The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-22
Production Chief Writes
Letters To Both
Sides.
MUST HAVE MORE COAL
Shortage Of Fuel is Threat
ening the War
Program.

James B. Neale, director Of pr0duc.
son Of the United States Fuel admin.
stration, has addressed one circular let,
er to the coal operators Of the coun-
W and another 10 the mine workers.
These letters are as sCi.JNs, the one O.
me operators coming first:
70 All Coal Operators:
Gentlemen: Enclosed please find
.opy Of letter which / am now send.
TX to many local unions OF the United
RiEe Workers OF America. This letg
or brings out the following points:
First; that there is a serious short
igb Of coal.
Second; that the shortage OF coal
threatening our war program.
Third; that in spite OF the draft,
voluntary enlistment. munit.on plants,
nc, there are still enough mine work.
,rs IN and about the mines 70 pro
luce an adequate supply Of coal, pro
s!ded each one will work the full pre-.
scribed hours, six days each week.
Fourth; that the operators must
cake II possible for the workers TO
EOrk regularly and efficiently.
Il Is to the fourth point that ] de
Ire TO especially call your attention
and 20 urge upon you the need OF TAX
ng away from your employees every
possible reason for not materially In
.rOasing tonnage, in so far as you
lave the power to effect the situation.
You must practice the highest degree
81 efficiency as 10 mine management
and must see to il that your employees
IRE given fair and courteous treat
nent. As you well know. there are
:wO effective factors in the production
u coal; one, the operator, and tho
lther. the mine worker. The latter IS
HELPLESS to do his part, no matter how
Wiling, II you do not provide him with
The means with which TO do il. Plen.
y Of mine cars. good air, sufficient
timber and other materials are few
II the things you must provide. There
are many others, and you must eNer-
else great care TO see to it that you DO
act fan In any OF your duties.
Il IS true that each day throughout
he country many thousands OF tons
" coal are not mined due to absence,
lnefficiency and short hours worked
BY the mine employ but il is equal
~ true that each day many thousands
e tons Of coal are rot miTed due 10
the fact that the operators have not
made It possible for the mine workers
% DO IS much az they are Wiling to
do. Both effective factors mus, be &c.
teFmlned 10 do better than ever be.
tore. hope that wholesome, friend
" spirit G! rivalry VIII QdicTly develop
between the mine management aud
. tho mine workers 20 that each ItOuU
viii try It's best to sec 10 II that il
has not prevented a marGed increase
In tonnage and that on the ether hand,
Il has contributed the major part OF
the large increase in tonnage.
As you will note by MY letter to the
local union, | desire to have a Pro-
duction committee Of SIX men "A each
mine, three to represent the mine
workers and three to rep;os2nt the
management. / shall be glad If you
viii prompt's send me the names of
the three men whom you desire to rep.
resent the miGe management so tina,
Z they are approved, they may be ap.
pointed and the appropriate certif:.
cate ano badge giver. Please be gov
eFne3 n your choice by the outline
g'vWn in the enclosed letter.
.YO1 should see to il that the com
riitsee Is f'.sr.shed each day with
Int hsowiag the names OF the ab.
gentees. the names OF the men who
WORKED short hours. aEd the names OF
:ae rien who loaded less than a fair
.OnEage. You should also impress
Apon your nine management the need
81 accepting in good part any blame
5-SicE 81 Placed or it by the commit
&c.
hope you will be willing TO pay
&c cXpeSces Of secretary Tor the
4,@mlttce in case one is needed in
NJ np'Glon =; TIC Production mana
-.
cannot over.emphasize 10 you the
sosd Of harmony among the members
:. the committee This cannot be /;
Sne or more member try 20 place the
blame for low tonnage unjustly Tho
bought must be ever kept m mind
hat both operators and mine workers
are q part Of the great movement TO
Increase production so that the lack OF
coal may not interfere with the gov
ernment's war program.
Please ask the Production mana
ger Of your district for information as
10 the way in which the three mem.
bers Of the Production committee rep.
resenting the mine workers will be
elected.
Most earnestly do desire your
Whole-hearted patriotic cooperation.
To Local Union No. -. United Mine
Workers Of America.
Gentlemen: am anxious to lay be-
fore you certain important facts about
the coal situation as II exists today.
and ] know that you will respond 10
the very best Of your ability. There
e q scarcity Of coal which dangerous.
u threatens the success OF the United
States government in carrying on the
war. The enemy has been checked
but Is not yet beaten, and to smash
him and bring peace nearer, we must
send more men, more ships. more
shells, more food. This means vic.
tory. But unless more coal is mined
We cannot increase the American
armies n France nor can we drive our
blows homo. n fact, without more
coal We calaOt properly supply the