Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-24
LIQUOR AND AC|TATORs
MUST LEAVE COAL FIELDS
Two Things Necessary to BE Done
Before Fuel Problem Can
Be Settled.
OPERATORS OFFER SOLUTION
One Speaker Urges That Labor Be
Conscripted and Men Forced to
Work-Ready to Get Behind Gar
Held, Coal Administrator.
[By Annotated prnhsl

10y As5oc1ateu pre6SI
PITTSBURGH, PA. October %
Eliminate the labor agitators from the
coal fields. prohibit by presidential de-
cree the selling OF liquor within Ave
miles Of any coal mine. give coal ship
ments preference on the railroads over
all other kinds OF freight with the ex-
ception of food and government sup
plies. and let every operator co-ope-
rate with Federal Fuel Administrators
Garfield. and the shortage OF coal viii
end. declared more than 1000 coal ope-
rators. representing practically every
held Of consequence in the country. in
"a meeting here to-day under the au-
spices Of the National Coal Associa-
tion.
Fuel Administrator Garfield, in an
address before the operators. pleaded
for leaders OF the industry to lay aside
all differences and get behind Prcsi-
dent Wilson in the fight against Ger
many. He made no reference TO any
possible increases in Soal prices by the
government or to the demands of the
miners In the Pennsylvania. Ohio and
Illinois fields for increased wages.
Unless the coal problem is solved.
and solved speedily, the operators
agreed. the United States will be
greatly hampered in the war.
LABOR CONSUMPTION
URGED BY SPEAKER
While no action was taken on the
labor question. it was considered by
tho meeting and treated in a number
OF addresses. CONSUMPTION Of labor II
the emergency demands II, was urged
by John +. Reese. OF Gillespie. Ills.
general manager of the coal properties
Of the Chicago and Southwestern Rail-
road. who declared:
III the government has the right to
set price on coal and food, and raise
money TO equip an army. It Is able to
say to the American laborer, you must
work.
We all agree the world must be
made safe for democracy. The labor
Ing men, and especially the miners.
must be made to realize that they
must produce coal to whip the Kaiser.
President Wilson and Mr.. Garfield have
hesitated to conscript labor. They do
II In other coutries. The maternity Of
the American miners are ready 20 do
their Bit but about l5 per cent OF
the men engaged in that line of in
dustry do not have any respect for
citizenship or trade-unions. They
treat agreements like the Kaiser
treated the sacred International trea-
ties. We must reach that body Of
men who are raising HI in the min
ing country. Wildcat strikes must
be eliminated, and 1t is up to Mr. Gar
field and his department TO do 1t. even
labor conscription."
A resolution. offered by F. Fl. knight.
OF South Bethlehem. Pa, asking that
the association forward to President
Wilson a protest against the sale OF
intoxicating liquor within radius Of
i've miles OF a coal mine was adopted
una nirnously.
TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM
RECEIVING ATTENTION
The problem OF transportation. which
the coal men assert is one of the causes
OF shortage. Is receiving attention. the
inefficiency OF labor. regardless Of
whether union or nonunion. is another
phase that is being put forcibly be-
fore the operators and the actual
necessity of the industry co-ordinating
as q unit to uphold the government
In coping with the present coal crisis
is still another feature receiving at
tention.
While these questions have been
given attention by local organizations
Of operators in the individual fields,
never before has the entire industry Of
tho country got together to consider
them.