The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-18
Chicago-Lead City in Indus
trial MISUNDERSTANDING.
Half Million Workers Take
Forced Rest of Five Days.
AGREE TO Be "GOOD SOLDIERS"
Middle West Complying With
Little Dissatisfaction.
Some VIII Pay Wages, but Va.
cation Jobs Are Available.

Chicago. Jan 1S.-A billion dollars
worth of capital was loafing in Chi
cago today, made idle by Fuel Ad-
ministrator Garfields coal conserva-
ton order.
About a half million workers. with
a combined daily wage of a million
dollars will have little to do for the
next five days but watch their living
expenses mount, it was estimated
Seventy five per cent of these are in
dustrial employees.
Many concerns will pay their work
ers regular or part wages during the
lay-off.
Production at the rate of a billion
and half dollars year has been
stopped. Chicago is the first city IN
the United States in the amount OF
money invested in manufacturing in
dustries, and the second in produc-
ton.
Chicago business men and COM
merciaI organizations carried their
fight for a modification OF the oroer
up to it's signing late yesterday by
DR.. Garfield When this was done,
however, they resolved to be good
soldiers and carry out its provisions
in every detail
The whole middle west took the
same attitude.
plans were under way today to en-
Workmen in clearing away the RECORD
snowfall in this section, still DOCK
ing many railroad switches, mines anu
manufacturing plants
State Fuel Administrator Wli1ans
issued list of general rules, inter-
nretine the Garfield order in It's ap-
plication to Illinois. His ruling tnat
'.aII industries, other than those whose
principal business is the production Oh
food or fuel or their distributor, are
affected" was accepted as plaItica a.
exemption for the big packing plants
at the Union Stock yards. Many OF
the packers anticipated the order yes
terday, however, by voluntarily clos
ing all departments not engaged in
production of perishable articles
Question of Wages.
The matter of wages being paid to
idle employees will be determined py
the various industries individually
The state food administration urged
the formation of welfare clubs to AID
employees and suggested advancement
of wages to persons receiving less than
So day, but it was indicated today
that the majority of employers will be
unable to pay workers who are laid
off.
The same situation that prevailed in
Chicago was general turnout the mid
die west In Milwaukee. nearly a
quarter of a billion dollars in invested
S300, 100000.
TANK" Makers Keep on Working.
Peoria, ILL.,, Jan. 1S.-Twelve thou
sand men were thrown out of work
here today thru the Garfield closing
order. An effort is being made to Sc
cure exemption for the Holt Manu-
featuring company, employing 2,UuO
men, which is manufacturing tank
cars fo- war use. Practically every
industry in Peoria is engaged in war
work and consequently all have ap-
pealed for exemption Only a slight
number of manufacturers have an
nounced their intention of allowing
hibition of all illuminated signs was
put in force last night and will remain
in force until further notice.
Get Jobs in United States Arsenal.
Rock Island, ILL.,, Jan. 1S.-Indus-
tries in Rock Island and Moline and
vicinity generally shut down today in
response to the Garfield order. One
industry in this city employing SUI
men and one in Moline employing sew
eral hundred, but burning their own
refuse for fuel, were exempted by the
state fuel administration.
With $4,000 men idle it is planned
to find employment for many of these
at the Rock Island arsenal. and the
matter has been taken up with the
commandant. The arsenal is operat-
ing as usual, and it is expected that
many of the men from the local fac
tories will apply there and be given
employment.
While this may to some eX-
tent deplete the federal labor mar
ket, employers approved the move as
one that will furnish the men with
steady employment and allow to work
full time by the Garfield order.
Workers thrown out of employing mt
he tod fcv- = 1~e-t
by the shutdown order. according to
reports from factory men today.
The Western Cartridge company,
which employs about 500 men, is run
ming as usual under the exception
provision of the fuel conservation or