The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1918-01-17
NATIONS
WHEELS
TO STOP
Continued From Page One.)

An appeal will be made today
to industries not to curtail wages
for the rest period" any more
than is absolutely necessary.
AS the country awoke to the
full significance of the tremend-
Gus step ordered by the govern
ment after conferences between
Food Administrator Garfield, Sec
rotary of War Baker, President
Wilson and state fuel administra-
tors there was violent blast OF
protest.
Congress, the White House and
other departments faSrly shook
under the reaction. That Garfield
had exceeded his authority was
Enlarged both In the senate and
house circles and demands werSl
made for revocation of the or
der.
Despite this, however, there
was no indication that the order
would be revoked by the presi-
dent.
10 Holidays Coming.
Distribution of coal to all es-
Establishments except public utili-
ties and a few indispensable in
stitutions was stopped this morn
ing.
| All factories east of the Mis-
sissippi river, even those working
on war contracts and excepting
those manufacturing perishable
food. must suspend operations en-
tirely tomorrow and continue In
Iidleness untn next Tuesday night.
The next 10 Mondays will be
virtual holidays when all industry
and amusement places must close.
Hopeless. scarcity of fuel, COM
bined WITH congestion OF ship
ments, caused by the recent storm
tie-ups in the middle west, forced
the fuel administration to take
this sudden and far-reaching step.
| Even in the face OF pressing
need OF war supplies, 1t was
thought wise to suspend all pro-
duction and so, tomorrow, the
work OF making bullets and guns
and uniforms for American fight
= ing forces will halt while the
country takes a hitch in its belt
, and stratghtens out its coal trou-
, bile.
Desperate Situation.
. Without such a radical step, 1t
. was pointed out, more damaging
delays might have occurred unex-
D pectedly at later critical moments.
All details of the gigantic
: stroke are not made public. 1t is
, believed that some modification
I may be necessary or further elab-
| grafton of the orders.
n 1t was made clear that America
q faces a desperate situation which
3 only desperate steps can remedy.
1 Every industry must bear its
: share of the burden, the admins
q tration declared, and even indus
tries west of the Mississippi river
will naturally be affected some
what by the cessation of produc-
ltion in eastern plants.
Covers Gasoline, Too.
DR.. Garfield's prohibition ex-
tends to fuel oil users and estab-
lishments using gasoline power as
we'll as coal and coke. Water pow
er, however, may be used at all
times.
: Offices and stores will be allow
: ed to keep fires sufficient to pre-
q vent freezing and attendant dis
: turbance OF fire risks but no tenn
: peratures higher than 80 degrees
a Stores which can operate without
a the use of coal for heating pur-
Q poses may remain open. Grocery
: stores are not affected by the or
I der since they handle perishable
foods.
a Garfield forb.ds both delivery
r and use of coal in establishments
I affected. Even coal ON hand may
: not be used.
: Speeding up after five-day
= rest will be guarded against by
q the fuel administration. Orders
S for coal shipments after the five
day period will be determined by
the priority order established to-
day.
All Treated Alike.
I, No attempt was made to allow
} munitions and war work to con-
tinue.
DR.. Garfield said It would be
impossible to separate essential
from non-essential industries for
this purpose.
: Shipping congestion is so great
that cessation of war work will
not hamper the delivery Of sup
: plies he stated, for vast stores of
finished goods are piled on
wharves awaiting shipment, and
, stopping of manufacture for this
: period will enable transportation
: congestion to be cleared.
Offices Affected.
Exception is made in such plants
as from their nature must be con-
"a l..