The New York herald., 1922-08-29

| tives or railroad employees, have any
right to bring suffering and even hunger
upon millions of the American people,
men, women and children. by stopping
transportation"
public welfare which it is the hgn func-
ton of government to promote.
"A nationwide Industrial dispute in
volving essential industries verges on
revolution, and in fact is the method
advocated BIZ those who plot revolution,
of whom there are still. unfortunately
too many in this country. Such dis
pute, irrespective of it's merits, is Pevo-
lutionary, because it subordinates the
general interest to the selfish interests
of few. 1t is subversive of free gov
ernment because it subjects all the
people 10 the tyranny of a few, and a
Government established to promote the
general welfare cannot tolerate the
tyranny of any interest, group or in
dyidual and endure. When the health,
happiness and welfare of all the people
are placed in jeopardy. no matter how,
the Government, to whom alone the
public can look at such time, must
| intervene, not alone to safeguard the
public health and general welfare at
the moment, but. IL it is to accomplish
its high purpose, to prevent recur-
for such Intervention has now arrived.
Emergencies may require the exer-
else by the Government of unusual
powers, even limiting the freedom of
individual action, but individual interest
/ is subordinate to the general interest,
which must be supreme at all times.
The individual has to surrender some
| liberty of action TO preserve any The
extent OF the public need is the meas
- A. ra1 md nf
that the legislative authority in the
first instance at least, is the judge. /
have therefore convened the extra ordi-
nary session to ask consideration of
the measures which the State OF New
York may take to protect the public
health and promote the general welfare
in the present emergency.
Menace I'm Hard Coal Fields.
Happily the resumption Of mining in
the bitumnous fields has averted the
threatened national calamity from the
suspension of industry. The shortage OF
bitumlnous coal promises to be speedily
relieved If the railroads are able to
transport it. The menace at the moment
arises from the shortage of anthracite
coal. There are no stocks of anthracite
anywhere and surveys SO far made indi-
cate that there is less than the usual
amount in the hands of consumers. Five
months OF production have already been
lost and cannot be made up, as, unlike
the bitumnous situation, the capacity
of the anthracite mines is but little
above the consumption of the country
mostly during the winter months. The
summer is the time for the accumuia-
tion OF supplies for the winter. The
summer production has been lost and the
nf mi q
sight If production were resumed to-
morrow the situation would probably be
aggravated by the impairment Of rail-
road equipment which will soon be taxed
to move the crops.
Whatever happens there is bound
to be a shortage of domestic fuel
and every days delay in the re-
sumption OF mining now adds in in
creasing ratio to the menace. There Is
bound to be such shortage as to re-
quire rationing to insure every one
fair share of what there may be. Hoard
ing and gouging. always attendant upon
a shortage, must be prevented. In any
case unless the State intervenes those
who can pay most viii be served first,
whereas the least able must be our first
concern, for they are totally unpre-
pared to cope with fuel shortage. We
must practice rigid economy. That may
have to he enforced. Those who have
anthracite coal should save IL all for
severe weather. 1t will be easier to use
substitutes now and during the cold
snaps of fall and early winter than after
cold weather sets in. Oil, gas and elec-
tricity should be substituted for an
thracite whenever possible and people
should equip themselves with the facill-
ties to use them.
Wood Must BE Used.
Wood will have to be used by
those who can procure 1t and II
is well to lay In a stock now. There
promises to be enough bituminous coal
IL Ii can be transported to care for the
needs Of industry and the public utilities
and we must learn how to use 1t for do
mestic fuel. Hydro-electric energy may
have TO be diverted from Industrial to
household uses. Light. heat and power,
however produced. may have TO be regu-
lated and their use possibly curtailed
for some purposes. In a word, the State
must intervene or leave the public to
shift for themselves in situation which
has got beyond the operation Of eco
nomic law or the power Of Individual
action. The State must intervene in an
emergency or confess that. except under
normal conditions. II has not the power.
the capacity or the energy to serve the
high purpess OF ~ creation, T. e., the
promotion OF the general welfare.
THE foregoing suggestions relate only
to palliatiyes--to measures OF relief, not
cure but the State OF New York has
no coal to mine. IL can neither start
production now nor take measures to pre-
vent general suspension OF production
in the future. We cannot even insure
the receipt OF our fair share OF coal
when mining IL resumed. though we must
be prepared TO do our best to get our
share. / trust that when mining is re-
sumed the states will not have TO com
pete for their fair share Of coal with the
inevitable initiation OF prices and de-
rangement OF distribution consequent
upon such competition at a time Of an
acute shortage, but II IL beyond the
power Of this State TO prevent that. IL
we do all we can we shall have the
satisfaction at least Of doing our best
whatever happens and we can do much
to prevent hardship and relieve distress
even IL the worst should happen.
His Recomme dations.
Briefly. I recommend the creation OF
single headed fuel administration with
adequate power to supervise, regulate
and control the distribution. use, sale
and price of all fuel and the creation