New-York tribune., 1918-07-24
Garfield Fails to Act as
Deliveries Fall Behind
Schedule
Real Leader Needed
To Spur Production
Only Two Months Left to
Mine Stores for the
Coming Winter
By Theodore M. Knappen

PHILADELPHIA, July 23.--In the
last week | have followed coal
from the fountain heads to the
dribbling streams, thence into the
rivers and finally into the great ex-
panscs of the industries that absorb
ii as the sands of Nevada drink up
the swift rushing mountain waters.
The flow of coal on wheels is an epic
spectacle, stupendous putting forth
CT energy. One-third Of all the rail
transport capacity of America carries
the food.
Never since the carbonlferous age
bound primeval energy into coal, I'M
prisoned it deep in earth and piled
mountains cn to hold it down has there
been such transforence of pent-up
force as now proceeds on the railways
Of America.
Never since the age Of steam began
has there been such devourinC of
coal. AS men learned in the facts and
figures of coal gaze upon the food that
ceaselsSsly rolls from mine to furnace
and find it licked up even rs it comes,
they fout al calculations and declare
that there is no escape from disaster
next winter.
Fear Shortage in Winter
If there are no accumuiations now
when the hoodgates are open. they say,
what can we hope for when winter re-
~.
Only hope is in yet more coal now
black food must be piled on black
food. The coal is in the mines, the
railways are developing unsuspected
pcssibilities-only the mines are lag
ging.
They are doing we'll, but they must
do better. The men of the mines must
get into swinging step with the men
O. the trains and with the men of the
furnace and forge. 1t is now or never.
For two months only will they have
the right OF way for their product If
they viii but put forth the energy Of
the fighting spirit, the lot will TO do
OF the Aisne and of the Marine, they
can win in those two months All they
need 20 draw on their secondary energy
Is a cheer leader-a great IL tional hero
of coal. The mighty efforts that move
and transmute coal must be matched d
in its production.
If Mr.. Garfield would only have the
inspiration now that Mr.. Hurley had
when he picked up his telephone that
Sunday morning in the spring and
summoned Schwab to vitalize ship
buildingl Like Hurley, Garfield now
has good organization, a spacious
plan and clear objectives. All he needs
Is somebody to breathe a divine ardor
Of production into the machine.
Railroad Doing It's Share
One can imagine such a leader
standing on the broad, four-tracked
highway of the Pennsylvania at the
summit of the Alleghanies and drink
ing. IN his inspiration from the spec
tacle of q world of coal in motion. Thnv
SAID last winter that the old Pennsvl-
vanla was all in. 1t was damned in Con
gress and cursed by the public. Men
sat in easy chairs in warm Offices and
derded the men who fought with
lhree engines to get ten cars through
me snow banks and howing wintry
oiasts OF the Eastern continental sum
Mlts The engines were frozen, the
nremen were gone. the tracks were
buried IN snow, the yards were cloeged,
managers despaired and men suiked.
put its all there now. With wistful
raced boys firing in place of the husky
gents who have gone to France, with
o!d men IN the yards, Mexcans on the
sections, women in the shops, girls in