River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-01-24
INDUSTRIAL u. S.
PROTESTSORDER
American Business Men Send
Avalanche of kilograms to
Federal Fuel Administrator.
GARFIELD is ACCUSED
Charged With Usurping Power He
Does Not Possess Claims Lever
Bill Gives Authorqty-U. S. to
Take Coal Saved.

Bill Gives Authorty-U. S. to
Take Coal Saved.
Washington, Jan lS.-Industrial
America has risen in siolent protest
against the order of Fuel Administra-
tor Garfield suspending the operation
of virtually all great plants in the
Eastern half of the country for five
days.
Under an avalanche of thousands of
kilograms DR.. Garfield laid plans with
state aides for putting the order into
effect at midnight
Avalanche of Protests.
Dismay, confusion and vigorous
charges of inefficiency were revealed
in the protests of business men, That
the country does not believe the need
exists for the drastic step is plainly
evidenced. Unprecedented numbers of
kilograms flooded the White House,
protesting, demanding revocation of
the order, calling for DR.. Garfelds re.
moval from office, and pointing out
the dangers, nationally and interna.
tiOnally, of throwing the economic
status of the country into a furore.
Claims Authority.
Charges that Mr.. Garfield had
usurped powers he does not possess
were heard from all points, including
both Houses of Congress. To these
the fuel administration replied that
under the Lever bill and priority pow
ers, authority is granted for restrict
ing fuel, the measures providing pow
ers to stop shipments of fuel to any
consumer who fails to obey govern
ment mandates.
Government Confused.
The war government itself was con-
fused as to the scope of the Garfield
order. Hasty conferences between Mr.
Garfield and shipping board officials
resulted in the declaration that some
plants-among them the fabricating
steel plants, will close. There will be
no delay in the shipping program, how
ever, because sufficient supplies are
now en- route to yards to supply all
demands.
Explains MONDAY OFOeF.
Hundreds of questions revealed IN
clearness of the order to thousands of
communities affected
The Monday holiday order has
caused general confusion throughout
the country.
This order, Mr. Garfield explained
today, affects only the Eastern half of
the United States, but fuel administra-
tors in the Western states have the
power to enforce the Monday holiday
there also.
Must Rely on Newspapers.
| For the time being all must rely on
newspapers for information, and de-
tailed orders will be sent out as soon
as possible, Mr.. Garfield said. He will
issue, probably during the day,
public appeal to employers to continue
the pay Of their employees during the
time they are idle because of the fuel
order The government has no power
to enforce this request, but will call
on employers to take the step as a pa
triotic duty.
Would Protect Labor.
A request that labor be not allowed
to suffer during the five days or sub
sequent Mondays affected by the dras-
tic fuel order was made by Fuel Ad-
ministrator Garfield, who sent a tele-
gram to John P White of the United
Mine Workers of America saying:
| please state that orders closing in
dustries for five days will not slow
down mines. l am making provision
for that and also include in my appeal
request that labor be not allowed to
suffer during the five days or subse-
Quent Mondays affected by the order.
l feel confident the great mass of en-
ployers throughout the country will re-
gard this as necessary incident of
shifted to labor"
Government to Buy Coal.
Under a provision it was decided to
insert in the order the government
will become the purchaser of virtually
all coal produced in the five-day clos
| ing period.
Mines producing coal under contract
to industries which will be closed will
be directed to turn their output over
| to state fuel administrators under bill
of lading attached. The Treasury de-
partment will set aside $25,000,000 for
the purchase of this Goa.
Does Not Apply to OIL Wells.
Washington, Jan. 1S.-The fuel
ordel does not apply to oil wells,