Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-09-20
Boston. Sept. Is. 1917.
STATE COMMITTEES APPEAL,

To the Coal Dealers Of Vermont:
The coal situation in Vermont is such
that the dealers need not to be further
informed Of the seriousness nor Of the
actual suffering there will be the COM
ing winter unless more coal comes into
Vermont now.
Governor Horace F. Graham appointed
sometime since a committee Of three:
Hugh j. NJ. Jones. chairman. Of Mont
pelier. Frank H. Brooks of st. Johns
bury. and George T. Chaffee Of Rutland,
to cooperate for Vermont with a New
England coal committee. Of which COM
mittee James ]. Storrow. ESQ.,. is the
efficient chairman.
The Vermont committee has for some-
time been e~ndeavoring to inform locally
he situation In Vermont. Thus far Moth
ing but general statements Of the bad
situation in Vermont has been obtained.
We can get no coal for Vermont on any
general statements. We a specific in
formation. backed by figures and facts,
showing actual conditions in the different
towns Of Vermont. With such infcr-
nation the committee believes 1t cur get
at least more coal into Vermont han
is now coming. 1t will make a desperate
effort to do this but 1t must nave the
cooperation of all coal dealers to this
end. It is not now a question of whether
this or that dealer. or the committee, Is
to blame for not getting more coal into
Vermont. 1t boils down to the question
as to whether we are going to freeze
in Vermont next winter, or whether the
coal dealers will act at once with the
committee in preventing any such serious
situation as how seems can be prevented
by the most patriotic action on the part
of all.
The public will not longer stand for
any petty jealousy among local coal
dealers II they will withhold facts that
may mean coal comfort this winter. II
we do not get such the people will just
ly criticise. Lack Of initiative and CO.
operation thus far has prevented the
committee from pulling a strong oar tina
will land coal in Vermont.
At a meeting Of as many of the coal
dealers as could be hurriedly called to-
gether last Wednesday evening. Septem-
Der 18th, the following resolution was
unanimously adopted.
"Whereas; the fuel situation in Ver-
mont is serious in view Of a marked
shortage in the several kinds and sizes
Of coal and wood; and whereas; it is
imperative that immediate steps be taken
to cause the shipment of coal from the
mines into Vermont that there may be
no suffering among our people during
the winter months: and whereas; there
is a probability that such shipments may
be secured through the agency of the
New England coal committee pro-
viding this committee can secure
through the Vermont committee infor-
nation regarding the amount of fuel on
hand and the amount still required to
meet the reasonable demand in the sew
eral towns and cities in the State there
fore be It resolved that we, coal dealers
of Vermont assembled in Burlington at
the urgent call of the Vermont coal COM
mittee, do hereby pledge our loyalty and
full co-oepartion to said committee in
order that definite information as rc-
cards the amount Of coal on hand in
various sections of the State may be
quickly obtained: and to also urge other
dealers not present at said meeting to
render the same cooperation at once
and he IL further resolved. that we be-
lieve II possible to get prompt ade-
ouate shipments of coal into Vermont
when the dealers In all parts Of the
state respond at once to the call of said
COMMITTEES for the information they must
have. and have at once"
The spirIt of the meeting was patriotic,
enthusiastic and most promising. What
in now needed is to get all of the dealers
in a like frame of mind and to have
than forward the information impera-
tively NEEDED at once
Nv authority vested In us through APP
no,ntment by his excellency, Governor
Grahom we herewith request you to give
-. nromptly the desired information on
tha hank enclosed. We suggest that the
,oca, coal dealers drop at once any DIFF
rerances of prejudice and come together,
comnare notes on the situation In their
district. and see to 1t that nothing but
fair and faithful statement be made "a