Evening journal., 1918-01-17
THURSDAY, JANUARY II, 1918.
a BEWILDERING. srAGGERING oRDER.


Z I is no exaggeration for us to state that Americans
staggered and bewildered by the scope
Tic nature Of the Federal Administrations order for the
conservation of coal
Federal Administrators order for the conservation
Of coal.
II strikes at both capital and labor. Already there
are many signs that it has met with such widespread
public disapprova that its mobilization in many
tlal particulars may result.
Il that, with few exceptions manufacturing
plants east Of the Mississippi win close their fuel
consuming departments for five days. thereby
throwing billions OF dollars Of capital and millions Of
skilled and unskilled wageearners out of employment
The dead Of a trying winter.
In addition, every Monday for the next ten weeks
must be observed a holiday, not only by such
featuring establishments but also by places of
ment saloons once buildings mercantile establish
ments except such sell foodstuns and drugs.
Prescription is made that the preferential recipients of
coal and the order which they shall receive IL shall
De follows:
Railroads, household consumers, hospitals charitable
Institutions and army and navy cantonmens.
Public utilities, telephone and telegraph plants.
Strictly government enterprises excepting factories and
plants working on government contracts.
Public buildings and necessary Government State and
municipal requirements
In evidence Of the feeling Of dlsapproyal with which
The order has been received II is a noteworthy fact
hat all Of the New York newspapers except the sun
geon is welcome than undertaken, and all de
pends on our transportation system"
The New York World said: "The coal order issued
by Fuel Administrator Garfield is the greatest disaster
that has befallen the United States in this war This
wild experiment in economic lunacy worthy Of a Boil
shevlk government has been reserved for the United
states. President Wilson should not lose a moment in
nuifying the Garfield order. That done his duty
IS to remove Mr.. Garfield"
The Tribune said: "The fuel administration has lost its
head. Dr. Garfield is in a panic and acts IN a headong
manner
The Herald Certainly any man with knowledge Of
conditions in the business world would have advised
against suddenly plunging the whole industry the
country into confusion which easily could have been
aveTted.n
The Times we hope the President will Immediately
reconsider and revoke Mr. Garneds astounding order
the capture OF cities could hardly be moro calamitous in
ts enects"
The Evening World Fuel Administrator Garfield
gave an exhibition Of bureaucratic incompeency
equaled the history Of this government The Presl-
dent should rescind the order and the who
issued IT,
Those expressions OF opinion are certainly shared by
thousands Of persons in Delaware who are loyal TO their
country TO their Federal Government and TO their pes-
lent and who astounded that such q demoralizlng
order should be promulgated before the United states is
fairly in the world and at a time when the Federal
Government has been pleading with capital labor and
agriculture to make extraordinary exerons 20 increase
output and at the time 10 practice economy The
order is Of bewdring and paralyzng nature In add-
lion, is wastefu Of both capital and labor t saves
at the spigot and wastes at the bung-hole"
We cannot conceive that it will be permitted to stand