Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-11-28

Situation Critical
Chicago, Nov. as Cold weather
with snow and sleet storms to-day
had spread over the Middle West and
Southwest and rendered more critical
the fuel situation brought about by
the strike of bituminous coal miners,
who have been idle four weeks. In
many small cities and towns the coal
shortage was acute, with actual suf
fcring in prospect in some. Modera-
tion of the cold wave by tomorrow,
was forecast.
In the large producing coal fields of
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania
and West Virginia, the miners appar-
emily were firm in their determina-
tion not to return to work until some
wage adjustment was agreed on. In
fact some district officials of the
United Mine Workers in West Vir-
ginia predicted that many men who
had returned TO work would walk out
again to-day. Some operators in that
state, however, asserted that produc-
tion to-day would be increased.
With no prospect of immediate re-
sumption of production in sight, and
nc indication of what the next step
by the Government toward providing
fuel would be, following breaking off
of the miners and operators negotia-
tions at Washington, efforts of Cover
nor Henry j. Allen, of Kansas, to OBJ
tain volunteers to mine coal, and the
announcement by Frederick ID. Gard
ner. governor of Missouri, that he
would call a conference of governors
OF coal producing states unless the
government acted to-day, attracted
attention.
The most drastic conservation meas
ures announced by any of the larger
cities to-day had been ordered into
effect at Kansas City. Mo, next Sun
day. Schools. theaters and all places
OF amusement were ordered closed
The less essential manufa curing
plants will be closed Immediately the
fuel administration announced. and
others will be listed in the orders of
Importance. Coal from the schools
supply will be distributed to domes-
tic consumers.
Trains May Stop
In Chicago to-day there were re-
newed reports that train schedules
were to be curtailed. but there was
no confirmation from Walker ID.
Hines. director general of railroads.
Virtually all the mines had re-
manned in operation or where work
had been resumed were idle yester-
day, it being a holiday. but those
mines generally were expected to con-
tinue production to-day despite break
ing up of the Washington conference.
There were no reports of changes in
the general situation as regarded the
miners over the holiday period.
The conference of governors which
Governor Gardner said he would call,
provided the Government failed to
act, probably would be held at st.
Louis, Chicago, or Indianapolis. He
indicated the states might take over
the fninaS a fhafn
Gardner recently was appointed'chair-
man of the committee to devise means
to lower the living cost by the COVER.
nors' conference at Salt Lake City.
Appeals for Volunteers
EVERY department of human life is
bound up in the ISSUE" said a state
ment by Governor Allen, of Kansas,
concerning his appeal for volunteers
tn dig coal TO protect the people of
Kansas. whose suffering would be
unspeakable unless relief is afforded"
MIR. Allen said. that is not in any
sense a strike breaking enterprise"
and that the states poer would be
used only to relieve the coal famine
and to protect the lives of those en-
gagged in carrying out the effort
Messages were received by the gov
srnor from men from Kansas, Mis-
souri, and Texas Offering to work in
tne mines. Ihe response is nne Tor
the first day." he said. Arrange
ments for moving the men into the
coal fields were being worked out to-
day.
The question of jurisdiction over So
prisoners arrested at Carneyville,
Wyo., by Federal troops acting with
Federal officials and the county sher-
ift to-day remained undecided. They
~.tiii were held in Jail