Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-10-18
COAL SUPPLY CUT.
100000 TONS DAILY.
BY MINERS STRIKE.
GOVERNME MT WILL TAKE HAND
IN SQUABBLE IF HURRIED
STEPS ARE NOT TAKEN TO END
DISPUTE.

Springfield, ILL.,, Oct. lS.-Nlth b0th
State and Federal fuel dictators main
tanning absolute silence on the dom
mating issue Of the date for the price
tixing of coal in Illinois the strike of
80. 900 coal miners continues today
Latest reports received this morning
hy leading coal operators here ind'
cate the strike TO be spreading rapid
~, despite the demands OF the FED
eral and Union ohiCiais insisting the
men return to work at once. by the
enforced idlpness Of the mines opera
tors estimate daily shortage in pro
duction throughout the state of nearly
5gC.0Gg tons 1,ls, they say, portends
grave possibilities Of fuel famine
poiutiug to the fact when mines re
sumo operations. coal production
which has SO deprecated by the
strike. would require twenty-lour hour
shifts TO reach normal Hven then 1t
is declared, the Danger would not be
entirely aycrtod as order Wouln IN
crease in number with the cold wealth
or coming on
That the 1000 miners striking IN
Springfield may return to work soon
"a seen here by coal operators IN the
announcement that the strikers pro
posed holding mass meeting TINS al
,ernoon 10 discuss the situation. Inc
meeting is declared to he Tor the puf-
hpnse of determining concerted actieh
nm the part ol the Illinois coal miners
aud To do away with Irregular local
strikers" A day may also be select
ed at which all miners IN me state
vim either 20 out or return to work
Reports received by operators mere
this morning show that following
mining districts and number OF men
affected by the strike.
Eighteen of the "A mines IN Sanga-
mon county. Four operating are
Springfield district mining companied
mine at cora; Sangamon Mine No q
Chicago Springfield mine ana the
Lincoln Park Colliery, $500 men out
Garfield Worried by Strike.
Washington. oct Is Or. Harry a.
Garfield, federal fuel administrator al
uit'cd today that the situation in the
central coal fields where some 1o'ooo
miners are already on strike ana oth-
Yer walhouts are threatened looks
serious
He said he had ntohing to add to
what he said yesterday when he IN
timaled that unless the miners I'M
me1iaiely discontinued their efforts
to bring pressure to bear upon nm 10
increase coal prices in order that they
might have increases in pay
! 81 am still giving the subject OF
increases my whole attention. he SAID
"and | hope soon To be able 10 an
nounce a decision that will clear up
/ the whole matter
John r. White, president OF the
! United Mine Workers. and MEMBER
of the fuel administration talked WIN
divisional headquarters in the central
district over the telephone today ana
urged that every effort be made 10
get The men to return to work. un
less the strikes come to nan ~
once, White will so to Illinois to cope
with the situation in person.
White conferred with Garfield today
and assured him that oil Union Off
cials depore the failure Of the men
10 abide by The agreement reached
in Washington two weeks ago He
; believes, however, that he will be able
} TO get the men back in line when the
details Of the situation have been
. Explained to them.