The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-12-16
Hard Coal Exports
in Face of Famine
United States Shipped Out
More Anthracite in October,
1922, Ignoring Embargo
Plan

SLdlu dSdbl9l SttSh "a -
public welfare as We experienced
last summer said President Hard
ing to congress Friday with ref
erence to the coal and railroad
strikes for which the general pub
lie is now paying the piper.
That is unGuestionably true;
though the president did not him
self display much genius or
strength in dealing with the men
ace when it arose, and therefore
set a rather uninspiring example
to the civilization and government
Of which he is the chief executive.
Admitting. however, that it re-
oGires genius and courage to deal
with the strikes which tie up the
countrys essential industries, and
which seem in the coal fields to
have become an annual affair. we
may well inquire what excuse there
is for letting quantities of ,anthra-
cite coal be exported from the
United States when we cannot sup
ply enough OF that commodity for
our own households.
The continued expectation of
anthracite is right now a menace
which cannot be concealed and
which there is 10 excuse for ig-
noring. 1t requires no genius to
stop it and calls for no particu-
lar intrepidity. All congress has
to do is to declare an embargo on
anthracite exports until the domes>
tic crisis is relieved. That crisis
exists as long as the householders
of the United States cannot get,
enough anthracite at any price to
meet their current needs, and as
long as they have to pay for what
they do get price higher than
they had to pay at the peak Of the
war period.
Statistics of the department of
commerce published within the
past few days show that 100000
tons of anthracite were exported
in the month of October, 1922.
when the people of this country
were first feeling the necessity OF
winter fuel, and when the stock of
anthracite was SO depleted that ev-
erybody knew it could not reach
two-thirds of their normal re-
auirements during the winter. At
least so per cent more anthracite
coal was allowed to be shipped out
Of the United States in October.
1922, than was exported in the
mescic supply was normal.
The figures fer November are
not yet available. but whatever
they may be. they will show that
hard coal is still going out in Iagre
quantities when our own people
cannot get what they need. and
have to pay extortionate prices for
what they get, and still more ex-
tortionate prices for by-products
with which they are forced to exc
out the deficiency.
Suppose President Harding had
suggested to congress to stop this
expectation of anthracite until our
own necessities should be met in
reasonable quantity at a reason
able, charge. There would have
been suci, an ,outburst of public
approval that congress would not
have dared to refuse. It already
has the bills before it, but there.
is no present indication that it
has any idea Of passing them. I'm
less it passes them soon. it will
be too late to do any good.
cne Of the bills before congress
calling for embargo on exports of
hard coal until the. present crisis
is over was introduced by Repre-
sentative Rogers of Massachusetts,,
whose people are suffering sore1y
from the existing fuel famine con-
dition and who manifested their
displeasure at the November elec-
tons. Has Mr.. Rogers been able
to get any attention paid to his
bill? Not that you could notice.
A .synicaE observer in the press
gallery remarked when the bill was
introduced.
THAT will probably not pass at
ALL If it. does pass. it will be
about April 1, when the next coal
strike starts"
Some OF those who defend the
unrestricted exports of anthracite
when our own people are suffering
for it make the point that most of
this precious fuel goes to Canada,
which is our next-door neighbor
and needs the commodity very
much.
No doubt; but if the family in
Massachusetts or New York is suf-
fering for hard coal. is clamorins
to be allowed to buy it. why should
it be sent to a similarly suffering
family in New Brunswick or Onta-
rio instead? And Canada does not
hesitate to maintain against the
United States an embargo on ex-
portation OF Canadian wood pulp,
which is q necessity of American
industrial life.
L He hdIiileo lHiSul oeiieNe ehe''
thi shard coal is being kept from
our own people and sent to Cana
da as matter Of charity. Others
will find the key to the situation
in the fact that whever the short
age is greatest and the cost most
biting, the highes. price will be Of
fered. and there is nothing-not
even limelight or c. E. Spens-to