New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-10-18
Copeland Declares State
of S'I1nminent Peri1''
Will Be Proclaimed IF
Needed to Feed People
Trucks and Planes
Will Be Mobilized
Staff of Business Men AL
ready Selected to Aid
in Emergency Program

Plans for combating the paralysis Of
rail transportation that is scheduled To
begin October so were taking shape YES
terday in New York and other large
cities where food and fuel lines must
be kept open. Motor trucks and air
planes were being mobilized for freicht
service, while the carriers were recruit
ing volunteer trainmen to keep the
traffic moving when the strikers leave
their jobs.
On all sides it was announced that
both roads and men were preparing for
q fight DR.. Royal S. copeland, Health
Commissioner, announced that if New
York City's food supply was threatened
he would declare a state of Imminent
peril" and that under his police powers
he would take drastic measures to pre-
serve foodstuffs and coal and to pre-
vent proflteering.
New York will be hardest hit on No
vomber l. when employees Of six roads
entering this city will walk out. These
are the New York, New Haven g. Hart
ford, Delaware q Hudson, Erie. Lacka-
wanna, Atlantic Coast Line anu LehIgll
Valley. On November the men on the
Baltimore 6, Ohio and the New York
Central will quit and on November S,
the Pennsylvania workmen will strike
Boatmen in New York harbor may
go out on a sympathetic walk-out if
the rail strike materializes, officials
Of the international Scamen's Union
warned. In that event shipping in
New York harbor would be completely
tied up and it would be impossible to
move waterway freight.
Copeland Selects Staff
plan to commander foods in ware
necessary, he already had selected from
business organizations and labor
unions list of prominent men who
would cooperate with him.
"Unusually heavy stores Of food
stufs ere available in anticipation OF
Christmas holiday business" said DR.
Copeland "The surplus supply OF milk
has been made into butter and cheese
Eggs also are unusually plentiful
more than 33.000,000 dozen being avail
able. Canned goods are not abundant
Live poultry for kosher shops will be
scant in the event Of strike. Milk,
am satisfied, can be brought in in suffi-
cicnt quantities to supply the babies
but cream for coffee and for ice cream
manufacture will not be supplied.
"While this strike is threatening. the
public should be warned about two
things. 1t should not hoard food, be
cause that will raise prices. 1t should
beware of the efforts Of unscrupulous
merchants to prohteer b. soaring theil
;,t, J,,,1,iy1rr
Tine coal situation is giving US much
concern. Fortunately large quantity
was mined this year. If it becomes
necessary this department will take
steps to stop profiteering in coal.
anticipating public necessity,
am making up list Of persons t(
serve in carrying out the orders of the
Board Of Health. | shall ask unior
labor men to serve on this committee
1t is rare for board of health to de
clare state Of Imminent peril, bu
we Shall not hesitate to declare it il
the strike is called"
Jersey Officials Active
The possibility of a food and FIVE
shortage was graveIy considered b.
officials of New Jersey cities. The
Chamber Of Commerce of Newark pre-
pared TO organize to conserve wha
supplies were on hand and to fill al
the warehouses before the strike wa
called
Health Officer Charles Y. Craste
was instructed by Mayor Archibald t.
cooperate with the Chamber of Com
mercc in mobilizing all motor trucks
which would be used to carry traffic t,
and from points within a radius O
fifty miles.
E. w, Woolmuth, secretary of tn
Chamber of Commerce, said the mem
bers OF his organization were prepar
ing to fight the strike.
We had switching strike som
time ago and the Chamber Of Commerce
die good work" Mr.. Woolmuth said
"If this strike should be called tn
answer would be the motor truck. w
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