The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-11
Greatest Effort to Come Next
Year, Fighting on the
Enemy Soil.


gates OF the Independent OIL Mems As
ISOLATION by the Eastern oil men.
Warning his hearers against overcon-
fidence Mr.. BEDFORD said he did not be-
lieye the end Of the war was yet in
sight:
Germany ia far from being beaten.
Some one has said that the war would
begin In earnest when the Germans were
back on German soil. So let us be on
our guard and dismiss any such notion
born OF our hopes or Of foolish spirit
of Boosting. Let us rather show that
with us the fighting has only just be-
gun, as is the fact. and that our great
est effort is to come next year when
our added hosts are over there pre-
pared to carry the war into Germany
and that for us, too, the fighting will
then begin IN earnest. Therefore let us
make no mistake. Any thought OF the
war being over will be fatal There
must be no let up, and the immediate
thing TO do is to carry TO triumphant
conclusion the present Liberty Loan
Unanimous support Urged.
Mr.. Bedford called for unanimous.
whole hearted support OF our President
at time when he is faced with greater
responsibilities than ever before, time
when most intricate and subtle problems
of craftsmanship and diplomacy have 10
be met and solved, and when to make
them most effective the nation as
unit must stand behind him to a man.
I'VE can trust the President to realize
more fully than you or l can that the
latest peace offer shows no change of
heart on the part of Germany. but more
probably indicates her realization that
victory for her BY the sword Is inIpos-
sible."
The main theme of Mr.. Bedford's re-
marks was the whole hearted manner in
which every part of the population has
supported the war. AS one example OF
this he cited the observance OF gasolene-
less Sundays.
Nothing in this war" he said. has
more wonderfully shown the power OF
public opinion: no voluntary act has
more completely demonstrated the will
Of the people that nothing. however IN
finitesimal, should be permitted to IN
terfere with the winning of this war
absolutely and az the ear,iesc pos
sible moment"
Not long ago THE SuS asked, in an
editorial article, who was the genius
who first suggested that the people
would respond TO a mere request from
the Government to abstain from Sunday
motoring. Somebody answered "A. c.
Bedford" but he disclaimed the credit
yesterday. He said:
zone of our newspapers recently in
stituted a genial inquiry into the author
ship OF the 'easless' Sunday. The truth
is that this, like 70 many other steps
in this war Was an evolution. The fact
that sooner or later II might be neces-
aary to take nea sures. as had been done
In other countries, to conserve gasolere
has OF course been discussed for many
months. When tho necessity to realize
a large, immediate saving eliminated
In a request by Or. Garfield, head OF the
United States Fuel Administration, that
motor cars be not used at all on Sun
days, Il was but natural development
OF an immense amount OF discussion and
consideration on the part OF a consider
able group of men, all Of them eager
TO accomplish a necessary result In
manner involving the least interference
with public comfort and convenience.
Origin of Gasless sundays.
THE 'gasiess' Sunday idea was thus
the thought not OF any one man. but Of
the members OF the Fuel Administra-
tlon. the leading factors in tho petro-
leum industry. and numerous others
who were consulted. There was some
question at first as to whether or not
q
Government prohibiting the use of motor
cars on Sunday. The Fuel Admins
tratIon decided. however. to make the
observance voluntary and TO appeal 10
the people as a matter OF patriotism
rather than as matter OF law. The
wisdom of that decision has been Won
derfully justified by the event"
MIR. Bedford had nothing but admiral
ton for the way in which the whole oil
industry. highly competitive before the
war. had been unified and operated as a
Government function.
at was clear" he said. land It still IL
clear that only one Kind OF cement could
hold this structure together. That ce-
ment was loyalty and patriotism on the
part OF everybody concerned: loyalty
which knew no self in the presence OF
the national purpose"
He praised most highly Mark l.. Re
qua. director-general OF the oil division
Of the Fuel Administration. He said that
not only the oil industry but the nation
owed Mr.. Requa debt OF gratitude ,or
the skill and intelligence with which he /,
has handled a most difficult situation,
Tho Independent Oil Mems Association
elected these officers: President Guy l. /
sweeney, Peoria; directors, c. L. Mather,
w. II. Barbour. Minnea polls (: ,
]. J. Gay, Little Rock: NJ. J. Byrne, /,
W ; stNEttdIS, y. A. inl- 1
cago; sergeant at arms, J. Squire, New |
York.
President Byrne, introducing Mr.. Red
ford, said he had been mistakenly quoted
as using the word trust"
To-day" he added. there are no !
trusts in the United States except our
trust in God for the victory of American |
arms"
No attempt TO pour oil on the troubled
waters was made by Job Hedges, speak I,
Ing at the dinner OF the oil men in the
Hotel Biltmore last evening. Among |
other things he said:
"Do you realize that we cannot sit al ,
a peace table with Germany and discuss |
a crime without being party to that
crime after the fight?
I'm not In favor OF interning disloyal
people: am in favor OF ,nterring them .
Men have to go up and down the land
asking people II they will buy Liberty
bonds. Great God with the existence
of a race at stake must We I've asked 10
buy bonds?
The hope of Germany to-day lies IN /
the success OF the allied army"
Among the other speakers at tho din.
ner were jos Mitchell Chopped and Ai |
J. Byruc, president OF the associa ton.
who read an editorial entitled Sound
IN Dealing With OIL Prob !
lens, which appeared originally In the
issue OF THE Sun for October 10. ~
hope every oil man In the world viii read ,
that" declared Mr. Ryfna