Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1919-11-06

a PROCLACATl0N~
TO the People Of the State 81 Iowa.;
A disagreement having arisen as to
the wages and hours Of the bitumin-
GUS coal miners Of the United States,
q strike has been declared throug hout
this entire field, taking place Novem
Der LIST, 1919.
There is less coal in the bins Of
both private and commercial consum-
ers than under normal conditions at
this time of the year. Many families
Of the state are practically without
coal at this time, and a considerable
number of commercial consumers have
only enough coal to last a few days.
This means that homes will be cold
and laborers thrown out Of employ
ment in short time unless something
is done to relieve the situation.
If the strike continues, the produc-
ton of coal will cease. All the coal
that the state will have for consump-
tion during the strike is the. amount
that is either on track, in the hands
Of the retailers, or in the bins of the
consumers of the state.
Under our form Of government, in
an emergency Of this kind, the burden
OF relieving the situation, as far as
possible, falls within the state, upon
the office of the Chief Executive Of
the State. The power is also vested
in this office to do whatever is posi-
BILE and reasonable to relieve the
situation.
! therefore appoint Charles Web
ster Of Waucoma, Iowa, Fuel Admin
istrator of the State in. the present
emergency, to act until the federal
government organizes to take charge
Of distributions. further authorize
him to appoint fuel administrators
throughout the counties and cities Of
the state, said administrators to work
through and under the advice and in
struction of the State Fuel Admins
tration. The duties and responsible
ties of said state and local fuel adj
ministration is to take charge Of the
distribution Of coal within the state.
call upon the people of the state
for cooperation and assistance as fol-
lows:
First, retail coal dealers to coopar-
ate with state and local fuel admins
tration to see to it that the coal, with
in the state is, as far as possible, dis
tributed (a) so as to obviate suffer-
lag in the home (b) to keep indus
tres going SO that as few as possible
are thrown out of employment.
z Sec md, every person, regardless of
tie a.aos.nt of coal they may have in
Their Gossession. to conserve in every
way possible, notla pound of coal that
is not absolutely necessary should be
used for any purpose by anyone in
this emergency.
Third, every person should use other
kinds of fuel wherever possible.
Fourth, those who have a goodly
supply of coal on hand should CO.
operate with the Fuel Administration
both state and local, as we'll as with
local dealers. to see to it that the peo-
pie who are without coal for home
consumption are not left to suffer.
Fifth, those who have coal for sale
should avoid profiteering or an un-
reasonable margin of profit because of
the critical situation in which we now
find ourselves.
Wherefore, by virtue Of authority
in me vested, l, W. L. Harding, Gov
ernor of the Safe of Iowa, proclaim
the above to be the policy Of the state
in reference to the distribution of
coal during the time of the present
strike, and call upon all the people of
the state to assist in Carrying out this
policy; and further clothe the APP
pointees hereunder with full power to
act in the distribution of coal, to the
end that. as far as possible, suffering
be avoided.
In witness whereof, have hereun-
to set my hand and caused to be af-
fixed the Great Seal Of the State of
Iowa.
Done in Des Moines this 1st day of
so E.. Z
November, A. d. 1919.
W. L. HARDING,
By the Governor:
w. G. Ramsey,
Secretary Of State.