The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-12-02
WAR RICIDITY
EXCEEDED BY
COAL ORDERS
Most Extensive Shutdown OF
Industry in History Faces
Nation if Coal Strike is Not
Settled Soon.
FACTORIES may CLOSE
(By Associated Press)

ny lC6AOA0A OOo4 CoAAAlItCCo VhCAo ho l
pinch of necessity had been felt. to- |
day were extended throughout the |
nation under an order Of the federal !
fuel administrator. The most exten- |
sive shutdown of industry In history
was in prospect and domestic consum- !
ers were preparing to endure priva- |
tion and discomfort as the strike Of
bituminous coal miners entered its
second month.
Only in Kansas where volunteers
worked in the strip pits under protecc
tion Of state and federal troops, and
in the New River fields of West V1r-
g1nia, was there prospect today Of In
creased production. In the former z
pits were worked and In West Vlr-
ginia operators said normal produc-
tion was ia sight by the ead Of the
week.
Throughout the remainder Of the
country, however. miners apparently
remained steadfast in their determina-
tion not to return to work under the
II per cent wage increase ordered by
the federal government and aeeeded
to by the operators
In Wyoming new labor troubles
threatened to decrease the small
amount OF coal being brought out. Ex-
cept for brief shut-downs at the be-
SHINING Of the strike and twice since.
the mines in that state generally had
maintained operation.
Members of the railroad brother
hoods in Kansas today were expected
to act on a resolution adopted last
night to request authority to refuse to
handle coal mined by non-union work.
crs.
Fuel Further curtaiIed.
Under the sweeping order of Fuel
Administrator Garfield, limiting deliv-
cry of fuel or power only to essential
consumers in the first five classes of
the war priorities list, curtaiiment of
production was in prospect in factor.
les turning out boots and shoes. brass
aand-~bronze manufactures. clothing.
machinery, except where specifically
exempted. iron and steel, jewelry.
marble and stone products, musical
instruments, paper goods, newsprint
excepted, rubber goods, cigars, wag-
ons and carriages, wood manufactur-
ers, sheet and metal productions,
leather goods, mattresses, paints and
varnishes. Photographic supplies and
miscellaneous non-essentials.
Theatres, motion picture shows and
all other places Of amusement faced
complete shutdown. Churches and
schools also were Included in the
category although efforts were being
made to postpone closing schools as
long as possible.
Bakeries. except those producing
only bread, also fe1l under the ban.
as did confectioners and certain pack
ing plants.
In some. Of these industries, how
ever, an immediate shutdown might be
forstalled if the regional coal COM
.mittees allow them to operate until
their present supply of coal was ex-
thausted.
Many operators today hoped work
in the mines would soon be resumed
runder inducement Of the. increased
wage scale and the government and
'public appeal. On the other hand,
John L. Lewis, acting president Of the
miners. declared the government must
redeem ''its pledge to the miners of
a 81 per cent increase" Lewis said
that the situation was unchanged as
far as the miners were concerned. He
would not predict the next move to
end the tie up.
No Suffering Vet.
Despite low temperatures that have
spread over the west for the last few
days but little actual suffering be-
cause Of the fuel shortage today had
been reported. In Nebraska where
near zero weather prevailed, Kilgore
p had been without coal 10 days. West.
ern Kansas, also without coal several
days, today We're to obtain an emerg
ency supply. the first taken from the
strip pits Of that state.
Suspension of all traffic on the St
Louis and San Francisco railroad lines
out of Oklahoma City today was said
10 be matter of hours unless coal
was supplied. All railroad traffic
lnieht be tied up at Oklahoma City
b; the end of the week. railroad Of
ftcials there said.
In Indiana. state officials express
cd the hope that enough coal could be
mined Immediately to furnish state
institutions with coal.
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 2.-State Off
Gals today were hopeful Of early re
sumption Of operation Of mines in In
diana which furnish state institution:
with coal This hope resulted from
a conversation held by Governor Jane:
p. Goodrich last night with Edward
Stewart of Terre Haute, president O
District No. II, United Mine Workers
who, the governor said, agreed to g
to Evansville today and discuss witt
miners the advisability Of resumint
work to supply the state institution:
with fuel.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,. Dec. p Thu
miners have not utilized the full
strength of their organization, Franl
harrington, president OF the 1llioni
miners. said today, in a statement II
which he declared that there is ;
likelihood that should the bituminou
miners find themselves hard pressed
in this case, that the anthracite miner!
NAV decide to come to their aid