The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-02-20
ECONOMIC CRISIS MET.
GARFIELD TELLS or CLOSING
ORDERS RESULT.
Fuel Administrator Shows That
Heatless Days Accomplished Much
for Nations at War.

New York. Feb. 16.-Some hitherto
unannounced details of the causes
aud results of the five day industrial
suspension and heatless Monday or
der were disclosed here tonight by
Fuel Administrator Garfield i'm an ad-
dress to the Alumni of williams Col
lege. DIR. Garfield's theme was the
spirit of America and he praised the
people for the tranquility with which
uhcy met the economic crisis. As q
result OF the closing order DIR. Garfield
said $50 ships. carrying more than g.
100000 tons OF food. fuel and mu-
nitioas and other war supplies. which
hal been tied up in Atlantic ports
were bunkered and sent to sea frorl
January ~. the day the order became
effective. to January 90. normal
number OF ships only remained Mt
anchor. he declared. and the How of
supplies necessary to the American
expeditlonary forces and the allies had
bcon reestablished.
In addition the fuel administrator
continued the rails were cleared for
important shipments OF steel and 9th.
er commodities to factories. without
which the most essential war indus
tries inevitably would have been
closed Dut not I'm an orderly fashion
Dr. Garfield called attention to the
fact that the nations foreign COM
iOtrce had increased from S2.OOO,OOO,-
ooe In 1919 to $4,000. .O0O. 900 and
ssid there had been placed OH the
railroads little more than one-half OF
'he number OF locomotives needed 10
care for the increased traffic. the re-
naainder being sent to France and
Russia.
Almost without exception. he con-
t'nued. the manufacture OF war ma
ierial was at It's height about the frs.
OF Inst December Then came the
worst weather the country had ex.
pcrienced In 90 yeax. The railroads
found the Struggle against overproduc.
ton and billiards. too much for them
the administrator said and some re-
lief was necessary.
- ITO cite Few only of the most i'm
poNtant articles" said DIR. Garfield.
"thA shipment OF steel plate essential
20 the building OF our ships fell of
nearly so per cent. during the period
from the beginning OF December to
the middle~as~ January.
The plotted curve OF weekly ship
ments OF all steel products looks like
great picture OF Niagara. the first
of December marking the beginning
Of the drop and the middle of jan
uary the bottom. Had this decline
been permitted 20 continue. our most
essential war industries inevitably
would have been closed down. but not
in an orderly fashion. Cooperation
demands the share OF losses as well
- gains. II is noteworthy that the
upward trend was resumed for the
week beginning January &c.
'"rhe fuel administration believing
in the democratic ideal asked not
,ha, some. but that all participate in
The sacrifice necessary TO save us frCr,
cur own prosperity and tho American
spirit arose and asserted Itself
The reaction OF the American peo-
pie In the face OF the greatest crisis
which this generation has been called
upon To face proved that they were
true inheritors OF the American spiri,
and practical advocates OF the prlnci
ple OF democracy. They have demon
strated that free action and willins
cooperation Is more effective than
aatocratic compulsion. They impos-
"a restraints upon themselves whic n
the entire army of the United States
could nos have forced them 70 OBJ
serve"