Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-12
PRESIDENT APPEALS
TO MINERS FOR COAL
Asks Everyone Connected With
Industry to Speed Up Opera
tions and Increase Supply.

| Washington, Aug ~Emphasiting
his belief that the greatest obstacle To
! the winning of the war is the need for
fuel President Wilson tonight issued
an appeal to the coal mine operators
and workers Of the country, urging them
to work hand in hand in assuming the
burden Of producing the amplest possible
supply Of coal for the nations war needs
nt home and abroad The Presidents s
appeal was as follows
To all engaged IN Coal Mining: The
existing scarcity of coal Is creating
grave danger In fact. the incst serious
which confronta ms and calls for prompt
and vigorous action ON the part of both
operators and miners Without an ade-
qnatc supply, our war program Will he
retarded the effectiveness Of our fighting
forces in France will be lessened, the
lives of our soldiers will he unnecessarily
endangered and their hardships increased
and there will be much suffering IN many
homes throughout the country during
the coming Winter
am well aware that yo,ir ranks have
been seriously depleted by the draft.
by voluntary enlistment, und by the
demands of other essential industries.
This handicap can be overcome, however.
and sufficient coal can be mined IN spite
ot IT. II every one connected with the
industry. from the highest official to the
Youngest boy. will give his best work
each day for the full number Of work hours.
The operators must be jealous ne
never before to bring about the highest
efficiency OF management, To establish
the best possible working conditions,
and Ia accord fair treatment 10 everybody
so that the opportunity Ia work nj his
best may hc accorded every workman
The miners should report for work
every dav unless prevented by unavoid
able causes, and should not only stay
IN the mines the full time. but also see 10
u that they get more coal than ever before
The other workers IN md about the mines
should work rs regularly and faithfully.
So that the work of the miner may be
not retarded ~ any way. THIS will be
especially necessary from this time for
ward. for Your numbers may bc further
lcsecned by the draft. which will induct
INTO the army vour fair share of those
not essential to industry
Those who are drafted Int who are
essential will h. given deferred classlf-
cation. and Il Is thelr patriotic duty to
accept IT And II Is the patriotic duty
Of their friends and ncighbors 10 hold
them III high regard for doing SO
ne orIN worker VINO deserves tho
condemnation of his community Is tho one
who fails to give hls hest ~ tins crisis.
not the one who accepts deferred classl-
ticafIon and works regularly and diligently
TO increase the coal output
\ great task IS to t,c performed The
operators and their stalls alone cannot
do H. nor can the mine workers alone do
II, hut both parties, working hand in
hand with q grim determination to rid
the country Of us greatest obstacle to
winning the war can do II
Ii is with full confidence that | call
upon You to assume the burden Of pro-
ducing an ample supply Of coal You
will, ! am sure, accept this burden, and
will successfully carry II through and
IN SO doing YOU will bc performing a
service just rs worthy rs service in the
trenches, and will win the applause and
gratitude of the whole nation
Woodrow Wilson
The White House, 9 August, 1915