Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-08-10
WISCONSIN EXECUTIVE, INST.
PAUL MEETING TODAY, URGES
FEDERAL SEIZURE OF MINES
Governor Preus Urges Or
ganization OF State, TO
Act From Washington;
Railroads Have Improved
Service Somewhat; Situa-
ton Is Worst The North
Central States Have Faced
In Recent Years. II.


ciated Press.)-Faced by the most
serious coal shortage IN recent years,
governors or their representatives
from seven north central states met
here today to agree on some uniform
methods of procedure for meeting
the situation advantageously 4
Governor j. J. Blaine of Wisconsin,
urged government seizure and opera
ton OF all mines necessary to supply
the country's coal demands. Will,
Governor j. A. O. Preus of Minnesota
urged an organization Of the state
during the emergency with represent
atives established at Washington.
Besides Minnesota and Wisconsin,
the states represented were North and
South Dakota, Montana. Michigan
and Iowa. The conference was called
by Governor Preus, who declared the
situation called for prompt, decisive
action.
Governor Preus told the conferenc,
that railroads serving in the non
union coal mines and Lake Erie port.
have improved their service apd he
believes recommendation that the
federal government operate these
roads might we'll be postponed for
few days. pending further develop
ments."
The Minnesota executive said he
had received a telegram from H. B.
Spencer federal fuel administrator,
declaring the railroads have greatly
improved their service in the past few
days. and that the dumpings of coal
at Lake Erie ports soon would ma
terially increase.
Governor Preus charged that ..some
! OF the operators and dealers are tax
ing advantage Of the present very
critical situation by godging the
pockets Of the northwest IS This,I be-
laeys can be stopped in only one way.
i namely, for the federaf government
4 \ ~ see. that mo cars ere loaded. with
coal for which the operators are ask.
! ing price in excess IF that which
Mr.. Hoover declared to be justified,
! Governor Preus declared the sup
ply of coal at the head of the lakes
Is 100000 tons below normal this
year and that to remedy the situation
the coal movement on the lakes must
in lake shipping. a7:s7- : ~ b
! (By The Associated Press> Z.
Cleveland, Aug. 10.-The policy
com mittee of the United Mine Work
ers of America today voted to pro
ceed with the negotiations of a wage
scale agreement with the operators
iio anu "eSleEH pennsylvania,
Indiana and Illinois. who are here
for the joint conference that was
called with the view of breaking the
soft coal strike.
In announcing the committees de-
clsion. President John L. Lewis OF
the miners said:
Il confidently predict that when. a
scale is made here that IS per cent
of all the bituminous tonnage now on
strlke VIII sign the scale and return
to work within a week"
Settlement of the strike in the an
thacite regions. which also have beer
shut down since April J.. when the
miners walked out, would naturally
follow the resumption of work in the
soft coal industry" Mr.. Lewis said.
This settlement, however. would be
reached through negotiations with the
miners and the anthracite operators
and no date has yet been set for the
resumption of their negotiations
Seize tho Mines.
st. Paul, Mimi. Aug. ,10.-Federa
seizure and operation of all the mine:
necessary to furnish a supply Of Goa
.. to the country was declared to be the
only solution of the present Goa
shortage by Governor Blaine of Wis
consin at the opening of the confer
ence of northwestern governors o,
the coal situation here today
Governors or their representative
from seven northwestern states at
,, tended the conference which wa
,, called by Governor J. A. o. Preus O
. Minnesota for the purpose Of discuss
: Ing methods of meeting the coal EN-
, ergency in the northwest.
Governor Blaine declared the sit
uation in Wisconsin is practically tn
, same as in Minnesota. with hundred
; OF industries threatened with idlenes
: because of lack of fuel. The situatio,
has reached a state. he declared
where the domestic life of the stat
. is also threatened. as dealers are un
, able to fill orders for fuel in tn
homes.
: S. d. Needs Coal.
: Governor McMaster ,of South Da
: kota, who arrived at the conferenc
shortly before noon, said the situa
. ton in that state is more startlin
a than it appeared few days ago whe
he conferred with Governor Preu.
A survey Of South Dakota coal deal
! ers, he said. shows that they are yer
= nearly without coal.
. we will join in any movement ths
a il agreed upon by the conference.
Governor McMaster said. The pee
: pie in South Dakota do not fully RI
4 alize the seriousness Of the situatio
y and I hope that this conferences wi
4 bring home to them the two cond
: tions OF the coal market
Z Shipmenfs Cut ny. b.
VI Governor Preus presented tels
y gram from III. B. Spencer, federal fu,
y administrator, saying that tho pr,
t posed shipment OF all rail coal frol
q the non -tlnion fields to the recent