New-York tribune., 1918-01-18
Governors Split
In Views of Effect
OF Garfield Order
Vermont's Governor Com
mends 1t; Hardship, Says
Wisconsin Executive
Others Are Cautious
All, However, Indicate to The
Tribune They Will See
1t Is Obeyed

The Tribune yesterday sent telc-
grams to the Governors of the states
affected by Fuel Administrator Gar
fcld's drastic closing order, asking for
an expression of executive opinion,
For the most part the Governors were
cautious in their answers, but all in
dlcatcd that they would support and
help enforce the order. The Governor
OF Vermont approved the order; the
Governor of Wisconsin found fault
with it.
The following replies have been re-
ccived:
CHARLES HENDERSON, Alabama:
III conslgnees cannot relieve the roll
ing stock to the transportation com
panies by unloading promptly, consien-
ments made to them the transportation
companies cannot supply the rolling
STOCK. with fair percentage of the
products OF Alabama coal mines here
industries could continue operation"
MARCUS II. HOLCOMB, Connecticut:
II have not seen the text of fuel order
and do not care officially to criticise
it,"
Carl E. Milliken, Maine.-"It is not
lifting for us to debate the wisdom of
enacting such drastic order as has
been promulgated by Federal Fuel Ad-
ministrator Garfield. To what extent
observance of the order will be of ben
eft cannot be told, because the most
important manufacturers in Maine are
operated either by water or hydro-elec-
trio power. We shall do what we can
to observe commands of the Federal
Fuel Administrator so long as they may
be in force"
I. w. BECKETT, Moth Carolina: "In
order to form an opinion worth any
. thing upon the wisdom or unwisdom
: of the order of the fuel administrator
closing down certain enterprises for
period of five days, one must know as
much as the fuel administrator knows,
as much as the Secretary of War
knows and as much as the President
knows about the facts, that, in their
opinion, made this order necessary.
am not in possession of these facts,
and therefore patriotism requires NE
to walk by faith, and not by sight, in
the wisdom of the men selected to
safeguard the highest interests of the
nation in this emergency"
JAMES NJ. COX, Ohio: "Replying to
your telegram, shall accept the judg-
ment and any order of the President
l.,
ever not to discuss whether the pres
ent fuel proclamation is advisable or
otherwise"
HOWARD c. GRAHAM, Vermont:
"Thc Federal fuel order is drastic, but
it ought to be lived up to without COM
plant or criticism. The fuel admins
traitor would not have issued such an
order if the condition of the country,
from the standpoint of the government
did not absolutely require it. Aside
from clearing the fuel situation, rea-
lively few people realize the indirect
benefits to be derived from this order
In Vermont apparent enforced idleness
may be profitably diverted to the wood
lot for next winters fuel"
JOHN ]. CORNWELL, West Virginia:
IVY information rs to conditions in
the Eastern states is not specific
opinion as to the practicabilty or ne
cessity Of the fuel order"
E. l.. PHILLIPS, Wisconsin,: Fuel
Administrator Gariield's order comes
at time when every laboring man
needs every dollar that he can possibly
earn to meet the high cost Of living,
and loss of fifteen days wages, in
the time specified in the order. will,
am afraid. cause them to be short of
Iood as we'll as tuel. Wisconsin has
not thus far felt any shortage of fuel.
We shall, Of course. obey the order
and meet the new situations that grow
out Of it to the best of our ability"
RICHARD J. MANNING, South Caro-
lima: 81 deem the Garfield order in
advisable. In my opinion industries
having coal should be allowed to run,
as the fuel administration has author
lty to divert coal from industries which
have it to those whose supply is ex-
hausted. With the information before
me, | believe that the order should be
resclnded. but if it is not rescinded it
will be enforced in South Carolina"
Sidney j. Cats, Florida-"With mea-
gre information at hand am unable to
form definite opinion regarding the
closing down of industries as advo-
Gated by the fuel administration 1t has,
however. been my policy to cooperate
with the Federal authorities in any
movement they deem necessary in or
ganzing, equipping and supplying the
army. 1t will naturally work great
hardship upon private industries, upon
working men to close down for such
period, but with ships in the harbors
waiting for fuel to carry supplies to
our armies and with thousands of per
sons suffering from the intense cold,
/ do not -hink the sacrifice too great
to ask in this unusual crisis"