The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-18
luke A BOLT FROM THE BLUE.

On the statement of one man that
az was a war time necessity, fully
half Of the Industries OF the states
Feast of the Mississippi river have
aeen suspended for five days and
win be suspended one day a week
rfor ten weeks thereafter.
Like a thunderbolt from a clear
sky came the order OF the fuel COM
missioner yesterday and despite the
request OF the senate for five days
delay. the order was executed last
evening ana takes effect today.
The people were told by the fuel
administrator that the fuel shortage
was due to transportation. Priority
orders failed to remedy that, and
overnight the railroads Of the coun-
try were placed under government
control. It was expected that this
would solve the problem, for 1t lay
within the power Of Secretary Nc
bAdoo to permit the railroads to carry
nothing but coal IL such q move were
necessary,
But the nine days wonder Of the
railroad move had not subsidized, when
yahe new order arrived.
What is to be gained by such an
aorder, It is difficult TO see. The less
important Industries could, without
Fthe order, be denied future supplies
OF coal until the important industries
were supplied. Priority orders could
divert the coal supply to any chan
.nels the fuel administrator selected.
But even those industries which
thave supplies OF coal on hand, are
ordered to cease fuel consumption.
Their supplies are not commander
led, so what is gained? Would it not
have been possible to let such in
dustries continue until their sup
piles were exhausted, at least? Mean
while tho more important demands
could be filled with the new sup
plies. What is gained by closing all
of them? The loss is self-evident.
On top Of it, the fuel administrator
suggests that manufacturers pay
their employees for the time lost, No
employer wants to see his men lose
their wages for the lost time. Many
OF them, probably, will comply with
the request. But does the fuel ad
rministrator realize what he Is asking
Of the manufacturers so glibly? The
Forum, for example,, is a manufaC-
turing establishment. Its payroll for
a week represents the net profits for
several weeks Of operation, and in
some factories where the payroll
represents a higher percentage Of to-
ftal cost Of production, weeks pay
roll might equal the net profits Of two,
three or four months.
II is an unfair issue to raise be-
tween employers and employees. The
employer may be totally unable to
meet such a drain on top Of heavy
war taxes, subscriptions to war
funds, and difficulty in maintaining
credit with the money markets so
tight. Yet If he refuses, he will be
put in the light of not treating his
men fairly, no matter how strongly
he may be inclined to shoulder the
load.
The Forum does not pretend to
SAY whether or not the order was
necessary. Many well informed men |
say it was not and that far less
drastic steps would have sufficed. |
But if the order was necessary, it |
There is no merit whatever in the |
priority system, or there is not |
enough coal being produced in the |
country to meet the first class of |
needs, such as those Of householders
ships, railways and munition plants. |
But the order is here and there is
no alternative but to obey it.