The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-12-06
MUCH WORK Being
DONE BY VOLUNTEERS

UOHL III VUlUN tkEnU
Chicago, Dec. 3.-AIore strenuous
efforts were put forth today by State
and municipal officials and represen-
tauives OF industry over the country
10 conserve the remaining supply Of
bituminous coal and in the producing:
States TO replen!sh this; supply.
The day was marked 10y more shut
downs and restrictions and added re-
ports Of distress especially in The
West and Southwest There were ol-
most no reports OF increased produt:-
ton.
Summarized tho fuel situation to-
night stood as follows:
;; Federal troops were ordered to
Oklahoma tonight 10 protect volrn !;
s.-a,. miners.
Gov. Frederick D. Gardner of Mis-
souri, announced that his State would
:: take over the surface mines in Barton
/, county for operation b. volunteers
unless the miners resun ed work b;
tomorrow night at the II per cent. in
crease in wages.
State troops are on the ground for
emergency purposes.
Eleven strip mines were IN opera
ton by the State TO-DAY in Kansas.
Trouble was encountered there when
g. switching crew Oh the Santa re
refused TO move 4 train hauling vol
untcers and soldiers to :he pits.
Governor McKeivie Of Nebrasik:,
20 orl/o, 20
for the mines IN producing States and
an offer was made to furnish Mis-
sourl with such a contingent.
Wyoming was another State that
today was facing the system Of volun-
teeT ,:i;ning as a result Of the chaotic
situation there. Although union Off
Gals had ordered strikers to resume
work many of the miners were idle.
Chicago and northern Illinois indus
try and business will be put or six
and one-half hour q day working
basis tomorrow, the Illinois public
utilities commission announced today.
A similar order Will be issued for
southern Illinois tomorrow.
Operators in Iowa prepared an ultI-
matum giving the union miners until
December to return to work. II
work is not resumed by that date the
mines will be reopened with whatever
competent labor can be obtained, ac-
cording to the operators.
AT indianapolis the government iltea
information chB1Sing 81 officials of
t>, UeMs4 Es.ae Workers Of Amer
I sfcf criminal contempt based On
alleged violation Of Judge Anderson's
injunction against strike.
Six men, officials and Office. en-
r-,oyees of a mining company, we:e
killed by an. explosion in mine near
Clinton, Ind while they were at
tempting to mine enough coal to sup
ply the boilers.
The railroad administration an
nounced a system Of discountable
credit slips acceptable ut all federal
reserve banks to pay operators i'm
mediately for co;l shipment.
FC,,r Of the u blast furnaces OF
the Gary steel works were banked
and Il shut down OF two more this
week was in prospect.
Two moves against, alleged prof.
tcering were started. At ST. Louis the
Southwestern regional ccal commit
tee asked Fuel Administrator Garfield
to fix a maximum for fuel oil ecral
to prices before the miners went on
st, Ike. In Kansas Attorney General
Hopkins ordered an inquiry into re-
ports of profiteering in the sale Of
wood.
With nearly zero weather in some !
Of the Western States the situation
wAs becoming almost unbcarble. At !
I,1Icrial, Neb. not q pound of c"a; !
vas N The town and the people VIC
.,,:ruiu; fence posts for fuel. Belfast
and Wayside, Neb., also are out OF !
coal AT some places ear corn is w.
in.; burned .ill schools at Cedar
f;api(:s. Ind. will close tomorrow. Al
Virginia, H.. Eli schools locked their /
doo"s today.
Scores Of kilograms were received
by executives of many States appeal
ing for relief from the precarious sit
uation.
Governors OF three States. Robert
D. Cay Of WyoninS. Samuel z. Nc
Ke,yie of Nebraska and Olive :.
Shoup OF Colorado. will confer at
Denver tomorrow on the coal situa-
ton. The purpose OF the conference.
aceording to Governor Shoup is TO
yurE ol;t some plan for Il satisfactory
distribution ot coal.
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