The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-07-26
The FEAR OF
COAL FAMINE
GROWS STRONG
Secretary il 0 Q V e r
Formulating Pla n
to Divert Fuel to Es-
{ sential Industries

sentia1 Industries
Washington, July 20-Develop-
znent Of plans for stretching out
the nations coal supply, now
dwindnng under continued impact
of:the mine and rail strikes, was the
immediate concern today Of federal
officials acting in the industrial sit
uation. Secretary Hoover an
nounced that within "a day or two
the interstate commerce commis-
sion and the commerce depart
nent would put into operation a
scheme Of diverting to. essential
transportation lines the coal COM
ing from non-union mines and
those that may be opened up in
union territory, bysu use Of priority
orders, governing transportation.
The object viii be the maintenance
cffthe transportation machine.
Next in order for coal supply
from the diminished output. it was
indicated, would be the Northern
Great Lake ports and should it
be found Impossible to avert a
shortage,S the coal distribution
plan might be expanded to be-
come complete rationing Of sup
plies to other industries and ter
rdtories as their necessities might
appear.
Attorney General Daugherty
commented in connection with this
plan that the strike descriptions
had already made it certain that
there would be coal shortage
next winter
Replies of governors to President
Hardfng's iny;tation that they
guarantees protection to mine oper-
alton in spite Of strike continua-
ton continued to come to the
White House.
Governor Groesbeck of Michigan
outlined plans for opening mines
there under state control with fed
eral sanction. but comment was
withheld.
In connection with message
from Governor Morrison of North
Carolina questioning the presidents
policy in asking that the mines
sbe. opened even if force was nee
essarv to protect workers, high
adrninistfaeion officials pointed out
that responsibility for coal pro-
duction n that state was small.
Reports to government depart
rnents indicated that while trains
are still being withdrawn by rail-
roads, the movement Of the mails
and likewise of all necessities Of life
IS continuing Throughout the coun-
try. Mail cars are being attached
to, trains still Kept running, with
motor trucks in readiness to sup
piement this service.
Secretary Hoover in discussing
the possibility OF coal rationing to-
day indicated that imports of coal
from abroad might help the sit
ration. particularly in New Eng
land, where the ports are equip
ped for unloading coal from
ships. He pointed out that con-
siderable number Of cargoes had
been coming to Atlantic harbors
from England since the American
strike began
Prices for bituminous. it was
said, have risen to levels higher
than those set by voluntary agree
naent between the non-union pro-
ducers and the commerce depart
ynent some weeks ago. Unofficial
reports from the West Virginia
coal fields. where the bulk Of East
ern non-union coal has been pro-
anced indicated a steady decrease
in production, due to railroad ser
vice disabilities.
Oflcials considered it significant
evidence Of the relationship between
the ceai and railroad strikes that
clerks and freight handlers on the
Chesapeake & Ohio and the Nor
folk & Western roads should be
called out since these two roads
serve the greater non-union coal
fields. Some West Virginia mines
have not had more than days
supply of coal cars in the four
working days OF the present week.
John L. Lewis, president of the
United Nine Workers, today trans
ferred the unions temporary coal
strike aeadouarters to New York
bu. left here reiterating the deter
nination of the uEion miners lead
ers TO carry On the stoppase of the
industry until they obtained sue
ces-ful negotiations for a satisfac-
tory wage scale on national ba-
sis.
Jp to the tine Of his leaving,
attem pts of Ohio coal operators.
who are willing to grant the union
demands, TO secure association
with them of enough operators in
other states to satisfy the unions
requirement were unsuccessful.
Since last Saturday. when the
union chefs refused the govern
ment's arbitration offer. there has
been no communication between
them and the government though
Mr.. Lewis has been continuously at
hand.
Attorney General Daugherty in
diseussins the rail strike took oc-
casion to renew the statement that
while department Of justice agents
would make sure that the laws were
obeyed, there was no disposition
20 interfere with lawful union ac-
tivities. New outbreaks OF rail-
n