The Washington times., 1918-01-08
D. e. COAL DEALERS.
ADOPT RULES FOR
.POOLMGFACILITIES.

could De consioered.
AdniaIstratIon's Letter.
The letter follows:
Jan. =, 1918.
"Mr. Fadeley, Chairman.
Goal Merchants Committee.
Warrington, D. c.
Dear Sir: Your communication con-
sisting OF the minutes of the meeting
held January 5, 1918, and then con
tlnued January 6. 1918, and a draft Of
rules and regulations to govern the
operation of the general coal trade in
the District OF Columbia, has been
received.
Before 1 consent to consider the
communication as presented to me by
you must ask for q full explanation
from the coal merchants OF the facts
and circumstances connected with
the publication in The Washington
Times of today of an advertisement
signed, GENERALIZATION Committee OF
Ten OF the Coal Dealers Of the. Dis
trict of Columbia
you communicated with me This
afternoon repudiating any respon-
sibility for this advertisement on the
part OF your committee.
Explanation Satisfactory.
You then Eaid over the telephone
to Commissioner Brownlow that you
would prepare a statement OF repudia-
tion and give it to the Washington
Post and the Washington Herald for
publication in the morning.
81 cheerfully accept your explana-
tion on behalf OF your committee, and
am now convinced after your state
ment to me that your committee had
nothing whatever to do with the pup
Iication Of the advertisement In ques-
tion.
However, any organization OF coal
dealers that will serve the public In
this emergency must be able to COM
mand the loyalty of the roal merch-
ants of the city. This publication
signed in this manner without your
knowledge OF the knowledge OF your
committee states that as yet your or
ganization does not command the nee
essary and adequate loyalty and sup
port.
'In view OF these considerations II
Is impossible for me to consider the
communication you have presented
until 1 have received from you repre-
sentInE the coal merchants. the full
explanation asked for above.
Awaits Reply.
81 will await your reply to this
communication in my office, 73S Fif-
teenth street. That reply should tell
me the name OF the man who inserted
the advertisement in The Washington
Times. It should also tell me def
nitely whether or not the communi-
cation presented to me today govern
ing the organization OF the general
coal trade has or has not the sup
port OF the entire group OF coal mer-
chants of the District OF Columbia.
Yours very truly,
FEDERAL FUEL ADMINISTRATOR
FOR THE DISTRICT OF CoLUM-
BIA"
Refuses to Sign.
Members OF the committee were
called upon to sign a formal dis
avewal of the advertisement. They
all complied with the exception OF
W. Hamilton Smith.
81 am informed that the advertise
ment was inserted by J. Maury Dove"
said Smith. 81 refuse to sign the pa
per; my loyalty and fealty TO Mr..
Dove forbid it. ! am now going to
stand by him"
Mr.. Smith offered his resignation
as chairman of the meeting. but II
was not accepted by the coal men.
A motion that the committee send
word to Mr.. Weaver that the coal
men stood by their committee as a
unit was carried. and also a repudIa-
tIon OF the action OF Mr.. Dove. Mr..
Fadeley then left to lay before the
fuel administrator the committees
exclamation "A called for
Enter J. Msury Dove
J. Maury Dove, Jr.. entered the
meeting while the coal men awaited
the arrival OF the fuel administrator,
and requested permission to make a
statement.
The Advertisement in The Times
was drawn up on Saturday by my
father and myself" said Mr.. Dove.
81 assume full responsibility for II.
II should have been signed by the
J. Maury Dove Company. The ad-
yertisement was to have been sub
mitted to the committee. The proofs
were brought me yesterday morning
for my approval Mr.. Smith was III
at his home, and was so rushed with
work that did not have time to
bring 1t before them, and hastily ap-
proved the proofs without making
the change in the signature. I have
nothing to retract."
Officials APPIauded.
Escorted by Mr.. FadeIey, John l..
Weaver, and Commissioner BrownIow
made their appearance in the hall. and
were greeted with prolonged applause.
Weaver announced his acceptance OF the
rules drafted BY the committee and con-
graduated the coal men on its prompt
action and workable plan Commits
sioner Brownlow also congratulated the
coal men on their attitude. and pledEed
the hearty cooperation OF himself and
his fellow commissioners.
SMALLPOX AT FLORENCE
]