The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-11
FEDERAL ACTION
URGED TQAVERT
FAMINE IN COAL
anthracite Shortage Is
Certain Unless Remedial
Steps Are Taken.
r. S. INQUIRY IS NEEDED
Garfield and War Labor Board
Advised to Put Wheels
Into Motion.
Z. S. INQUIRY IS NEEDED
~ HENRY ROOD.


ny HENRY ROOD.
Special Despatch to TBE stS.
wILXEsBARRE, Aug. 1o.-Forty million
americans who are dependent upon an
hracite coal fo- their health, comfort
and A considerable part Of their indus
rial life. should lose no time in prepar-
I'M, against a shortage in anthracite this
coming winter.
or the coal year. beginning April
&, already tour months have passed {:
these four being the months when the
largest supply OF hard coal ordinarily Is
mined, transported. sold and delivered
into coal cellars OF residences, apart
n.nts. hotels, office buildings. churches,
schools. hospitals Libraries and other in
strtutions From three to four months
still remain before the severe storms of
winter are expected to stall coal trains
and otherwise seriously interrupt the
flow Of anthracite from mine to con-
suner's cellar
II is utterly futile to imagine that
August. September, October and Mo-
vemoer will see enough anthracite mined
10 cover the quota needed for these
excess to make UP the enormous reserve
supply ordinarily laid In by millions Of
househoders each spring.
what Ma Avert shortage.
Nothing but a winter as unprecedent-
.dly mild as last winter was unprece-
tsntly severe. can possibly avert coal
fkortage If the coming winter begins
karly, compelling early firing up Of heat
lag plants and furnaces: and particu>
larry II II in any way approaches the
severity of last winter. the shortage Of
srthracite may reach famine proper
ions.
That, briefly. is the situation as 1t pre-
ssnts itself after careful Investigation
IN the anthracite fields as well as in
.'Ii.v in Washinetnn. II 10 not brought
forth with intention Of causing alarm,
Or even undue apprehension. But con-
s't!ons to-day are such that they must
be faced unflinchingly sober minded
men and women should lose no time in
nrerariny to economic fuel in every
possible way.
Among all the people with whom
have talked. in the anthracite regions
turing the last two weeks. not a single
nan has the slightest doubt that the
country is facing an anthracite shortage.
But a surprising difference OF opinion has
developed as to what Is responsible for
the critical situation. There is plenty
a anthracite in the ground. unlimited
Quantities waiting to be mined and
transported to communities that are
clamoring for it. The question now
uppermost is why enough OF the fuel
has not been provided for the needs Of
Atty million Americans who are de-
pendent upon IT.
Two Parties to Controversy.
There are two parties to the contro-
versy SO vitality affecting the public.
One is composed of coal operators and
railway men. The other party consists
Of the mine workers. Several weeks ago
the spokesman FOR the operators COM
m!ttee, with headquarters in Philadel-
ph!a, told me that the whole trouble lies
IN shortage Of mine labor; that the rail-
roads have AL the cars needed to carry
all the coal that can be mined that
while there Is a great labor shortage in
the anthracite regions there Is no car
shortage AZ all-and this mans words
were printed in THE sun.
Immediately thereafter a storm Of
protest broke out in the anthracite fields.
Miner after miner Indignantly denied
that there is FULL and adequate supply
:. cars. And within a few days Frank
P Hayes, president of the United Mine
Workers began a campaign tour of the
whole region, addressing one great audi
ence OF mine workers after another. and
according TO reports everywhere insist
Ing that the country would be flooded
with coal II miners could have enough
cars TO load. cars within the mines as
well as railway cars.
For thirty years the labor unions and
the operators have been carrying on al
most ceaseless warfare. apparently to
the advantage Of neither and of interest
10 the consumer only when strikes raised
me price of his fuel or made 1t exceed
lngly scarce. But the present contro-
versy is OF great importance to the con.
slmer 20 every man and woman and
child who needs anthracite in zero
weather.
Early Settlement Urgent.
Furthermore. it Is a controversy that
h.