Evening star., 1918-01-17
AGAINST
FUEL ORDER POUR
INTO WASHINGTON
-
Business Men Throughout Ma
ton Aroused at Drastic
Action Closing industries.
SUPPORTERS POINT TO
ADDED EFFICIENCY LATER
Railroads Recall Warnings Issued
Weeks Ago, Preceding
Freight Jam.

FrelgnI Jam.
Protests against the fuel administra-
zion order closing down industrial plants
began pouring into the White House and
Congress today from all over the coun-
try. Business men everywhere, aroused
at the prospect, objected to its enforce
ment and suggested many remedies.
Two early visitors at the White
House today were Senator Bankhead
of Alabama and Representative Cox Of
Indiana. Mr.. Cox declined to discuss
the effects OF Fuel Administrator Gar
fields order. Senator Bankhead said
he believed the basic cause OF coal
shortage was lack Of transportation
facilities.
Time to Stand by President.
In Alabama alone we can produce
produced, If there were cars to haul 1t
away" he stated. When asked about
the Garfield order, he said: We'll. all
can say is that this Is a time to stand
by the President, right or wrong"
Administrator Garf1eld's order. it de-
veloped today. was issued after consul
tation with the President Secretaries
Baker and Daniels also saw the PreSi-
dent last evening.
The effect of the Industrial suspension
Tor hve successive days and for Mondays
until the end Of March was the one topic
OF discussion in Washington today. Opin-
ion was widely divided upon its effects
Supporters Explain Action.
Supporters Of the drastic action alleged
that the net result would be an added
efficiency later, after the railroads had
been permitted to clear away the coal
On their roads during the fve-day period
oeg1nnlng tomorrow. It was predicted
that industries which have been hadn't
capped for weeks would be able to get
ffesh start and speed up after matters
are readjusted.
Critics of the order could not zee the
reason for shutting down plants which
nave coal at a time when every CT
fort is being made to increase produc-
tton. They insisted that the most dis
astrous effect would be the demoraliza-
tfon of workers engaged In the indus
any holiday period. but especially he
cause OF wage questions involved
100000 Men to Be Idle.
Labor experts estimate that from Z
100000 to 100000 workman WIN be
laid OH during the period of suspen-
eion. How many Of these are on a per
diem basis, and will have their pay
curtailed as a result, and how many are
now receiving a bare living wage and
would face distress as a result OF the
lay,oE could not be estimated.
There are about 100000 Industrial
workers IN this country. Eliminating
those obviously not affected and also
those in steel plants and similar indus
tries Of which exception is made, and
nv ov1r t.
tions. and the 1000, 900 or more In
transportation, the estimate of not few
er than 100000 made Idle by the ces-
sation was reached.
Point to Effect in GERMANY.
Critics Of the action also lay stress on
the possible Interpretation In Germany
rs an admission Of economic weakness
at the outset Of the war from the
greatest coal producing nation In the
world. and others cite It as an admis-
sion OF the failure of the fuel admins
tration to meet distribution probIems
In the face of an increased coal produc-
tion.
Railroad men recall that they urged
aong ago that coal for transportation
needs be given absolute priority They
assert that this was not done, and that
even when such orders did come from
the fuel administration that the roads
were SO blocked with the flood of pri-
orfty freight tagged by quartermasters
ana other government officials that
roads far from the mines could not get
coal enough for their needs.
Not until Director General McAdoo
assumed control was the priority situa-
fion Strengthened out SO that the pri-
ority orders could be effected. Today's
order from DR.. Garfield puts coal Tor
railroads at the top Of the list.
Say Railroads Warned Weeks Ago.
al fe
Tho railroads urged that the coal bei1p
shipped to the northwest which Ia said
to have 100000 more tons than ia needed
ana l,ooo.oo0 more than was used last
year, De diverted to Hampton roads SO
that 1t might be transported to New
England by water. The reason given was
that New England was threatened with a
fuel famine which would hamper the mn
nitions and war work being performed
there. peAio' h'eo
One of the first moves of the director
general. IL was recalled. was to order such
diversion OF coal in an effort to remedy
the famine which ensued as predicted.
Theatrical Delegation Arrives.
Business men have wired to Washing
ton their protests. and many of them
are on the way here to endeavor to haya
the order modified. Among the first nm
the ground were a number of theatrical
men. Those who have arrived or have
reservations at hotels included David
Beiasco. Sam Harris. George NJ. Conan
and Al Reeves. Mr. Cohan had an an
pointment at the White House this att
ernoon. though it was not stated that
ne was to discuss the question of clos
ing the theaters.
6SEAMEN K|LLED;;3H HURT