The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-01-23

moa. called TO consider the plan o.
ect,oh TO be followed in respect to the
fuci order. was held in the Chamber
of Commerce Friday night at 3
o'clock. The rooms were crowded to
capacity and standing room was at
a premium. The people OF Sumter are
Interested and the sentiment of the
meeting was intensely and enthusias-
tlcaiiy patriotic. They are determin-
ed 70 loyalty support the govern
rnept and TO render 10 II a whole
hearted support whenever called up
on and In whatsoever manner TN,
fervice Is asked. This meeting show
ed, this and the community is united
In continent and in purpose.
District Fuel Administrator I. c.
Strauss presided. Before calling for
the report OF the committee OF ten.
whose duty IL was 20 interview the
business men OF the city and secure
their cooperation IN n plan of action
as to observing Monday for ten con-
sscutive weeks as a holiday under the
terms OF the fuel order. Mr.. Strauss
stated that oil mills having been
exempted from the provisions of th
order. as food producers the South
.ern Cotton Oil Companys local m
would resume operations Saturday
morning.
a telegram was read stating that
the witherspoon Bros. Coffin plant
could not be exempted.
Mr.. Strauss read a telegram from
the State Fuel Administrators instruct
Ing him that he had authority TO di-
vert and sieze for use any coal ar
riung I'm Sumter within the next five
days. IL said coal be consigned TO firms
oorporations OF individuals in Sum-
ter county. Coal so diverted and
tsised will be disposed OF as the local
fuel administrator may direct forNhe
public interest and for the relief OF
families I'm need OF fuel.
Mr.. Strauss also stated for the in
.fcrination OF those present that at
o meeting OF the officials OF the Sum
ter banks in the afternoon, II had been
decided. with only one dissenting
vote. that the banks should remain
open Saturday although a legal holi-
day. and would close. instead. on
Monday. January 2lst and on every
succeeding Monday FOR ten weeks
THIS action was decided upon so as
10 be In line with the other business
establishments OF the city. although
the banks are specifically exempted
from the provisions OF the fuel order
The single bank refusing TO close OF
Mondays was the Commercial Bank
end Trust Company.
Mr. c. +. Hurst. chairman OF the
committee of ten was then called up
on for q report. He stated that the
committee had made thorough can
yass OF the entire city. all the out
lying districts having been covered.
as well as the central business sec
tion and tho wholesale district. The
committee had called on 194 firms
individuals. only six known business
men not being seen. OF the number
seen all save nine had signed an
agreement TO close on Monday during
the period specified In the fuel order
and 10 observe the day as a holiday
as prescribed In the order, grocery
stores and markets for the sale of
food remaining open until IL oclocx
noon. The firms corporations and in
dividuals not signing tho agreement
were:
Phillips and Co.
Planters Mule Co.
Cherry Company.
Commercial Bank and Trust Co.
IT, w. waties.
r. L. Stewart.
Geo. d. Shore. Jr..
A. S. Merrimon.
VI. w. Seabrook.
There was brief discussion OF the
agreement TO observe Monday as a
holiday for ten weeks and a general
expression OF qualification that the
business and professional men Of
Sumter had evidenced their loyalty to
the government and had pledged
their support and cooperation by d
vote so nearly unanimous as TO prove
beyond question that IL is the will OF
the community that the fuel order he
obeyed In letter and in spirit.
On motion OF Mr.. A. G. Phelps a
resolution was adopted that the bus.
ness men OF the city signing the
agreement pledge themselves to abide