South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-11-18
Call Upon People to Aid
The Fuel Administration
News Times Special Service:

News Times Special Service:
INDIANAPOLIs. Nov. Il. - The
success Of the fuel administration
IN Indiana depends upon the ability
Of the people IN each county 90 CO.
operate under the direction Of the
county fuel administrator en- meet
ing their own problems. That the
coal problem is "a peoples problem"
was made very apparent In the
meeting OF the county fuel admins
traitors in Indianapolis Tuesday aft
ernCon and in those communities
where citizens expect everything 10
be done for them" while they do
very little for themselves, the fuel
administration will not be a success.
Three very significant statements
along this line were made before
this conference and the men who
made them. by virtue Of their posi-
tions. should challenge the most
thoughtful reflection on their words
by every individual.
Stacks View OF IL.
L. Ert Slack, the United States
district attorney. said when an
nouncing that the police Of his office
would be prompt and vigorous pros
ecutiOn OF every violator OF the fuel
regulation law:
II shall take two views OF each
failure TO comply with this law.
First. il Is a violation OF the federal
law and. second, il is giving aid and
comfort 10 the enemy of the United
States. We are in war. which de-
mands Of you, as a citizen, more than
ever before has been demanded.
None OF US ever have had such re-
possibilities as are now placed
upon US. The people must know this
and cut their cloth accordingly. This
final regulation is a war measure
and we must get that clearly in
mind. II is a part Of our military
organization 10 regulate the coal
supply. If the fuel problem was
purely an economic proposition we
might have debate on it, But il is
a war measure and we must and we
viii stand on it fiat footed"
Whoever has the least conception
OF the necessities for fuel admins
tration in the United States knows
that IL exists because OF the unusual
war demands on American coal and
ne will see. at once, that the eff
cheney OF our fighting forces. partic-
ularly our navy. depends upon the
success Of the fuel administration.
In Germany. as early as March,
1915. families were delivering 10 the
government the copper and bronze
cooking utensils and vessels Of
whatever nature. At the same time
French peasants We're, voluntarily.
taking from their hiding places the
French gold they had saved erd lit
orally rushing 20 the government
with it, At that time, though there
was no immediate necessity for such
actiOu. Germany was issuing bread
tickets and limiting the -four that a
family might purchase and use.
These things were done because
everyone realized that they should
he done if the needs OF the future
were TO be met, without intolerable
distress.
\ Necessary War Measure.
Coal regulation in the United
states is likewise a war measure and
10 may be necessary. in order 10 win
the war for citizens Of the United
states TO give to the government
not cooking utensils and boarded
gold. but coal This giving will be
done by reducing the domestic con-
sumption To a point which will but
l.eep the household from freezing.
To conserve the coal. to cooperate
with the government in the fuel
regulation law. is as much a patri-
otic service and "A patriotic response
biity as 20 buy Liberty bonds or as
10 join the army, or support the Red
Cross IL is a part OF each citizens
contribution TO victory that he use
not single lump OF coal more than