The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-17
is FOOLISH ACT
Michigan Senator Condemns
the Factory Closing Order.
Says Man Who Made Order
Ought To Be in Asylum.
IT'S BETTER THAN FREEZING
That Is Comment Made by' q
Labor Leader.
Workers VIII Have To Sacrifice
$4,000, 00v.
IT'S BETTER THAN FREEZING

Washington. Jan. Il. - senator
Townsend OF Michigan. CONNIE Nuns l
on the factory closing order OIL tiie
fuel administrator, said:
TT is an incredible order. A schooi-
hoy should have better Judgment
When we are so short OF war suppAes
he proposes to stop the making U
them. In Detroit and other manuIac-
turing cities of my state, vast auantl-
ties of work will be heN Up. nous
tries will be disorganized- twill take
them weeks 70 get on their reet- Inc
man who made that order ought 70 DC
in the insane asylum OF prison rather
than IN the office of fuel admfntstra-
tor"
said:
serve the supply on hand and aid IN
dustries to get on their feet again SUI
il will have a serious effect on the
nanv essential war manufactures of
Pennsylva MIA
senator Ransden, Of Louisiana, said:
MY state will be peculiarly fortu-
nate The chief industries are lun-
boring, where slabs are used for tuei; ;
and sugar refining, the season or
which is practically over There are
few cotton and tobacco mills which
must be closed. This is hard lesson
OF what sacrifices of war may mean
I cannot see now It's full necessity. but
! L
well what he IS doing"
People VIII Comply.
Julius RosenwaId, of Chicago, of the
council Of national defense, said that
tie action of the fuel administrators
was drastic but that he thought the
poople would comply as a matter OF
patriotism and war necessity
Il AXE it for granted. he said
&that If it is SO ordered that it will be
followed by the people because they
want to do what Is propen to WIN the
war OF course, If II specifies that m
dustries must be shut down for the
five DAYS it means that some people
are going to be out of work sfor the
five days. but of course, they might be
out of work for the same time from
other reAsous II will be a serious
thing to many OF the manufacturers
because their orders will be pIling up
for the time"
Senator Wesley Jones, of Washings
ton. questioned the wisdom of the pro
ceedings thus:
Il don't know that It is a good thin
to shut down all the industries. We
need the industries at WORK to heLp
out the war preparations 1t might De
better to shut down the theaters or
amusen1ent-s for d period rather than
to close the industries"
Senator Kenyon like many others
of the senator's who are now conduct
ing the probe into the coal situation
would not be quoted.
Better Than Freezing
It's better to lose five days wages
than to -freeze& said Frank Morrison,
/ secretary ot the American Federation
/ of Labor. He had Just been informed
( of the official order handed down by
! Fuel Administrator Garfield.
/ Morrison made a very rough esti-
mate that 100000 workers would be
/ left without employment each day at
an aggregate wage cost of SIS, 600. 600
But" he said. the worst of that
/ inconvenience would be the loss OF
/ wages for -he five days. That is, OF
/ course, a very serious thing. But it is
not as bad as being without fuel. es-
| peciaIIy when there are small children,
/ or the family is i'll
The state has the right to do any
thing for the benefit of the people.
/ he continued. Il remember when
was in Chicago the state of Illinois
+ considered communicating wheat. Su'
the main question was not whether this
state could commander the wheat. L
/ was whether it would have to pay fol
/ it or not. There was a serious QueS-
| tiOn that if the citizens were starving
the wheat could not be taken outrigh
4 without payment
The issue IS above all laws. The
president has decided to protect tn,
citizens and get fuel TO them Doctor
Garfield would know that the govern
ment has the right to protect its efti
zenS"