by Gov. Pinchot. The atti- | tude of the newly inaugurated ad- | ministration at Harrisburg is eagerly awaited. | Meantime a curious industry is rapidly developing. Many of the | bootleg holes look like mere animal burrows. Equipment is of the crudest | sort, built by the miners themselves. | It is significant, however, that some | new materials are now appearing here | and there; some of the operators are making enough to improve their classes of former mine labor at the openings. As you talk with them, what have they to say for themselves? Taken all together, what they say runs something like this: “Week after week you go to the colliery looking for work. The mine is shut down, or anyway, they have no job for you. The time comes you | have no money to buy food. What is a man going to do? “You call this stealing the coal. Maybe s0; but I had rather steal the coal than go crying to the relief. I |eThe Avenus"—Tth, Sih aad © 515 THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, APRIL 7, 1935—PART TWO. had rather work and feed my family. Even if you have to get rellef, it is not enough to live decently. I had rather work and earn something. “The coal companies did not make the coal. It is there in the earth, They bought the land a long time ago for not much money. Sometimes no- body knows how they got hold of the land. “We worked for the collieries and helped them make big money for years. But the coal companies shut down. They .left us to look out for ourselves. This is the only way we can do it.” Their way is a remarkable phe- nomenon—rugged individualism, 1935 model. Tts virtues and vices alike cry aloud for revision of the economic order which has produced it. -9 FOR YOUR OLD RANGE Toward the Purchase of This Modern Detroit Star GAS RANGE Regularly $64.95. Less $15 Allowance... MODERN plants. - One material that the miners must | have is explosives. If 5000000 tons | of coal are being mined in a year by | unemployed miners, then between 2,000,000 and 3,000,000 pounds of ex- | plosives are being used by them. Some ’ explosives manufacturers have re- fused to sell to unemployed miners. However, others have sold to all| comers. And truckers buy dynamite outside the bootlegging area. A large part of these two or three million pounds of high explosives is being distributed without the slightest regard for, often in total ignorance of, safety regulations. Dynamite and other explosives are sold over the counter like sugar and salt by stores which have no proper magazine for their safe keeping. Explosives and detonators are being stored in garages, barns, outhouses and even dwellings. As might be expected among forme! members of the United Mine Workers of America, organization has not been | neglected by the bootleggers. There | are at least half a dozen organized | groups of miners. The Shamokin In- | dependent Operators’ Association and | the Ashland Association are vertical | organizations including miners, prepa- j ration plant owners, truckers and | sales agents. Something of their size‘ can be deduced from the fact that the Shamokin Association is known to have 750 truckers in its membership. In Baltimore there is an organization: maintained coal yard to handle orders. In Washington bootleggers have ad- vertised their coal for sale in the newspapers. Thus, out of the chaos of several thousand small independ- ent bootleg operations, an organized industry is spontaneously and speed- | 1ly developing. Not a Tough Lot. ‘The more you see and hear, how- ever, as you go about the anthracite | fleld, the more sharply your interest focuses upon the bootleg miners | themselves. What manner of men are they? You hear many tales of strife and violence among them. ‘With these as a background and with the specific warning in your ears that the bootleggers are a tough lot, you‘ approach your first bootleg hole with trepidation. Perhaps you may find, as I did, a couple of mild-mannered, middle-aged men sitting on a pile of screenings smoking their pipes. They rise to see what you want and answer your questions in the most matter-of- fact way. There are three of them. The third | is down the shaft digging coal. Two of them had been miners, the other had worked on the railroad. Their shaft is 25 feet deep. When they had driven along the vein at its base they struck an old mine breast. It has 8 feet of good coal. They get out about three tons a day. They run their coal over a half-inch screen and sell it for $4 a ton. ‘You might be talking to a couple of farmers about their crops and their markets! 8o it goes from opening to opening. ‘You meet the same quiet, matter-of- fact reception, the same willingness to give information. Everywhere work goes on while you talk. | Among the older men are many lads, white-faced, anemic- looking boys, who have come to work- ing age within the last three or four | years and have never been able to get a job. I asked a pair of them if they | had worked in the mines before they began bootlegging. “No,” replied one with a sardonic grin, “this is what you do when you finish high school.” | It may likewise be what you do when | you finish college. The writer has | Jearned of six college graduates | among the bootleggers, two of them graduate mining engineers. 4\t any rate, you encounter all -*49.95 —Choose this or any other MODERN Gas Range in our store—meaning any range that has complete insulation —oven heat control—all- porcelain exterior—automatic top - burner lighting and American Gas Association Iaboratory approval. —Buy on the Budget Plan, which includes small carry- ing charge. SpecialSale of 32-Pieces DINNE —Beautiful service for six. Four differ- s ent patterns—Fern rose, golden daisy, majestic and elite— all with platinum R SETS 3.98 iines and all on cream body. © 6 Cups & Saucers © 6 Bread & Butters © 1 Vegetable Dish Dinner Plates Fruit Dishes o6 o6 ©® 1 Meat Platter 60 in. Double Door WARDROBE to 89c¢ -—nm-xma folding, i;l n'blu, e —Wall or ling dusters with =10, handes. o CLOSETS ... 79- —Dustproof and damp proof closets that will hold from 8 10 garments. @ 9x12 Mothproof Rug Wraps, 69c 3—60-in. Cedarized Garment Bags @ 3—1-1b. Pkgs. Camphor Balls, 29¢ ©® Reefer’s Cedarmatic Complete, 95¢ © Reefer's Mothine Complete. .. 50¢c ® Reerfer's Cedarmatic Refills, 85¢ 99¢ style -q-huma iron- burners wi né‘g:'«h and raited bottoms. I 39¢ —&H-'rlal\nl floor e $1 ornament yard. .98 37¢ t bird nl.uet‘ln Pour - sewed selected for the gm brooms with ng smooth handie. —Weatherproof ANTI-RED PROGRAM URGED-BY DR. WIRT Declares Factual Education Need- ed to Combat Propaganda of Radical Minorities. By the Assoclated Press. CHICAGO, April 6.—Dr. William A. ‘Wirt, superintendent of the Gary, Ind., public schools, and author a year ago of charges of radicalism against offi- cials of the Roosevelt administration, Reconditioned HOOVER Cleaners $17.95 —These cleaners have been thoroughly reconditioned at the Hoover factory—equipped with new parts. And guaranteed for 1 year. No Mail or Phone Orders Sale Triple Coated Enamelware 69¢ ea. © 10-qt. Water Pails 0-qt. Oval Dishpans t. Tea Kettles ©® 6-gt. Dinner Kettles ® 6-gt. Dinner Pots. @ 2-qt. Double Boilers —Moderp ivory enamelware with white linings—at a very special price. 2-Lb. Can Old English Paste Wax and !4 Pint Upholstery Cleaner $1.50 Value C Both for —Just the outfit you need for Sprlnfi housecleaning. Cleans your floors and furniture and makes them like new. “SPEEDY” Carpet Sweeper —Mahogany finished met- a1, sweeper with rubber tired wheels —1 y rniture Canister Sets $1.00 —Covered cans for tea, coffee and sugar and box in green or ivory en- ameled fin- ish with 8pring girl deco- 72x72-in. Shower Curtain . $1.39 —Miidew proof and water re- pellent. Attrac- tively designed. last night declared that an intelligent factual education on political and so- cial leaders was needed to combat shbversive propaganda of radical minorities. Speaking before the Illinois Society of the Sons ?f the American Revolu- tion, Dr. Wirt said that in passing through the last six years of economic depression without an overthrow of governmental institutions the Ameri- can people achieved a record in prac- tical patriotism and loyalty unpre- cedented in history. “But a continuation of this loyalty can be attalned,” he said, “only through the activity of patriotic or- ganizations in fostering the education of citizens in factual history.” the floor of the State encampment, “The veterans are sick and tired of this party and that party and want some one else to lead them,” Van Zandt declared. “Huey Long is not dumb, and he is the greatest showman in Washington at present. He may be able to take enough votes away from Roosevelt to let a Republican in.” —_—— Dislikes Hollywood Climate. NEW YORK (#)—Roland Young, motion picture and stage actor, was asked as he sailed for England whether he would return to Holly- wood. “I suppose I shall have to go back,” he sald. “It isn't making pictures that I dislike. It's the climate in Hollywood. 1It's too enervating.” LONG SEEN FORCING ADOPTION OF BONUS Third Party Threat May Prevent Veto by Roosevelt, Van Zandt Says. By the Associated Press. PHOENIX, Ariz., April 6.—James E. Van Zandt, commander in chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, told Arizona comrades here yesterday Huey Long and threats of a third party are worry- ing “the Democrats and might keep President Roosevelt from vetoing the bonus bill.” ‘The reference to Long and a third party movement drew applause from Linlarged GLIDER Dept. Opens Tomorrow FOURTH FLOOR —In this new and spacious section on our 4th floor, you will be able to browse around among the gay, colorful gliders. . .see them to better advantage, and find it more convenient in making selec- tions. And not only are values better than ever be- fore, but there’s a larger va- riety to choose from. Prices range from $11.95 to $39.95. Just 62 D9 GABRILOWITSCH BETTER Conductor May Be Out of Hospital Soon. DETROIT, April 8 (#).—Ossip Gabrilowitsch, conductor of the De- troit Symphony Orchestra, who has been undergoing treatment in Henry Ford Hospital for two weeks for a stomach disorder, probably will be discharged within the next two weeks, Mrs. Gabrilowitsch said today. The conductor became i1l in New York. LE - Picnics May Be Barred. Picnickers may be barred from Stonehenge, the ancient settlement in England. 4 Coil Spring GLIDERS Sold Early Last Season for $24.95—Special in This Sale at —We bought these gliders late last Fall, and that is the reason we can offer them now— right at the beginning of the season at this low price. But remember we only have 62—a good cause to shop early. They're all good looking gliders, covered with water-repellent materials in floral patterns. A small deposit will hold them for later delivery. Kann's—Fourth Floor. @ Metal arms—sway with the glider @ Stabilizer—prevents side swaying @ Six removable cushions @ Noiseless ball bearings @ Frames fold compactly A Surprise Purchase! 165 FINE INNER SPRING MATTRESS E.S and Box Springs —These mattresses were made for a large hotel—but who due to financial difficulties could not accept them at this time. The manufacturer offered them to us—and this sale is the result. They are fine custom-made mattresses, covered'with a durable ticking and filled with the best grade of highly tempered resilient coil springs, 180 to the full size. The box springs are the well-known 99-coil type, guaranteed for service and comfort. If you’re looking for a real value—here it is! Use the Budget Plan of Payment, which includes a small carrying charge. Kann's—Third Floor. 100 Regular 51095 and ¢$11.95 BASKET WEAVE FIBRE RUGS 9x12 and 8x10 ft. Sizes *8.88 —Unusually attractive and practical rugs for Summer—priced unusually low for so early in the season. A close basket weave of tough fibre with striking designs in bright colors. 6x9 ft.. . .$5.95 4x7 ft.. . .$4.95 3x6 ft....$2.45 27x54 in., $1.45 'MATTRESSES *13.9 BOX SPRINGS *14.99 ‘Room Size Belgian Mourzouk RUGS —A special purchase from a large jobber enables us to offer these well-known Mourzouk rugs to you at the time you're ing of new Summer floor coverings. 9x12 and 8x10 ft. sizes woven of tough fibre with striking designs in brilliant colorings. 6x9 ft.......$11.95 4x7 ft. 3x6ft...... 27x54 in.., 19.95