The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-01-03
ERM0NT Goal
NEN GET TOGETHER
10 AID COUNTRY
First Meeting Last Night De
yeIoped into Notably
Patriotic Affair
MIN Tn Met WEEFIY
CUB TO MEET Weekly
Everything About it to be
Carried on With Utmost
Informally.

-
The new era is here! The 'get-to-
osetlaern and %'do-things" epoch has be-
gun as far as Fatmont is concerned!
The community spirit has been deVei-
eped until matters are handled on an
entirely different scale from that Gus
+onS Regulated In the past.
The Changes which Fafrmont has
undergone and which are coming 70
every city and town in northern West
Virginia were never more in evidence
than at the gathering Of coal men at
grhe Fairmont hotel last night when
the F'airmont Coal club sprang INTO
existence. The word "sprang" Is used
advisedIy for there was no regular or
sanitation, no officers elected, no OPP
pertunfty for factfonal fights at al
lust an assemblage Of patriotic citizens
who happen to be interested In the coal
business and realize that their govern
Taent needs them at this tine and
therefore seek more direct social ana
business intercourse that cooperation
may be complete.
The world moves along! Conditions
are constantly changing! History IS
befng madeI It is no longer the inter
ests OF the individual that stands su-
-Dretne but the good of ALL The sup
4
oershadows all else and individual aims
and ambitions are lost sight OF! That
was the tenor of half a dozen notable
addresses. George NJ. Alexander, who
introduced himself as being connected
with the Consolidation Coal company,
reminded tue coal operators OF the ser1-
Gus situation in which the country
finds itself and admonished them that
they must provide coal at less than
cost. if necessary, to save the nation at
this time, continuing along the strain
that it was not dollars that were at
stake but the future Of the country
George T. watson, manager Of opera
tons Of the same company, tore away
nny pretenseiof q purely social gather
ing that might have existed In some
minds, by declaring that this was
war meeting, that a, club Of Fairmont
coal folks was being organized for the
general advancement OF coal interests
n this section but that the immediate
duty Of such an organization was to AID
the government In the successful pros
ecution OF the war. Other speakers
were inspired by love of country. max
ing the gathering the most patriotic In
FspTacticaI way that has ever been held
In Eiairmont and assuring the success
OF the organization which came into e1-
Istence on such an eventful occasion
There were something like one hun
cred coal operators and important en-
ployeS Of such operations present. The
organization was suggested by G. H.
Jenkins, it developed, and started on
SO auspiciously through the efforts OF
"A. Brooks Fleming, Jr., who presided.
q viii meet every Wednesday at 1915
at The Falrmont hotel and the ses-
Eions will last but one hour. From
time to time speakers who are authori-
ties IN different branches in which coal
men are interested will be present
The new club will be conduct ID on the
plan Of every fellow paying his own
check, system which the war is eC-
couragfug. WheatIess meals will be
the order Of the day In the future.
Enough not strictly observed last night
The first speaker at the organization
OF the club was G. n. jenkins who eX-
pressed himself as pleased with the
large attendance. He admitted that
be had felt the need of such an organi-
Zatfon for some time but waited for
the new hotel to be completed and then
found himself like other coal men too
busy to make the preliminary arrange
ments. Such club had been going at
sCIarksburg for a year and its value is
EoE oi6puCed. he prletIy SuumaTl@eo
the coal situation from the opening OF
the war TO date, confessed his pride at
what had been done by the Central
West Virginia Coal Operators Asso-
c2eticn, and devoted some time to
praise of the local press. pointing out
that was one OF the most encouraging
aspects of the coal condition-the
friendly relations with the press which
Ildd come about through operators TAX
ing different attitude from that Of the
past He closed with the plea that coal
uienlook higher than personal gain. de-
e1aTing eve are out to win the war"
George N. Alexander made con-
vsncing showing Of the seriousness OF
the situation, stating plain facts at the
risk Of putting damper on what some
might have expected as social gath
dring. His arguments were unanswer-
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