Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-13
EXEMPT THE MINE WORKERS
And Protect Them by Government Orders
From the Charge Of Being Slackers


From the Charge Of Being Slackers
EUEL ADMINISTRATOR GAR
FIELDS appeal to the coal miners to
stay in the mines is followed by procla'-
nation by the President calling upon all
mine workers to do full days work in
order that the effectiveness of our
soldiers in France may not be lessened
and in order also that there may be no
suffering in the homes of the people this
winter.
The President, however, announces
that the number of mine workers will be
still further reduced by the draft, but
that those who are drafted but are es-
sential in the mines will be given de-
ferred classification. He says that 1t IS
their patriotic duty to accept such deter-
ment and the patriotic duty Of their
friends and neighbors to hold them in
high regard for doing so.
1t is gratifying to this newspaper to
discover that the men in Washington are
at last awake to the gravity of the coal
situation. But they still are not going
and patriotic. They are anxious to do
their part toward winning the war. Be-
cause it has not been impressed on them
that they are fighting as really as though
they carried gun in the trenches many
of them are leaving the mines and refus-
ing to accept deferred classification and
donning the uniform when they are
called.
Mr.. Garfields statement was meant
well, but it was too placid to stir the
enthusiasm of single miner
The Presidents proclamation is more
vigorous and direct. 1t begins with the
declaration that the scarcity of coal is
creating grave danger, in fact the
most serious danger that confronts US.
If this be true, and there is no reason to
doubt 1t, placing the miners in de-
ferred classification is not enough to
remore the danger.
Nothing short of absolute exemption
of the mine workers from military serv-
ice on the ground that they can serve
their country better digging coal than
digging trenches will meet the necessi-
ties of the situation. We have pointed
this out time after time in these columns.
The current issue of the Mine Workers
Journal, of Scranton, demands it in order
that the miners may retain their self
respect and escape the charge of being
slackers. We know that they are not
slackers, but they need the guarantee
from Washington in express terms that
they are doing their full duty when they
remain in their present occupations.
The circular of the Miners Bank of
Wilkes Barre agrees in principle with
the Mine Workers Journal, for it de-
mands that some badge or insignia be
issued to the miners put into the de-
ferred classes in order that the men may
have tangible justification in the eyes of
their neighbors for remaining at their
posts Both of these demands come from
men familiar with the psychology of the
mine workers and with the mental atti-
tude of the residents of the mining re-
gions.
1t is no time for paltering. The sea-
son when the coal can be taken from the
mines with the greatest ease is growing
shorter with every day. The coal is there
in abundance. Transportation for it can
be provided when it is got out of the
| ground. The pressing task is to mine it.
| This cannot be done without the men,
and the men cannot be kept in the mines
in proper numbers unless the Government
wholly exempts them from military serv-
ice. The sooner the truth of this filters
into the minds of the men in Washington
the sooner will the danger of a fuel
famine disappear.
1t should be made clear to the whole
population in every mining region in
the country that the mine workers are
drafted for mine work and are serving
the cause of civilization by keeping at
their tasks. Then the finger of scorn can
no longer be pointed at able-bodied men
coming from the shafts, and when their
children ask them in the future what
they did in the great war they can reply
that they kept the munition factories
running and supplied the fuel that car
ried the soldiers to France and kept them
supplied with provisions, and that they
did so under Government orders.
How much longer must we wait for the
Government to issue such orders?