Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1918-01-17
RAILROADS BLAMED
FOR COAL SHORTAGE
Coal Miners Claim They Have
Done all Possible to Relieve
the Situation; Pleasure Re-
sorts Closed

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. l7.-Leaders
among the 1,50O delegates here from
the twenty one coal producing states
of the country, attending the biennial
convention of the United Mine Work
crs Of America, expressed sympathy
today for people and business inter
ests in many sections that are suffer
ing from fuel shortage in the present
severe weather.
Realize Seriousness
The announcement from Washing
ton, shutting down manufacturing in
dustries for five days made the min
ers realize more than ever beorc the
seriousness OF the situation and the
Importance of their work to the com
fort and prosperity Of the people. As
serious as the situation Is, the miners
say they feel they have done all that
is possible under present conditions
to relieve the situation.
Railways at Fault
The trouble is with the railways" ;"
said John Z. White, former president
| Of the miners union, who is now as.
sociated with National Fuel Admin.
istrator Garfield as labor adviser. Mr.
White, who is attending the conyen
tion as a delegate, said:
1T is not a question of production
There is plenty OF production, but the
railroads cannot move the coal that
is mined. There are miners walking
the streets in mining towns right now
unemployed. because the railroads Dc
not furnish cars.
There are miles and miles of load
ed coal cars on railroad tracks tina
are not moving. The trouble is tn
country has outgrOwn the railroads
The railroads have not kept the pace.
I Men Are Kept Idle
Mr.. Whites remarks regarding idl
time among the miners was cOnirme
I in talks with many delegates from dill
, fcrrnt parts OF the country. One lead
| cr said there is no general idIcncs
, anywhere. but that in spots. man,
, spots. he said, men are not working
full time because OF the lack of raj
. road cars. In the central Ponnsy
yania bituminous fields. one dclcgat
: said, some miners are working on al
average OF three and four days a wecl
FOR the last three or four weeks.
/ Unable TO Get Timber
In parts of the anthracite region.
; coal companies are not only unabl,
, to get cars but are not able to &c
, sufficient timber, because of railroa,
congestion to timber the mines. Thi:
means that operations must be sus
pended until the working places ar,
made safe for the men.
The miners today received praC
tiCal demonstration of what Goa
shortage means. Their convention aC
jourred before noon until tomorro,
to permit committees to meet. Thi
gave more than thousand of ther
an afternoon off, but there vas II
: place to go; because the county fu,
administrator last night ordered a
= thcatcrs, moving picture houses, bow
ing alleys, billiard and pOolroom
= lodge rooms. salons and churches
close at once and remain closed unit
further notice. There was some grun
=, bling among the miners over their r
!, strIcted freedom, but all realized III
, probable necessity OF the action.
n The convention did very little I
" day. Former President White mat
stron gplca for the ratification
the Washington wage agreemCl
through which the miners rccciv,
an advance in wages.
E The early adjournment for the d,
enabled committeeman 10 consider
ID large amount Of business To come b
id fore the convention. There will be
IL contest over the question OF droppil
d. the foreign language section of Il
10 Mine Workers Journal Forcil
20 speaking miners arc opposed 10 It al
re- thcy have tho support OF some Of {
~ English.spcaking delegates. The CO
rt lincss Of maintaining the foreign g.,
40 tion Is given as tho reason for tn,
m proposed elimination. but the effort
AS hmcriCanizc foreign speaking mine
by encouraging them to usc tho lar
cg uagc Of their adopted country Is 50
w to be a factor in the move.