Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-08-20
WARNS u. S. Of
COAL SHORTAGE
President Tells Operators and
Workers to Speed Up
Production.
FUEL SCARCITY is WAR PERIL
Executive in Proclamation Appeals to
All Persons Engaged in Coal Min
ing to Take Prompt Action to
Wipe Out Menace.

Washington, Aug. 13.-President
Wilson, aroused over the grave dam
ger in the coal situation of the coun-
try and continuing decreases in pro-
duction, addressed a proclamation on
Sunday to ali persons engaged in coal
mining, calling for prompt and vigor-
Gus action by operators and miners.
The text of the presidents procla-
nation reads:
''The existing scarcity of coal is
creating grave danger-in fact, the
most serious which confronts us-and
calls for prompt and vigorous action
on the part of both operators and min
ers. Without gu adequate supply our
war program will be retarded; the eff
fectiveness of our fighting forces in
France will be lessened; the lives of
our soldiers will be unnecessarily en-
dangered and their hardships in
creased. and there will be much suffer
ing in many homes during the winter.
Il am well aware that your ranks
have been seriously depleted by the
demands of other essential industries
This handicap can be overcome, how
ever, and sufficient coal can be mined
in spite of it, if everyone connected
with the industry, from the highest
official to the youngest boy, will give
his best work every day for the full
number of working hours.
THE operators must be jealous as
never before to bring about the high
est efficiency of management, to estab-
liSh the best possible working condi-
lions and to accord fair treatment to
everybody, so that the opportunity to
work at his best may be accorded ev-
cry workman.
THE miners should report for work
every day unless prevented by I'M
avoidable causes, and should not only
stay in the mines the full time but also
see to il that they get out more coal.
1.-The other workers in and about the
mines should work as regularly and
faithfully, so that the work of the
miner may not be retarded in any
way. This will be especially neces-
sary from this time forward, for your
numbers may be further lessened by
the draft, which will induct into the
army your fair share of those not es-
sential to industry.
Those who are drafted but who are
essential will be given deferred CLASH
fication, and it is their patriotic duty
to accept it. And it is the patriotic
duty of their friends and neighbors to
hold them in nigh regard for doing
so. The only worker who deserves the
condemnation of his community is the
one who fails to give his best in this
crisis, not the one who accepts de-
ferred classification and works regu-
larry and diligently to increase the
coal output
"A great task is to be performed
The operators and their staff alone
cannot do 1T, nor can the mine workers
alone do it, but both parties, working
hand in hand, with grim determina-
ton to rid the country of it's greatest
obstacle to winning the war, can do
it. 1t is with full confidence that |
call upon you to assume the burden of
producing an ample supply of coal.
You will, am sure, accept this bur-
den, and will successfully carry it
through; and in so doing you will be
performing Il service just as worthy as
service in the trenches, and will win
the applause and gratitude of the
whole nation.
WOODROW WILSON.
1.-THE White House, Aug. 8, 1918"