The sun., 1918-01-18
Garfield's Order Said tO
Have Complete Support
of the President. -
FACES POLITICAL CRISIS
Congress Almost Openly Re.
bells Against Enforced In
dustrial Suspension.
30. 100000 ARE AFFECTED
Senator Reed Says Loss in
Wages and Value of Products
Is $1.5OO.OOO,OOO.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11.-Assured Of
the complete support of President
Wilson and without waiting for the
Se1ate to exercise its opinion, DR..
Harry \. Garfield. Federal Fuel Ad.
ministrator. late this afternoon for.
mally signed the fuel conservation or.
der which creates five industrial and
nine complete holidays in territory
east Of the Mississippi River. Twenty
minutes after the si-uttlown order he.
came effective the Srlatc by vote Of
~ to 10 adopted n resolution urging
DIR. Garfield to postpone action in in.
dustrai curtailmcnt
Or. Garfield had indicated that he
would give consideration Ia any uc.
tion OF the Senate, but although II
was common knowledge that the plnn
faced an adverse vote the Fuel Ad.
mlnistrator signed tie regulation Just
partment placed it before him in its
final form. Except for changes Of
language made by legal advisers the
order Is the same as that given out
by the Fuel Administration yesterday.
Administration Faces Crisis.
\ situation almost without prece-
dent in the history Of the country and
certainly without a parallel since the
outbreak OF the present war has been
precipitated by DIR. Garfield's order
For the first time since the declaration
or war Congress almost openly rebelled
at ono of the Presidents war policies
The Administration is facing Tonight
the most critical period in its history
The fact that DIR. Garfield, appar-
emily with the full approval of the
President and the open support Of at
least some members of his Cabinet,
signed the order without waiting for
the Senate resolution has brought
about situation between the eyccu-
tive and legislative branches oe the
Government which may change the
whole current OF affairs. The iron
hand of tho Executive for the first
time has been applied in what some re-
gard as defiance OF the expressed
wishes OF a body which has heretofore
given support OF the Administration
policies without regard to party lines
The effect OF this has been Ia bring all
Of the Presidents policies under
searching review and TO fan into flame
such resentment that has long sinoul.
dered.
No Sign OF weakenins.
Messages OF protest. addressed 10
the White House and to the Fuel Ad-
ministraton, swamped the wires into
Washington tonight. In fact il was
said that the flood Of incoming mes-
sages was the greatest that has been
experienced in the capital Tho pro-
tests came from all sections of the
country and bore an unanimous plalnt,
that the fuel restriction order was too
drastic and that ample warning should
have been given the industries of tn.
nation to prepare for the swee ping
effects of the decision of the Fuel Ad-
ministration.
So tense is the feeling here that the
belief persists in many minds that the
President will bring about a nlodiftca-
tion OF the order. but in the face OF the
flood of protests there was no sign of
weakening on the par, of Mr. Wilson.
II was stated at the White House this
afternoon that the President intended 10
stand by DR.. GARFIELD. Before the 10.
suance OF the order Dr. Garfield was in
tel"phonc communication with the Pres.
| ident and again shortly after the order
| was signed.
There ls an inclination in Cabinet cir
cles TO put the entire sponsibility for
the initiation of this programme upon
DR., Garfield and the Fuel Adninistra
tion, but having done this to stand by
the Fuel Administrator and see il
through.
| Prediction was made by member
OF the Cabinet that the first few work
less days would so relieve the railroad
congestion that the country would real
ize the necessity and wisdom of Mr..
Garfeld's drastic remedy. This led 10
the belief that the order might be re-
scindcd after the first few days on Tie
ground that its results had so far ex-
c-eded expectations that further resort
TO this measure was unnecessary. The
comparatively mild weather OF to-day
brought the added intimation that the
order might not remain effective during
its prescribed fourteen day course.
! The exten, to which American indus
try will be paralyxed was given frA
DEFINITE form when Senator Reed said
in the Senate discussion that the wide
spread closing OF industry would affect
3O,O0O.O0O people. that II would cause q
loss Of sees 900 900 in wages and that
the total loss. including products
would be between sl,5oo,o0o 900 ami