The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-13
NATION CAN'T HAVE !
COAL and BOOZE,
SAY OPERATORS
Committee of Bitumin-
Gus Association Urges
Quick Prohibition.
FACTS PRESENTED
Entire Subject Laid Be-
fore President-Dry
Leaders Expect
Victory.
FACTS PRESENTED
lRy I-niyersaI Service.


Washington. ID. C.. July I2.-Whai
may prove tn be the most effective
blow for wartime prohibition was
struck today by the National Coal as
socfation, representing bituminous
coal operators with an annual pro-
ductiop of nearly 400 900 900 tons
They are scheduled to furnish an ad.
ditional 100000. 900 tons To meet the
peak requirements Of this winter.
Nationwide prohibition for the
period OF the war Is absolutely es'
Scntial," says an Official statemen;
from the association. THE country
cannot have both booze and sufficient
coal this winter. Nor can the country
keep booze In the mining sections nov
and have enough coal later ON. The
liquor traffic is curtailing coal pro.
duction and the time has come IL
eliminate II II there Is to be the sub.
stantial increase I'm coal output Tho
war program demands"
The associations "coa1 production
committee" which conducted the In.
vesttgation and formulated the recon.
mendations. came from both wet and
dry states and were. rs individuals
both wet and dry.
The committee feels that tho
drinking evil has become so rampan,
In the mining communities" said A
r. Hamilton. the chairman. THAT IN
complete climin9tfon Is fundamental,
necessary i'm the EFFORT to speed uI
the mines sufficiently to get the 100.
600 900 additional tons needed II l.
now up to congress to make a clean
cut choice between booze for the min
ing communities and coal for the war
and the public"
While the statement does not con-
tain the figures or the time last by
the miners as the result Of booze, II IL
understood that the committees In
vesttgafion showed that the men are
working on an aver.~ OF only a little
over four days a week. and most OF
the lost time Is attributed to booze
Fuel Administrator Garfield has
taken no part in the controversy. but
the committee announced. sit is under
stood that Fuel Administrator Garfield
has transmitted the recommendation
of the National Coal association to
President Wilson. who now has Ii un-
der consideration"
The additional data on time lost a,
the mines through drinking also has
been made available to the presi-
dent.
The committees action was taken
II says. leaving out Of considera ton
the moral issues involved. but basine
Its opinion entirely on economic anG
patriotic ground" It acted unani.
nousiy. and its report. 1t says, sis con.
CURED in by Frank Harrington, presi.
dent OF the United Mine Workers OF
America for Illinois. Mr.. Harrington
is said to have gone on record-fo this
effect before President Wilson and
Fuel Administrator Garfield"
ThA Issuance of tha Garfald nrSar
denying hreweries any fuel after Their
present stock or manufactured mall
was Consumed. came after approval
by the president.
Prohibition Is assured" said the
Rev. E. c. Dinwiddie. national legisla
tive superintendent of the Anti-Saloor
league. TITS coming soon by consti
tutional amendment, II congress:
doesn't act before. either with or with
out the presidential backing,
With our twenty eight dry state,
sure TO ratify the national prohibi
ton act to the constitution, all W,
needed In addition was the vote OF
eight wet states. We already hav,
five OF. these. The sixth is now as
sured in Louisiana. The house Their,
ratified 1t by big majority. but will
one vacancy In the senate by death, 4
tied. That vacancy has been filled b,
the election of dry. Louisiana viii
ratify at a special session soon t,
come" y