Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1918-08-15
WILSON WARNS Of
COAL SHORTAGE
Asks Operators and Miners to
Speed Production.
FUEL SCARCITY Is WAR PERIL
Executive in Proclamation Appeals to
All Persons Engaged in Coal Min
ing to Take Prompt Action to
Remove Menace.

Washington, Aug II. - President
Wilson, aroused over the grave dan
ger in the coal situation Of the coun-
try and continuing decreases in pro-
duct1on, addressed a proclamation on
Sunday to all persons engaged in coal
ming, calling for prompt and vigor-
Gus action by operators and miners.
Text of Proclamation.
The text of the presidents procla-
nation reads:
The existing scarcity of coal is
creating a grave danger-in fact, the
most serious which confronts us-and
calls for prompt and vigorous action
on the part of both oprators and min
ers. Without an adequate supply our
war program will be retarded the eff
fectiveness of our fighting forces in
France will be lessened; the lives OF
our soldiers will be unnecessarily en-
dangered and their hardships in
creased, and there will be much suffer
ing in many homes during the winter
Il am well aware that your ranks
have been seriously depleted by the
the demands Of other essential indus
tries. This handicap can be over
come, however, and sufficient coal can
be mined in spite of it, if every one
connected with the industry, from the
highest official to the youngest boy,
will give his best work every day for
the full number Of working hours.
Should Work Every Day.
1.-THE operators must be jealous as
never before to bring about the high
est efficiency Of management, to estab-
fish the best possible working cOndi-
tons and to accord fair treatment to
everybody, so that the opportunity to
work at his best may be accorded
every workman.
'The miners should report for work
every day unless prevented by I'M
voidable causes, and should not only
stay in the mines the full time but also
see to it that they get out more coal.
''The other workers in and about the
mines should work as regularly and
faithfully, so that the work Of the
miner may not be retarded in any
way. This will be especially neces-
sary from this time forward, for your
numbers may be further lessened by
the draft, which will induct into the
army your fair share of those not es-
sential to industry
Must Work Hand in Hand.
'Those who are drafted but who are
essential will be given deferred classi-
fcation, and it is their patriotic duty
to accept it. And it is the patriotic
duty of their friends and neighbors to
hold them in high regard for doing
so. The only worker who deserves the
condemnation Of his community is the
one who fails to give his best in this
crisis, not the one who accepts de-
ferred classification and works regu-
larly and diligently to increase the
coal output.
A great task is to be performed.
The operators and their staff alone
cannot do it, nor can the mine workers
alone do it, but both parties, working
hand in hand, with grim determine
ton to rid the country of it's greatest
obstacle to winning the war, can do
it. 1t is with full confidence that
call upon you to assume the burden of
producing an ample supply Of coal
You will, I am sure, accept this bur-
den, and will successfully carry it
through; and in so doing you will be
performing a service just as, worthy as
service in the trenches, and will win
the applause and gratitude of the
whole nation.
WOODROW WILSON,.
"The White House, Aug. 9, 1918"