Newspaper Page Text
The Atlanta Semi-Weekly Journal
VOLUME Xl\
COAL MEN AGREE TO REDUCE PRICES AT ONCE
HOLDER WINS FIGHT
FOR SPEAKERSHIP BY
YOTEft TO 78
During Call of First Hundred
Names at Morning Session
of House Culpep
per Held Up Well
John N Holder, of Jackson, was elect
ed speaker of the house of representa
tives Thursday morning on the first bal
lot of the day. when he defeated Nath F.
Culpepper, of Meriwether, by a rote of
105 to 78. W. H. Burwell, of Hancock,
having withdrawn from the race Wed
nesday afternoon after four ballots had
. been taken without an election.
The roll call of members was more
than half complete before it could be
seen who was going to be the winner,
the vote being nip and tuck through the
call of nearly a hundred membersnames.
Representative Burwell voted for Cul
pepper and about twenty-five of those
who supported him in the voting Wed
nesday did likewise.
In taking the gave! Mr. Holder ex
pressed his thanks for the honor con
ferred upon him and declared he had
gone through the race without any trace
of animosity toward either of his op
ponents or toward any of their support
ers. He said that in the discharge of
his duties as speaker he would endeavor
to be absolutely fair and impartial.
Mr. Holder is no stranger to the pre
siding officer’s chair, he having been
speaker for two terms, through the
years of 1909-10-11-13.
After the election of the speaker. E.
Bismarck Moore, of Atlanta, was re
elected clerk of the house. He received
131 votes as against 45 cast for J. B.
Jackson, of Jones county.
Following the elections Representative
Burwell introduced a resolution extend
ing the privileges of the floor to Mrs
Walter R McDonald, wife of the blind
member from Richmond county. The
resolution was unanimously passed and
Mrs. McDonald, who Is her husband's
constant companion and assistant, will
have a seat on the floor beside him.
Before the drawing for seats began
the usual resolution- according Confed
erate veteran members fleet choice was
W *doptod.
passed permitting Representatives At
kinson. of Fulton. Joe Hill Hall, of Bibb;
W H. Burwell, of Hancock; N. F. Cul
pepper. of Meriwether, and Oarland M.
Jones, of Coweta, to’choose their seats
Representative Burwell took the seat
on the aisle to the right of the speak
er’s stand which for the past four years
had been occupied by Representative
Robert M. Blackburn, of Fulton, who
was chairman of the house rules com
mittee. Representative Culpepper chose
an aisle seat just across from Mr. Bur
well. Representatives Hall selected one
just behind Mr. Culpepper, while Rep
resentative Atkinson took one behind
Mr. Hall.
These special privileges were accorded
to the three recent candidates for speak
er. to Mr. Atkinson, former member of
the state supreme court, and to Mr.
Hall, a vteran legislator, as an appro
priate courtesy.
GRAND RUSH FOR SEATS.
Such a htfriy-burly and confusion was
precipitated in the house when the
drawing of seats began that it was
voted to postpone the hour of adjourn
ment. 1 o’clock, until the house was
thoroughly organized.
It has been the custom to assign
-seats, after Confederate veterans have
been given their choice, by putting the
names of all members in a hat. having
them retire to the ante-rooms, and
then, as name after name is drawn at
random and called out by the keeper of
the door, for the member chosen to
enter and take his seat.
But the legislators of 1917-18 could
not restrain their desire to get favora
ble locations. They pift their names
in the hat. and left the house hall, but
instead of waiting quietly outside, they
crowded by scores around the doors. 1
and before five names had been called
they rushed in past the doorkeepers
and' spread themseixes hither and yon.
One or two members got up and de
nounced such tactics. Another retire
ment was taken, but again the crowd
gathered, and again the doorkeepers
were mowed down like wheat before the
storm. Four times did the members
retire, and four times did they rush
the doors, as one member described it,
"like children after stick candy.”
At 13:30, after noise and confusion
had deafened the walls for an hour and
it was evident that the hour of ad
joummesit would arrive before the dis
order was stilled, the house passed res
olutions postponing adjournment and
the drawing was renewed
At 1 o’clock the house completed the
drawing of seats. It was voted to set
11 a m. Friday as the. hour for can
vassing the returns of the general elec
tion for governor and other state house
officials. and for declaring the result
thereof, and noon Friday aa the hour
for hearing the farewell address of Gov
ernor Harns.
W. T. Morris, the one-legged Confed
erate veteran, was re-elected doorkeeper
of the house unanimously. He had no
opposition.
J. B. D. Paulk, of Ben Hill, was re
elected messenger of the house. He got
102 votes. W. C. Davis, of Fulton, got |
49 votes and J. C. Morgan, of Newton. Ik '
votes. Representative Beasley, of Tal
iaferro. was unanimously elected speak
er pro tern. Rev. H. J. Ellis was re
elected chaplain. This concluded organ
ization of the house and adjournment
was taken until 10 o’clock Friday morn- i
• Irik.
SENATE WAITS ON HOUSE.
After the introduction of a number
of bills and resolutions Thursday morn
ing the senate adjourned to await the
joint session with the house for the pur
pose of hearing Governor Harris.
At 12:30 the senate reconvened for a
few moments during which Senator
Hopkins, one of the Joint committee ap
pointed to wait on the governor and
inform him of the organization of the
assembly, reported that the house was
not yet ready.
Upon motion of Senator Andrews two
members of the senate were appointed
Full Associated Press Service
AID OF AMERICAN
FARMER IS VALUED
HIGHLY BY BRITISH
I England’s Minister of Agricul
i ture Says Discontent of the
Stomach More to Be Feared
Than Discontent of Brain
i _
LONDON, June 26.—“ Discontent of
the stomach is more to be feared than
discontent of the brain—that is why we
value the co-operation of American
i farmers.’’ said R. E. Prothero. minister
of agriculture, to the Associated Press
• today. “The outcome of the war,” he
continued, “may ultimately hang on the
question of food supplies, and the Amer-
> lean farmer is allotted the essential part
to play in the great struggle for free-
. dom
I “To vindicate the cause of humanity
and national liberty the great democracy
, of the western world, true to its tradl
. tions, has taken its stand on the side
I of the allied peoples.
“President Wilson in his address April
’ 15 puts to the forefront an appeal to the
. farmers. He bids them to carry on to
, their plough lands the same spirit that
. animates their brother allies in the
trenches, on the sea and in munition fac
tories. The farmer’s task is to make
’ hills, plains and valley stand so thick
with corn that they shall sing Yet the
I man who drives a plow is helping as is
, the man who shoulders a rifle.
"The need of food for man and beast
is great whether peace is won or war
• prolonged.”
» Replying to a question as to what the
■ United Kingdom is doing in the way of
food production. Mr. Prothero said that
fully one-third of labor usually employ
i ed on land has been taken for war work.
> "Shorthanded. harassed by a hundred
new diculties, the farmers are doggedly
struggling to increase grain production
. by half,” continued the minister. "Up
l wards of 120,000 women in England and
Wales are toiling on land, hard and con
tinuously. We have quadrupled our
, garden plots. After a hard day’s work
men return to their homes to labor with
their wives.
j; "Everywhere there is determination to
j eat within tether, however it may be
I Brewing has been reduced to a minimum.’
This Is a serious deprivation to men
[ working at furnaces, In foundries and
harvest fields.
"We are further contemplating a dras
, tic reduction of our live stock so more
. grain may be available for hitman food
| Ki-There risk that the shortage -of
food may strain endurance to the break
ing point. There is yet no indication
that we even have distantly approached
I that point, but endurance might snap if
for instance the milk supply failed, be
' cause then lives of little children would
; be threatened. Thus there is a greater
’ question Involved in food supply than
the loss of ordinary comforts of life or
' even reduction in Its accustomed neces
sities. For this reason it is a welcome
’ relief to us to know that the farmers
' of the United States are co-operating
’ with the allies; that they fully realize
the essential part they play in this
struggle for freedom, that they are
bringing into their work th'e spirit of
self-sacrlflce and endurance and that
they are determined to put out the last
' ounce of their strength to win the war
on the plough lands of the United
States. Here and there God speed the
plough!”
I
i to act with three members of tihe !
house in arranging a program for the
inauguration of the governor.
Another Andrews resolution which
was adopted moved that the Georgia
legislature endorse the plan of thn
president to conserve and control the
food and fuel of the country and that
state aid be given the national govern
ment by an appointment of a joint com
mittee composed of three members of
the senate and five from the house to
investigate prices.
If the sentiment of a resolution in
troduced by Senator 'Woblwender, of
the Twenty-fourth, is followed, a no
table increase of the prices of soft
: drinks and similar luxuries throughout
Georgia will take place.
The resolution provided that It should
4 be the sentiment of the legislature that
■ state officials should curtail expenses
to an absolute minimum and that ap
propriation committees make only such
appropriations as were absolutely nec
essary.
The resolution also provides that the
ways and means committee investigate
the waste of sugar In soft drinks and
1 that as far as possible the revenue of
the state should be derived from drinks
sold and materials for pleasure and lux
ury.
This resolution was prompted by the
national crisis and the increase of ex
penses, said Mr. Wohlwender.
William J- Harris, federal trade com
missioner, was tendered the privileges
I of the floor of the senate.
SENATE BILLS INTRODUCED.
The following bills were introduced in
! the senate and will be referred to com
mittees upon their appointment:
By Beck, of the Forty-third—To em
' power the state superintendent of
schools, the attorney general, the chair
man of the house and senate committees
on education to codify school laws.
By Fisklen, of the Twenty-ninth—
allow qualified voters to register atfd
vote in districts other than ones in
which they register.
By Ficklen. of the Twenty-ninth—To
regulate crossing of motor vehicles at
railroad crossings.
By Hopkins, of the Seventh—To
' amend part one of section thirteen of
act six of the constitution of Georgia
(to raise salaries of state judges).
By Edwards, of the Thirty-second—To ;
amend section 1207 volume 2 of code <rf ;
1910, giving county authorities right to I
»control convict labor, where they .do not)
desire to keep or maintain convict 1
camps.
By Dickerson, of the Fifth—To provide I
for service by publication on unknown
parties of certain suits in equity.
By Brown, of the Forty-first—To ter
minate speedily litigation of Ducktown
! copper by abrogating certain contracts
between the state and the Tennessee
Copper company.
By Elders, of the Second —To amend
primary laws providing for the nomina
tion of national and state officers by the
county unit system.
By Odon, of the Ninth —To close the
tax books the first day of December.
NATIONAL GUARD MAY
FOLLOW THE REGULAR
SOLDIERS INTO FRANCE
Forces Now in War Zone to ,
Be Augmented by Other 1
Trained Troops Just as Soon
as Possible, It Is Said
WASHINGTON, June 28. —General
Pershing's men in khaki will be aug- ]
mnted as fast as possible by a consider
able conitngent of other trained troops.
That was about as far as officials at
the war department would go today In
discussing future plans now that Amer
ican soldiers are safely on the French
terrain. Censorship and safety provi
sions forbade that there be any details
at this time.
However, it transgresses no rules to
indicate that national guardsmen are
likely to be in the units sent abroad ]
ahead of the new national army. None i
thinks here that that army can be
molded into fighting form before next I
spring at the earliest.
Meantime, other fighting forces sea
soned by service in this country, in Mex
ico, Haiti, Santo Domingo or the Philip
pines will take their places in the
trenches of France, ready and eager for
their part in overwhelming Germany and
making the world safe for democracies..
Safe arrival of the Pershing forces
marks an epoch in army and navy his
tory. It was a tremendous task in which
untiring men of both services had a
briliant part.
When the word for Pershing’s expedi
tion to go abroad was given, the general
was studiously mapping out the prelim
inaries. Behind barred doors in a tiny
office, he and his seasoned campaigners
mapped out the tremendous task of
transport.
FACED MIGHTY TASK.
For a time it well-nigh staggered
them. Ships were short. Submarines
were plentiful and alert. To dodge them,
send all the divisions safely across and
transfer sufficient supplies was the
problem.
In accomplishing this, the navy
played an able part. Gray sea dogs
watched the transports when they put
out from an American port, and kept a
grim vigil in the days before they
touched at a French port.
A jingle secret message in the war
department code* 1 related their j>frtv%L ,
‘SLrlpJied fit literary embelflstenents, It
announced only that Pershing’s men had
ridden the seas safely. It told nothing
of the wild welcome, the almost tragic
happiness the French showed at the ar
rival.
To Washington and to the nation this
brief message, still withheld early this
forenoon, for military reasons, spelled
a tremendous thing—America's actual
physical entrance into European
trenches, the primary part of her bit to
shatter German plans for a world dom
ination that probably would comprehend
even the invasion of America.
Army authorities anticipated that full
details of the journey would be availa
ble before night. They did not sanction
the original publication of the arrival
news from here yesterday afternoon.
Major General Sibert, in charge of the
first troops, is an old campaigner who
has seen Cuban, Philippine and Chinese
servic as a member of the engineers.
Fifty years old, he retains a punch. He
is a regular fighting man and able
leader.
The nation may expect good reports
of his labors under General Pershing.
And another man—Admiral Gleaves,
quiet, suave navy commander —deserves
a meed of praise for his handling of the
convoys for the transports.
Just what these ships were is with
held. Just how they mobilized and how
they journeyed unscathed is known, but
shielded.
What units compose the first American
expedition, too, is a military secret for
the moment, thougn probably details
thereof will be announced in the forth
coming statement of tne war depart
ment.
Despite the scarcity of shipping space
America’s boys in France are going to
have their little luxuries from the
"home folks."
The war department today detailed
Major Wright to look after mailing ar
rangements.
Although as yet the plans to send
merchandise are incomplete, it can be
mailed at the international parcel post
rate of 2 cents per pound.
Cigarettes and candy appeal more
than anything else to the fighting men.
After eating the regular army ration a
few weeks the men develop a sweet
tooth that would put a high school or
seminary girl to shame.
So necessary are cigarettes to men
under, the enormous strain on the fir
ing line that some of the European ar
mies issue them regularly to their fight
ers. As yet the United States war de
partment has made no such arrange
ments. The men will have to depend
on their friends and relatives for them.
Canadians Take German
Front Line Near Lens
CANADIAN AR>4y HEADQUARTERS
i IN FRANCE, June 28.—Under a protect
ing concentration of artillery Are, Can
adian troops early today stormed and
captured the German front line before
Avion, a suburb of Lens.
The Canadians, heartened by successes
gained during the last few days-at rela
tively small cost, decided this morning
to attack across the open ground slop
ing upward to Avion and the village of
Leauvette, near the Souchez river. They
met with opposition of a serious char
acter at only one point, where a combi
nation of machine gun Are and uncut
wires delayed the advance. The attack
was not intended to be pressed home at
this particular spot, as the ground spe
cially favored the Germans, so that the
delay did no harm.
The assaulting troops comprised men
from British Columbia, Manitoba, cen
tral Ontario and Nova Scotia.
Only One Italian Vessel
Sunk in Week Ending June 24
ROME. June 27. —The weekly State
ment of shipping losses shows that only
one Italian steamship was sunk in the
week ended June 24. Arrivals at Italian
porta were 888 and departure* 536.
ATLANTA, G.A., FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1917.
UR. JAMES RT GRAY, PRESIDENT AND EDITOR OF THE ATLANTA JOURNAL, whose
sudden death Monday evening has shocked and grieved the entire state, and whose passing
is mourned by loyal friends throughout the country.
* Bv '** i J
t■ ' ■
■
II HMUf IH
t B 11
%
Brief Biographical Sketch
Os Mr. J. R. Gray, Journal’s
Editor, Who Died Monday
Entire Community Shocked
by Sudden Death of Beloved
Man—Funeral Services Heid
on Thursday
i
Mr. James Richard Gray, president
and editor of The Atlanta Journal, died
suddenly of apoplexy Monday night at
9:30 o’clock at "Graystone,” his home
on Peachtree road.
He and Mrs. Gray had just returned
from a short trip to Washington and
New York. On the train Monday aft
ernon he felt a slight touch of indiges
tion and took some soda. Arriving at
home about 6 o’clock Monday afternoon,
he seemed to be in his usual robust
, health. He ate only a little supper,
however, and retired early. About 9:30
o’clock Mrs. Gray went into his room
and found him unconscious. He died
before his doctor arrived
The funeral of Mr. Gray was held at
I 10 o’clock Thursday morning at "Grey
' stone,” the family home, on Peachtree
! road. Hundreds of friends were present.
The Journal office was closed during the
funeral and all employes attended the
services. The interinent was private at
Oakland cemetery.
Mr. Gray was In his fifty-eighth year.
■ He was born at Adairsville, In Bartow
county, Georgia, on September 30, 1859.
' His father, the late Colonel John W.
Gray, who died a few years ago, was
j lieutenant colonel of the Eighth Geor
gia battalion of the Confederate army,
and was a rugged man of splendid char
acter, sprung from.the stock of pioneers
who carved a commonwealth out of the
wilderness. His mother was Miss Sarah
J. Venable, descended from Abram Ven
able, of Devonshire, England, whose
sons in the houst of burgesses in Vir
ginia, and in the Army of the Revolu
tion, proved themselves American patri
ots of the highest renown.
The boyhood home of Mr. Gray was
on the line of march of the contending
armies of the Civil war, and perhaps the
privations, self-denial and suffering
forced upon the people of Georgia dur
ing those times were instrumental in
shaping his character and his sympa
thies in later life, while after the Civil
war he was in the midst of a section
hard pressed by the evil doings of Re
construction. It has been truly said that
“there Is no such school as adversity,”
and it was in this school that Mr. Gray
developed the traits of honesty, courage
and energy that marked his wlrole
career. ,
HIS EDUCATION.
During his boyhood there was estab
lished at .Adairsville a classical school
taught by John H. Fitten, a strong man
and a scholar who laid the foundation
of the education of many southern
youths. In this school he prepared for
entrance into the North Georgia Agricul- 1
tural college at Dahlonega, another in- I
stitutlon which has given to the state ,
many sons wl)o knew little of the smiles !
of fortune, and nothing of easy stages
to attainment, but who have won re
nown and adorned the councils of the
state.
Located amidst the rugged moun
tains of north Georgia, far removed
from railroads and among an inde
*pendent and self-reliant people, the
little city of Dahlonega proved a splen-
did nursery from whose seat of learn
ing have come a host of young men
afraid of nothing save dishonor and
ready for any undertaking which re
quired character and fortitude.
In these schools Mr. Gray was prepar
ed for the battles of life. Possessing
a splendid physique, over six feet in.
height, handsome and athletic, he had
the physical power to stand up under
any strain, and was endowed with a
personality which won and held warm
friendships.
He aspired to the practice of law
and was admitted to the bar in 1879,
one year after graduation. He first
practiced In Cartersville, Ga., then
came to the Atlanta bar, went to Texas
and practiced a short while, returned
to Atlanta and became the junior mem
ber of the law firm of Ellis & Gray,
composed of himself and Judge W. D.
Ellis. Afterwards this firm became
Ellis, Gray & Ellis when W. D. Ellis,
Jr., was admitted to partnership, and
subsequently Mr. Gray formed the law
firm of Gray, Brown & Randolph, his
associates being Colonel Ed T. Brown
and Hollins N. Randolph.
MARRIED MISS MAY INMAN.
k On November 16, 1881, Mr. Gray mar
ried Miss May Inman, a daughter of the
late Mr. Walker P. Inman. To them
were born three daughters and two sons,
who are:
Mrs. E. D. A. Pearce, the wife of Lieu
tenant-Colonel Pearce, of the United
States army, stationed at Fort Totten.
Long Island; Mrs. T. M. Brumby, Jr., of
Marietta; Mrs. J. A. Gallogly, the wife
of Major Gallogly. of the United States
army, stationed at Honolulu. Hawaiian
Islands. Walker Inman Gray, of Atlanta,.]
and James Richard Gray, Jr., of Atlanta. I
In addition to his wife and children,'
Mr. Gray is survived by a number of'
grandchildren.
Mr. Gray’s connection with The Jour
nal dates from his purchase of the stock
of Senator Hoke Smith in 1900. In Sep
tember of that year he became editor
and general manager of the paper. In;
1905 he bought the controlling Interest
in The Journal and shortly afterward
was elected president and editor, which
position he had occupied ever since.
In Mr. Gray’s sudden and shocking;
death the members of The Journal or
ganization feel a bereavement and loss
very close to the sorrow of his family.
His relations to the paper were typical
of his relations to his home. In his
home he was the head of the house, loved
and looked up to by all his children.
In The Journal he was likewise the head
of the family, enjoying always the loyal
devotion of every person connected with*
the paper.
INTENSE LOVE OF HOME.
His home and his paper vzere the ab
sorbing interests of his life. He loved
his home so much that It was difficult
to draw him away In the evenings. ,
Nothing gave him so much pleasure as j
to have his children and grandchildren |
around him. His house itself Is an ex
pression of his affection for them—a |
big, homelike, comfortable place with i
room for all beneath its hospitable roof. •
It is the sort of a home for which the
hearts of children yearn, the sort of a
home grandchildren dream about.
There was hardly a week when some of
his children and grandchildren were not
(Ooxitlnned on X age 2, Col. 30
PRIZE-RING TACTICS
USED BY GEN. HAIG
AGAINST GERMANS
Hits First With Right, Then
With Left, and Uppercuts.
Teutons Are Rattled by New
English Method
BY WILLIAM PHILLIP SIMMS.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES, IN
THE FIELD, June 28.—Field Marshal
Haig has Hindenburg guessing. Shift
, ing like a master boxer, hitting first
with his right and then with his left—
and then sharply uppercutting in the
center to the chin—the British comman
der keeps his Prussian opponent not
] only puzzled but on t*he defensive, with
] his back against the ropes.
There Isn’t any doubt that Prussia,
as President Wilson says, “shows signs
lof weakening.” The fighters here ap
i prove that statement. And they add in
I effect—“lt’s up to the allies now to hit
hard.”
Throughout today Haig continued his
tactics throughout the length of the
British front, harrying the enemy every
where. While the enemy anxiously
watches the spot where the German
] commanders think they have detected
‘ a little heavier artillery' fire than else
where —apparently sdgnallizing prepar
ation for an attack—Haig slams forward
somewhere else.
Every day threatens Lens more. Ev
ery day sees local battles; and local
retirements by the enemy.
I Further north the same strategy le
gaining for the British.
The weather is hot and sultry. Air
fleets fleck the blazing sky, the Prus
sian machines curiously but conspicu
ously avoiding battle whenever possible.
German defenders of Lens retreated
I today Into Avion,' behind the so-called
1 Avion-Mercleur "switch line” establlsh
ed in the ruins of Lens suburb, as the
British continued their inclosing move
ment.
Here behind railway embankments
and stag-heaps the Germans have estab
lish machine gun fortresses. British
patrols are keeping closely in touch
with the retreating enemy in all this
section south of the city.
West of Lens the difficulties in the
way of the attacking British forces are
tremendous, but prisoners pouring back
in a steady stream today declared the
German defenders were sorely pressed,
and fear the worst.
The British now hold all high ground
In the entire Lens salient.
Enemy airmen are striving frantical
ly to solve the riddle of Haig’s offen
sive—where he will strike with his !
next attack. It is plain from their es- ,
forts they cannot figure whether it
will be at Ypres, Messines, Lens, Arras
or Bullecourt.
In a document taken on a prisoner
today and exhibited at headquarters
confessed that the German planes have
nearly all been stopped by the British j
flying corps before they were able to ■
get over even their own front lines. ■
A few. however, seem to cross every once :
in a wtjile and there are numerous red- j
hot battles in the air as a result.
Boselli Ministry Strong
ROME. June 28.—The chamber of dep- |
uties today voted, 227 to 2R. to extend
support to government for another !
month, provisionally. The vote Indicates (
strongest support for the Boselli min
istry. •
NUMBER 77.
iCDNFEBEiyCE OE 408
OPERATORS ASSENTS
TO U. SJIXiNG PRICE
Authorizes Committees to "As
sent to Such Maximum
Prices as May Be Fixed for
Coal on Cars at Mines”
WASHINGTON, June 28.—An Im
mediate general reduction in the price
of coal at the mine was agreed upos
here today by representatives of th«
coal operators.
This reduction is expected to be fol*
lowed by still further decreases in pricq
after investigation into the cost of min
ing coal and it l s probable that the gov**
ernment will be given a still lower prlc*
than that to the general public. Hun
dreds of millions of dollars will be save!
to the American people through this de
cision.
The operators agreed to the imme
diate reduction in the price of coal at
a meeting here today, after adopting a
resolution by which coal prices would
be fixed with the aid and approval of
the secretary of the interior, the fed
eral trade commission and the. com
mittee on coal production of tile na
tional defense council.
About 600,000,000 tons of coal were
mined in this country last year, and
secretary Lane, who has eaj-nestly
urged a reduction, believes that the
saving to the American people will be
enormous After hearing of the oper
a®t,on> Mr - wrote the fol
lowing letter to F. S. Peabody, chair
whn th x COaJ s producti on committee,
with o been t in 0011513111 conference
with the operators:
JUSt learned ot t-he action of
the coal operators, and I wish to ex
nX\t my apprecla - tlon of the generous,
Prompt and patriotic manner in which
they have acted. They have dealt with
the situation in the way that I had
t^ eJ would * 33 men dealing
with a large question. They manifestly
see that this is no time in which to con
sider primarily the opportunities which
the war gives for personal aggrandize
ment We must gain for each by gain
ing for all. The country is in a mood '
for sacrifice. It is Intent upon the suc
cess of tne war and is willing to do
everything needed to give insurance to
the world against a repetition of this
awful condition.
OPERATORS PRAISED.
“Will you not be good enough to ex
press to the coal men my appreciation
of the spirit they have shown in de
termining that their prices shall be re
duced so that the Industries of the coun
try may not feel hampered, and the
people may not feel that their spirit is
broken down by the thought that this
is to be a war for Individual advantage
instead of self-protection? I felt from
! the moment of my talk to them that
no body of men more truly represented
| the high purpose to yield personal de
sire for general good than. did they.
Now I trust that we shall immediately
put into concrete form the spirit of
I your resolution.”
The conference of 4JO operators, rep
resenting all coal producing states, took
i quick action today toward lowering
i coal prices by adopting resolutions au
| thorizing their committees "to give as
sent to such maximum prices for coal
on board cars at mines in various dis-
I tricts as may be named by the secretary
of interior, federal trade commission and
the council of national defense's coal
production committee.”
Plans were immediately agreed upon
for anouncement later today of tenta
tive “fair and reasonable” prices based
on suggestions from the operators, to
' be effective July 1.
The resolution giving “assent” to fix-
I ing of maximum prices was reported by
' former Governor Fort, from a special
' cqmmittee. He said he believed the
resolution was entirely safe for the
I conference to adopt and that any re
sponsibility as to the legality of the
' fixing of the prices was put on, the
government, “and not on the operators,"
under the terms of the resolution. The
1 resolution after pointing that a great
national emergency now exists in the
nation’s fuel supply and that the coal
operators and miners desire to closely
co-operate with the government, reads:
“Resolved, That it is the sense of this
meeting that a committee of seven for
each coal-producing state and an addi
tional committee of seven, appointed by w
the representatives of the anthracite in
dustry, be appointed by the representa
tives of each state now attending this
convention, to confer with the secretary
of the interior, the federal trade com
mission and the committee on coal pro
duction of the Council of National De
fense, to the end that production be
stimulated and plans be perfected to
provide adequate means of distribution,
and further, that these committees re
port forthwith to the secretary of the
Interior, the federal trade commission .
and the committee on coal production
of the Council of National Defense costs
of and conditions surrounding the pro
duction and distribution of coal in each
district, and that these committees are
authorized, in their discretion, to giro
assent to such maximum prices for coal,
f o. b. cars at mines in the various dis
tricts as may be named by the secretary
of the interior, the federal trade com
mission and the committee on coal pro
duction of the Council of National De
fense.
The resolution was unanimously
adopted. It was a revision of a former
resolution recalled because of fear that
question might be raised as »o the legal
ity of the operators’ agreeing upon 4
price, even though at the instance of
the government. Attorney General Greg
ory having sent word that R. Colton
special assistant attornej - gener
al, who had been conferring with the op
erators, had no right or authority to
outline what the government’s policy
might be under the anti-trust laws in
connection with price fixing.
As soon as this resolution was agreed
to, another one was presented under
which it was proposed that the govern
ment authorize the government repre
sentatives named in the resolution to is
sue a statement forthwith fixing a tenta
tive price which in their judgment shall
be a fair and reasonable one for the
various districts, and to be effective July
1 until the committee shall fix a perma- •
nent price.