South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-07-19
WORK To CHOKE
INDIANA MINES
Charges of Mysterious "ln-
fiuence" Made by State
Council of Defense.

INDIANAPOLIs, Ind, July 10
Charges that enemy influences
are at work 10 curtau the produc
ton Of coal in Indiana and an ap
peal 10 both operators and miners
in this state % combat the alleged in
nuence were made ia a formal state
uent issued late Wednesday 10y the
state council OF defense. The state
fuent issued by the council is over
The signature OF Charles Warren
Fairbanks. former vice president Of
the United States. Charles Fox, presi
dent Of the state federation Of labor.
and Evans Wooden of indianapolis.
an members Of a special committee
OF the state council.
Definite Information as 10 the ma
ture OF the alleged enemy influence
is lacking i'm the statement, but il
was said after the meeting that
charges in no way reflected on mine
workers union organization. vii
liam Green. secretary treasurer of
the United Mine Workers Of America,
said Wednesday night that he did
not know what the influence might
Dee as no information has reached
the Headquarters concerning them.
Influence" Not Definite.
no was said by others that the al
legged Influence" was more i'm the
nature OF efforts directed against I'm
di.idua, miners and groups rather
than at or through the union organ
izatiOns. After the meeting OF the
council IL was said the information
laid before It had not been definite
enough for pointing out any specific
instance but all felt some outside
influence was at work. The council
held a long conference behind closed
doors at which all phases of the sub
iect were discussed before deciding
to make "a public appeal and focus
attention on the situation.
The appeal, directed ito the pro-
ducers of coal" follow.
You are just as important in this
war as the producers of shells or
the producers of food. The war
cannot be won without you.
"WiH you not let us call 20 your
attention certain facts2
THE consumption Of coal is vast
D. increased on account of the war.
We speak soherly and not as alarm
lists when we say there is sub
stantiaI chance of "a coal shortage.
Indeed. We are afraid OF such a
shortage next winter that great
bodies OF our people will suffer
grievously and the conduct Of the
war Will be impaired.
Time NOW Precious.
The next few weeks are precious.
While the railroads are able 10 give
service they will be unable 10 give
later. and while the weather favors
production and transportation we
should mine every last ton that can
possibly be mined.
eve have dependable information
that enemy influence is az work to
curtail the mining Of coal lin Indi
ana. and we call ON you, operators
and miners. as patriots TO combat
that influence and 90 permit no diff
ference TO lessen the supply of
what IS essential to our common de-
Tense"
James r.. Reach Of the special
food production committee Of the
council submitted "a report from his
committee. in which were outlined
various steps that are 20 he taken
by the county councils of defense
throughout the state 10 organize
communities FOR the conservation of
food. The principal recommends
ton was that local communities he
urged to use their own food supplies
and thus eliminate costly transpor
tatiou charges wherever possible.