The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-04-11
CONTEND THAT IOWA COAL
SHOULD HAVE PRECEDENCE.
tlNDHSTRYaIN CRITICAL STAGE.
This Is No Time For Long Hauls BY
Railroads, Especially If consump-
ton of Foreign Product Forces
Local Mines To Close.

proclamation TO all miners IN Iowa mas
been issued from the State Headquar-
ters, United Mine Workers of America
District No. 10:
ut has been brought to our atten.
ton that certain influences in Iowa
lave been successful in having the
coal zones changed so as to let coal
mined in Illinois and Eastern Ken
lucky come across the state of Iowa,
INST why any one should seek such
ange Is indeed mystery as the
zones as arranged by experts would
ALLOW Iowa mines to operate more
stea lily, giving the mine workers of
This state an opportunity TO earn o
livelihood and at the same time allow
Illinois and Kentucky coal to go east
ard supply war trade.
Z 5 you will recall, according to press
reIorts, II has been but few weeks
since the British government was com
pc led to ship coal in to New York
H. Dor in order TO take her ships
ba k home therefore we feel that it is
areat mistake for the coal zones tc
X be hanged and let down the bars TO,
east ,rn coal to come into the state
OF Iowa.
II as been proven conclusively that
tie railroad facilities are inadequate
to care for the coal industry of this
country therefore mixing long
hauls o' ea stern coal another burden
to the industry which in our opinion
is wrong.
No Time For Ease Now.
II 3 contended by some that there
is lc, 4 work and probably little more
com ,ort in using the better grades OF
cia but when we take into considera
ton that brave Amerisans are sacri
fioinG their lives for those who are
left 1T home to burn said COAL it
seems that loyal Americans would be
wiling to do their bit and give up
the luxury of getting best grades of
coal while the blood of the flower o.
American manhood is being spilled on
tho attlefields of France.
We are also of the opinion that If
wivee and mothers are willing to
I give Up their husbands and sons fol
"oid Glory" then all liberty loving
slr9a leans should see to it that they
~ III are giving up their lives for US
shcGld not wnt for anything that il
is possible for us to give them, there.
fore the people of this state should
be willing to burn Iowa coal and let
the Eastern coal go to the sea border
where it belongs. .....
Let Blame Rest Where 1t Belongs.
We contend that We should make
our position clear and advise the PEG
pie of Iowa as TO the true conditions
Of the mining industry of this state
so vat when the critical time comes
VIII !, is inevitable let the blame
rest where it belongs. 1t is our opin-
|. ion that If the time comes when ships
q hre tied up in our harbors for the
ywant of coal as they were short while
lago, fathers and mothers who have
} sons on the battle fields of France
will want to know the reason why AMI
some of those who are trying to- regu-
late an industry that they know alb
solutely nothing about will no doubt
be found in very embarrassing posi-
ton
Helping the Government.
IS but a few weeks since the
mircs of Iowa were asked to set
aside their agreement in order to re-
lieve he distress incident to the short.
age which they willingly did. Now
when many OF the mines of Iowa are
closed Town as result of no orders
we advised by the press that
great il.tluences are at work to let
Eas err coal come into Central and
Western Iowa which will work a
hard hin on the miners and business
interests of this state, in addition to
being absolutely unfair to our soldiers
in France who are willing to sacrifice
their lives for us, therefore we ad-
wise the secretaries upon receipt of
this circular to have local presidents
call special meetings and pass resolu.
tons, forwarding same to DR.. H. A..
Garfield, Federal Fuel Administrator,
Washington, ID. c., requesting that the
coal zone of Iowa be arranged so that
the Iowa miners can earn a livelihood
and at the same time the people of
thi state will be doing their patriotic
duty to the boys who are fighting
to put an end to military despotism.
Industry In Critical Stage.
Brothers. act quick, as We believe
the good people of Iowa are loyal
enough to- fheirscountry to use Iowa
coal whenmtheSrare acquainted with
the facts that in the month of March
the Iowa mines worked only half as a
result of no orders, therefore approx
imately $4,000 tons of coal were left
in the Iowa mines while our allies
We're short while ago unable to get
food supplies from this country as a
result Of coal shortage.
We request that you take this mat
fer up with the Federal Fuel Admins.
traitor of Iowa, ziz: Chas. Webster.
State House, Des Moines, Iowa. your
Representatives in Congress and In