Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-18
First Pinch of War.

1t may take some days for the ma
ton to recover from the shock occa-
stoned by the drastic industrial sus-
pension order issued by Fuel Admins
traitor Garfield Apparently it had
startling effect among the big business
interests, and their protests were We
hemently registered before congress
by representatives from various sec
tions, all of whom shouted with tear
full emphasis that the innovation
would develop consequences so lar
reaching that it might be years before
there was recovery from the results.
In fact, if one were to take seriously
the gloomy prophecies Of some OF the
protestants, the country was on the
way to ruin and that the suspension
order was the climax Of the plot.
One charge was that the move was
made TO protect Mr.. McAdoo in his
new duties as railroad dictator; that
a coal famine was impending and that
the blame therefor would fall upon
the shoulders of the railroads. 1t was
no longer possible to criticise the
arrangements of those corporations,
inasmuch as they are working direct
ly under Mr.. McAdOO.
The authority of DR.. Garfield was
questioned, and an appeal for abroga-
ton of the order was carried direct to
the White house. The president an
swered today that there would be no
interference with the Garfield plan and
that he was firmly convinced that aft
er the sacrifice had been endured the
people would generally approve it as
the only possible means OF meeting a
situation whose acuteness was in
creasing daily. Hundreds Of ships
laden with munitions and food are
lying at eastern harbors ready to sail
for Europe, but they are without coal
to generate power. The terminal
freight yards are congested with cars
filled with foods and munitions to be
placed on vessels to be sent to
Europe. At the rear of the car process
sion there is the coal, but it can't reach
the docks until the latter are cleared
of their burden and the fuel is passed
10 the ships. The fuel administrator
shows that it is useless for the fac
tories of the nation to be turning out
supplies for our allies when there is
no means of getting them across The
only conceivable method was to give
coal temporarily the right of way, fill
the bunkers of the ships in the Allan
tic hafDOrs, put them under way for
Europe and get transportation facili-
ties back to as near normal as pos
sible as quickly as it may be accOmp-
lished There is plenty of coal at the
mines. The reason for the scarcity is
that the railroads have not been able
TO furnish the cars to get the product
from the mine to the consumer. The
cars have been used in hauling other
commodities, chiefly foods and NUM-
tions for our allies in Europe
1t is really the first pinch of the
war. 1t strikes all of us, manufac-
turer and worker alike. But any rea-
soning mind can see that there was
no other way out OF a crisis that was
rapidly growing graver. Assuredly
the nation was not fulfilling its pledge
to its allies by letting foods and mu-
niiions lie at the seaboard while the
cry for assistance swept across the
seas Neither was it doing its duty
towards its own citizens in permitting
them to suffer for want of fuel when
all that it had to do was to divert to
coal carrying cars engaged in hauling
for other lines of industry. When we
all grow calm again we will better ap-
preciate that the fuel administration
has adopted the one course that offered
prompt solution of a national peril
The trouble with us Americans is
that we have not been suffering from
the war. What is actually the first
u hlnu, huc IN
like it, 1t wasn't to be anticipated
that he would. We think that when
we send our sons across and con-
tribute TO the various patriotic funds
that we have done all that is expected
Of US. But we have not. The war has
been going on for three years in
Europe. II is just beginning to reach
this side, in calls for individual sacri-
fee, The few days OF business suspen-
sion asked will be ended before we
have finished worrying about the great
hardship that we feel we are expert
enfing, and we will have averted a
national crisis. When each sits down
and computes his share he will dis
cover that he has not been hurt halt
as seriously as he imagined.
In other words, when your nation
calls you, be ready and willing to meet
its requirements. You are part of the
United States government. The Unit
ed States must win the war. Each
citizen has a part to play. The ma
tional shutdown will affect pretty
nearly everybody in one way or an
other. Let's be with the government
and prepared TO do its bidding at every
4 a.
fence us somewhat. Let us cheerfully
do, what We 1lave been asked to dc
and hope that the next pinch won't &c
deeper than the present one.