Evening journal., 1918-02-01
Mr.. Baker and Our FueIless Mondays
tFrom the New York Trlbunel.

In his statement to the Senate COM
mittee and TO the nation yesterday Sec
retary Baker laid stress upon the fact
that there arc more than a million men
In this country under arms. This IN ex-
planatlon Of the ep.demics Of sickness
reported from the different camps And
these million men VIII be sent ia
France Just as rapidly ss they can be
equipped and we can fnd ships in
which TO send them.
Secretary Bakers second appearance
before the Senate committee came upon
a fateful day-the second Of the shut
down Mondays. when the industries of
q section Of the county whose popula-
ton exceeds that OF the German empire
have to stop for lack Of coal Ships in
the harbor wait. new ships on the ways
wait our soldiers wait, munitions wait
the Allies wait for foods and supplies.
our railroads are cut down in the de-
liveries they can make--all for lack OF
coal While we listen to the Secretary's
fair words Of great accomplishments
and yet greater things 90 come. we may
remember the part that he played in
bringing about this standstill Of indus
try. This Secretary Of War who ap-
peared yesterday was no different per-
son from the Secretary Of War who
seven months ago as president Of the
Council of National Defence, gave out
this amazing document:
My attention has been called
through the newspapers to the action
reported to have taken place during the
last week by the socalled committee Of
coal production in. cooperation With
certain coal producers. This meeting
seems 10 have adopted resolution
whereby the operators present agreed
10 sell bituminous coal at a price not
higher than 80 a ton, and that this obli-
cation should remain in force until
some such action had been taken by an
authorized governmental agency.
The color which has been given TO
this meeting in the newspapers may
we'll mislead the public into the belief
that the Council O., National Defence
has undertaken 10 sanction the fixing Of
q coal price by the coal production
committee ] therefore, as president Of
the council, write this to say that such
action Is clearly beyond the legal power
OF the coal production committee, and
the information ! have I think iustifes
me in believing that the price Of 50
suggested or agreed on as a maximum
is an exorbitant, unjust and oppressive
price
Consider what was here involved.
This agreement which Secretary Baker
so violently denounced was formulated
by committee headed by another
member of the cabinet, ard likewise a
member Of the Defence Council. This
committee had induced the coal opera
tors Of The country TO pledge them
selves voluntarily to a basic rate Of 50
a ton for coal. which meant a reduc-
tion of from 80 10 60 ner cent of the
price they were then receiving on new
contracts. This reduction was not
enough for Secretary Baker; he must
denounce this as "an exorbltant, unjust
and oppressive price"
The whole covntry by now knows
the sequel Thrown into confusion by
the conflict Of authority, the summer
was wasted in hesitation. when large
stores might have been laid i'm for the
winter. We doubt n there is on record
within this generation at least, another
case OF one Cabinet officer repudiating
an agreement made In behalf Of the
government by another Cabinet officer
on such a fateful issue as this. The
consequences will be felt alike in Amer
ica and by our allies for months 10
come.
It is the belief Of the leaders Of the