The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-27
STARVING
FOR COAL
Serious Situation Faces Ma
TONS Industries, Operator
Head Declares.
TIE up IN TEN
DAYS PREDICTED
Mine Strikes in Midwest States
Are Spreading.
Strike Stream Into Flood Vol
ume Before Week End.
SUPPLY TWO TO TEN DAYS
Situation Laid Before President
Await His Action.
Kansas City Utilities on Hand
to Mouth Supply.
SUPPLY TWO TO TEN DAYS
Situation Laid Before President
Await His Action.
Kansas City Utilities on Hand
to Mouth Supply.

Chicago, July 27.-Staring for coal,
the nations industries will lapse into
unconsciousness before another ten
days of coal miners strikes, F. C.
Searles, president of the Illinois Coal
Operators association, unreservedly
predicted today.
Coal authorities thruout the mid
dlewest today concurred in the opin-
ion that Illinois, Indiana and Kansas
miners strikes threaten the most ser
fous situation the country has faced
industrially."
Flood Volume by Weekend.
Reports early today indicated the
strike was spreading. Further defec-
tions in Indiana and Kansas mines
were reported. Iowa operators were
to confer tomorrow regarding the pro-
posal Of miners that a joint confer
ence to be held TO consider the wage
question in possibilities of averting
strikes in that field. Authorities de-
cIaring the strike stream sweeping
eastward. anticipated it would break
into flood volume before the week
end.
THE available supply ranges from
two to ten days" Searles said today.
Railroads and some public utilities
have the largest supplies.
Car shortages and transportation
tangles have prevented anyone laying
in the usual large stocks prepared for
winter. The car supply has curtailed
production.
Await Presidents Action.
There is nothing the operators can
do but insist the miners comply with
their contracts. We have laid the sit
uation before President Wilson and
now await his action. We made no
recommendations but fully outlined
what condition faces the country. The
labor situation has not disturbed the
east, but reports indicate there is con-
siderable unrest there.
ANY increase granted miners nat
urally will increase the price for our
contract business Searles said He
said he was not able to estimate the
amount of increase to be handed down.
The public indirectly will have to pay
an increased price"
Little Hope in Hearing.
Searles said he held little hope fed
eral conciliators preparing to open
hearing in the Illinois field today
would accomplish anything.
They. 1 understand, have no power
to act but merely investigate the con-
dition and make report" he said, in
dicating the cruX of the situation
would be reached before action could
be hoped for on the report.
John McCardle, vice chairman of
the Indiana public service commission,
today said utilities there have only a
five day supply. E J. Wallace, former
chairman Of the southwestern regional
coal committee, declared Many indus
tries may be forced to close unless the
strike is ended quickly"
Predictions were made that unless
the strikes terminate quickly, fuel
famines face the nation for winter
months because of the inability of
large consumers to follow their Gus
tomary practice of laying in supplies
during summer months
X. c. Forces Coal Famine
Kansas City. No, July 27.-Kansas
City utilities are facing a coal famine.
The street car company has but a five
days supply of coal on hand, and the
water and light plants but ten days
fuel ration.
Officials have appealed to the inter
state commerce commission for pri-
ority order on coal mined in southwest
fields. which is now being sent out of
this territory
Oklahoma Roads Seize Coal.
Oklahoma City, July IA coal
shortage appeared in the offing today
as Oklahoma railroads Communicated
large qualities of coal mined in the
state. dealers said. The steps were
taken, it was said. because of the
miners strikes in other states
One dealer reported the Rock Is
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