Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 180, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1917 — DISCUSS COAL SITUATION [ARTICLE]

DISCUSS COAL SITUATION

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BE URGED TO ACT UNDER NEW LAW.

At the invitation of President H. R. Kurrie, the editor of the Republican had the pleasure of attending a meeting of the State Council of Defense at Hazelden, the beautiful country home of George Ade, Wednesday. As indicated by the press the states of Indiana and Illinois, through their governors and councils of defense, have made a very careful investigation of the coal situation and have tried to get the operators to make a reasonable price and also to do all that can be done to meet a situation this winter which is sure to be very serious.

At the meeting Wednesday at Hazelden a committee was appointed to meet similar committees of the councils of defense of other states in Chicago Thursday. That committee was instructed to urge the president of the United States tb take immediate steps under the _ Food, Flour and Feed bill that has just become a law to do what in his best judgment he thinks is • best to help the coal situation.

Under the law referred to above the president is given the authority to do any or all of the following: To fix prices, to control distribution and to take possession of the coal mines. In the attempt to correct the coal situation in Indiana and Illinois, both governors have met with determined opposition by the coal operators and it seems that in order to take care of this serious condition the federal government will have to take a hand. That the people of this country were absolutely robbed last year by the coal operators there can be no doubt. The price of the coal to dealers was raised from three to four dollars a ton, and yet the miners in their statement to the public service commission admit that their maximum cost of production is ?1.48 per ton. With all possible favorable legislation and with every possible effort that can be made it seems certain that there will be a great shortage of coal. President Kurrie’s advice to buy coal NOW should be heeded by all. The Rensselaer dealers put this matter up to their customers and. urge them to gCt their coal now. This advise is not given with the coal miners’ and coal dealers’ good in .mind, but it is given as a warning to our people. Thousands of cars will be used by the government in furnishing transportation of materials for the cantonments to be erected for soldiers; also for the great supplies of food and other equipment needed by the army. The abnormal demand for materials and labor make it almost impossible for the railroad to prepare and place in service additional equipment. It is hoped that the committee which meets at Chicago will succeed in having President Wilson take hold of the coal situation, that a reasonable maximum price will be fixed and that the public will be given the largest supply of coal possible. But it must be remembered that when this is all done that there will still be a serious coal shortage and that winter is sure to bring great distress in this country for the lack of fuel. The advice from one who thinks he has seen the situation as it really is and who is anxious that his people may at least be warned, is “BUY YOUR COAL NOW.”