The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-05-15

proved August 20, 1916, providing
that Council or National Defense be
established ''for the cooperation of
the industries and resources for the
national security and welfare, to con-
sist of the Secretary of War, the Sec
rotary of the Navy, the Secretary OF
the Interior, the Secretary of Agri-'
culture, the Secretary of.sCOmmerce,
and the Secretary of Labor" author
ity is given the council to organize
subordinate bodies for it's assistance
and cooperation.
Pursuant to this authority the
Council of National Defense has APP
pointed. MI, Francis IS. Peabody,
chairman oSnd with authority to
appoint a committee on coal produc-
ton, Representative of the coal-pro-
ducing districts throughout the Uni
ted States. 1t is the intention that
the members of this committee shall
act as chairmen of subcommittee to
be appointed by-them in their respec-
tive districts
In approving the appointment of
this commtMee and laying before 1t
sns work t e eo ao.
erative spirit already shown, by the
business men of the country in this
mobilization of the resources of the
United States "It would surprise the
nations of Europe to know how in
tense is the. spirit of loyalty on the
part Of our, business men and capital
lists You are at the very root
and foundation OF the great industry
the war i4R<f11sCTy THAT presents it
self on theA side of the water.
Now thkre are two ways OF
dealing with a problem of this kind.
Il. - 1v-<xv ora
of 1.-THE men already engaged in the
industry. The other. way is by COM
pulsion My experience in the Inter-
state Commerce. Commission led me
to believe that the larger men in the
railroad industry had quite as much
th s,D' t is N Sf al occasion
they would try to meetit. So, instead
of resorting to compulsion, instead of
taking over mines and great opera
ting plants, we are endeavor1ng to
put you men at your best. This war
is challenge to us.
The country at the present time in
the matter OF its fuel production is
e0R Motwithst shs incssssed pro-
duction of coal from practically every
district. the increasing requirements
to meet the needs of all classes Of
industry, as well as for the comfort
and welfare of the people and the
transportation of troops, munitions,
food, and other products, together
with the supplying of our allies, and
for our national professionally these
demands are liable to surpass the ca
pacity of our mines unless the full
cooperation of the mining, transport
ing, and distributing agents of this
iS
requires not only the development Of
the highest efficiency, especially on
account of a diminished supply of la
Dor used in the production OF coal,
but also in more comprehensive
methods of cooperation by the coal
producers with the transporting and
distributing agencies SO that not only
full production will be secured, but
also that this production finds its
way over our railroads into those CEN
tiers where the most urgent need ex-
lists. II the demand for this product
continues to increase it may be nee
essary that active steps be taken so
far as possible confine the dfstribu-
ton and use of it to those activities
which are more nearly vital to the
welfare and protection of the Nation.
That this may not effect an unneces-
.sarN hardship upon the domestic well
fare OF our people 1T ise necessary to
pr6nhote the closest cooperation, and
because of the duty laid upon us to
promote this welfare we urge upon
you that you cooperate with this
committee in it's efforts to promote
the largest production, the most equi-
table distribution, and the highest
use to produce the best economic re-
suits. No doubt an emergency exists,
) but tit is the belief of this committee
that with your hearty SUPPORT and
the Assistance of sfhe pubic in con-
serving supply, sufficient fuel can be
had to meet public necessity.
We believe that the first essential
toward an increased production OF
coal is a close cooperation between
mine employer and mine employee
and inasmuch as the United Mine
Workers of America and the mine
operators fnsseveral districts have al
ready pledgedAby joint resolutions to
thS Couh&h Sof National Defense un-
der whom this committee works, and
have nominated committees, the SER
vices of which have been offered to
the Council of National Defense to
this end, we now call upon the sew
eral committees to use their best and
continued efforts to increase, in sc
far as they are able to the produc-
by keeping the mines continuously al
wofk. avoiding LABOR disputes and un-
NECESSARY shitdowns. The operation
of well-established mines should not
be impeded and we suggest and urge
companies or communities to other
districts be discouraged, as this prac-
tice creates a state of unrest and
tends to decrease the total output OF
col, interfering with the stability OF
the industry which is unnecessary fol
the highest efficiency. An effort
should be made to instilI in the MIND
of the individual miner and operator
as well as the organized body, the
necessity of individual effort and con
tinuous performance SO far as(worE
is offered The miner or the com
pany's representative who remains a
work renders as patriotic service a:
the man at the front.
The total production of Goa
throughout the country has been ser
iously curtai1ed by difficulties II
transportation service and unequa
distribution of cars, resulting in shor
tage in the number of cars available
for loading, as well as congestion IL
the avenues leading to the points Of
distribution. We urge upon the op
orators that they pledge themselves
20 load oil oars ohfafpah1a N tht