The Battle for Washington Coal
Senator John L. Wilson rails against the federal government for favoring British Columbia coal over Washington mines to fuel American warships.
During a session in the House, Representative John L. Wilson of Washington challenged the administration's foreign policy regarding coal contracts. The American war steamer Yorktown was recently observed coaling in British Columbia, despite local mines in Washington producing coal of equal quality. 'Now, my people are in distress,' Wilson stated. 'They need work and they want to develop their own coal mines. They want the government of the United States to give its contracts to the laboring people of the United States.' Senator Perkins added that while Washington coal was efficient, navy officers preferred harder, cleaner coal so as not to throw cinders upon their clothing made of foreign wool, sparking laughter in the chamber.
“The officers prefer a harder coal that does not throw any cinders upon their suits of clothing made of foreign wool.”
This reflects the perennial struggle of Washington's resource-based economy seeking federal favor. The irony of officials complaining about 'cinders' on their fancy suits while workers struggled for survival remains a sharp critique of political elitism.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.