South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-10-21
NO POLITICS IN
COAL SITUATION
WOoIIen, Democrat, Names
Three Republicans on Ad-
viSory Committee.
80 TImes specIaI servIce:

News Times Special Service:
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, oct 20
The appointment Of Evans Woollen
Of indianapolis as federal coal
director for Indiana, and Mr. Wool
lens sudden action thereafter in
naming his advisory committee for
the work. took all the politics out
OF the controversy that had arisen
in Indiana over this important job.
II has been charsed on all sides
that because the federal coal ad
ministration at Washington had
held up the naming of coal direct
or for> weeks. although Will G. IT
win of Columbus, had been recon-
mended for the appointment by the
republican state administration in
Indiana. partisan politics was be-
ing played.
At the same time when the name
of Mr.. Woollen-a democratic mem
Der Of the state council of defense
and a man Of the highest rank pro-
fessionalIy in Indiana-was sugges-
ed, the republican leaders scuTried
10 get on the band wagon, declar
ing that either Irwin or Woollen
would be a splendid man for the
place Then ensued a lot of under
ground work by both parties in
Indiana in an attempt 10 outwit
the other, with the result that Mr..
Woollen felt called on to refuse the
appointment when it first was made
and recommend. instead, MIR. IT.
win.
Makes HONIerS Look Silly.
Mr. Woollen finally was prevailed
on to accept the position and i'm
mediately he made the persons. who
had been crying politics look silly
when he named Mr. Irwin among
three republicans on his advisory
committee of four men. The other
two republicans were II. r. Kurrie,
president of the Monon railroad of
Rensselaer,, and II. L. Wilson, a
manufacturer and farmer of An
derson. The democrat named on
the committee was Charles Fox,
president Of the state federation Of
labor.
In this advisory committee Mr..
WoOllen has group of strong
minded. able men, who will make
the coal administration in Indiana
an entire success, if anything can
make il so. Mr.. WCollen's own
qualifications for the position are
so excellent that the republican
lieutenant governor. the republican
chairman of the state council of
defense and the republican chair
man of the public service commits
sion united in cOngratulating the
state and the federal administra-
ton on the appointment
Future Uncertain.
The future Of the coal admins
tration in Indiana, of course. is un-
certain. The coal business is in a
tangled situation now. Rumors that
great stores of coal have been
boarded I'm some places, while peo-
pie are facing freezing in other
parts of the state are current. Pub
lie utility operators in many places
are fearful that they will not be able
10 continue operation because of
lack of fuel. State institutions are
being operated on a hand to-mouth
policy SO far as their coal supply
is concerned, that is Of the deep
est moment TO the whole people Of
the state Transportation problems
are multiplying rapidly. Will Free
man, a prominent coal operator, who
is a member of the state council
Of defense, told the council this
week that much more coal is ready
for distribution at the mines than
cars can be supplied for Reports
of long tralnloads of fuel being
rushed from the Indiana mining
fields 10 the stricken northwest are
numerous. The coal prices 10 the
ultimate consumer have not been
decreased. 1t looks like the new
coal director will have a real job on
his hands from the day he opens
up his office.
Consumers Side.
The attitude Of Mr.. Woollen to-
wards the coal problem in general
Will be watched with great interest
by the state at large. During his
faithful and earnest service as a
mem Der Of the state council OF de-
Tense he has uniformly taken the
side Of the consumers in the out
rageous" situation which has pre-
Ndlltu III the lIuldlld lltlu. At the
same time he has been eminently
fair in his consideration Of all the
problems that state officials have at
tackled His quiet counsel has been
most effective in Strengthening out
tangles in many lines Of war activ-
ity His record as coal administra-
tor ought 10 be a splendid one. par
ticularly if the people of the state
swing in behind him and lend him
all the cooperation and support that
is their duty in the present ener-
cency. IL will be one long battle
against cold in Indiana this year
just as II will be in many another
state that is farther away from "a
domestic coal supply Many are
watching for price reductions. If
such are found 10 be possible.
With the municipal elections In
Indiana now at white heat, the In
dianapolis situation holds the center
of attention from a statewide party
standpoint. The dope has shift
ed several times in. the mayoralty
race here. Ii is the same at Evans
vile. south Bend. Terre Haute and
Fort Wayne. II seemed reasonably
certain that Lew Shank has been