USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > History of the activities of the people of Lackawanna County in the world war : under the supervision of the Pennsylvania Council of National Defense and Committee of Public Safety > Part 7
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Registration.
Under the direction of Mrs. Maxwell Chapman the Regis- tration Department of the Women's Committee made an industrial census of the omen of the County. Through co-operation with the Department of Women in Industry and the Employment Bureau it was planned to place available women, both paid and volunteer workers, in employment; So that men might be released for national and industrial service. It was a fine idea of MES. Dimmick, Mrs.
Weston, Mrs. Mitchell, Mrs. Chapman, and others; and to Mrs. Chap- man was given the toil and honor of roparing for and superintend- It would have been invaluable during an
ing this registration.
additional year of war; for the war fortunately came to an end
just as the labor problems were becoming critical. This Jacka- wanna County index of women, prepared during months of hard work by Mrs. Chapman and her assistants, was placed in the office of the Employment Bureau, where it is now.
Var Census.
As has been said, the Executive Secretary, with a number of different objects in view, but acting here rather for the Public Service Reserve, superintended the taking of a war-time census of Scranton and Dunmore -- Dunmore being contiguous to and a part of the City in all respects except political organization. The esti-
mated population of these municipalities combined was 155,000.
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The census, conducted by the Executive Secretary and his office force, with the outside help of over one thousand volunteer census takers, missed few people. The census takers also acquired inford mation for the war office about all men in active service, laying the basis for the work of the War History Commission. Half the census of Scranton was taken by the teachers and pupils of the Tech- nicol High School, under the direction of Principal Ronald P. Gloas- on. In every movement connected with war activities, this magni- ficent school was ready, willing, and competent to do far more than its share. The census of Dunmore was taken by the school system of Dunmore under Superintendent Charles F. Hoban and Principal
Dayton Ellis. In Dunmore, too, the whole school system was con- stantly on the alert in the Country's service.
Coal.
The all-important product of Lackawanna County in time of war, as in time of peace, was anthracite coal. While coal mining was by no means the only industry of the County, almost every thing else, or really every thing else, that can be raised or manufactured in Lackawanna County can be raised or manufactured in any one of a thousand other localities of the United States. But all the anthra- cite coal mined in the United States comes from a territory, in- 1 cluding Lackawanna County, not ten times its area.
It has been said in these pages that the mines of this County supplied the local and industrial domestic markets, and bo- sides shipped eight times as much coal away as was used for all lo- 1 :
cal purposes. It was necessary as a war emergency effort, to mine 1
more coal than had ever been mined before. More coal than ever before must be used in the industries throughout the United States; 1 and more coal than ever before must be shipped to foreign ports.
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02 the increased supply of coal to be mined during the war, not only a larger amount but a larger proportion must be shipped outside the County. There were single industries elsewhere in the country possibly as big as all the industries of Lacka anna County put to- gether; and they must have every ounce of coal that it was possible
to get for them. It was the paramount duty of all the war forces of Lackawanna County to see to it that as much coal was mined as could be mined, and as little coal was used locally as the County could get along with.
Mine Labor.
The first of these duties, that of mining with the high- est degree of efficiency and with the greatest speed, was purely a question of labor, and belonged almost exclusively to that part of the Committee of Public Safety under the supervision of the Em- ployment Bureap. Up to the middle of 1918 the mine operators got along fairly well with their own labor problems. It was not a question of wages so much as it was a question of keeping their men. It has been repeated in this narration of the circumstances connected with the war, that every time a man left the County to enter the army or seek employment at high wages elsewhere, the ultimate injury was to the mines and the farm. Efforts were made during all the months of the war to prevent those in the mines from coming up out of them to engage in other vocations. Colonel
Watres, as early as January 22, 1918, writes as follows:
"It has been brought to my attention that an effort is be- ing made and propaganda put forth to take men away from the An- threcite Field into other spheres of activity. Especially is
this said to be true as regards the United States Shipping Board. Everybody wants the United States Shipping Board and every other government board to get all the men they can, but I am sure you will agree with me that there should be no propa- ganda permitted which will divert men now engaged in mining
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coal into other fields. They can not get into any more important business just now than the mining of coal. Let me assure you that this movement I speak of is more serious than you might think from a mere statement of the case. It is in danger of materially affecting the production of coal."
Major T. Frank Penman, Chairman of the Speakers' Bureau
of Lackawanna County, wrote as follows to Colonel Watros:
"Mon engaged in mining coal should not be diverted from this important industry. But as I understand it i t is govern- ment agencies that are trying to get them away. Te know that the government is outbidding all other employers in wages for labor; therefore, it does not seem to me to be wise to give publicity to the fact that such employment is available, for men are likely to look for it of their own accord."
In fact, the Government constantly sought means to in- spire the people of the coal fields to mine every pound of coal that was within their power to mine; and at the same time advertised ex- tensively for men to leave other employments -- which appealed os- pecially to iners -- to enter government employ, at wages that tempted them away and would and did spoil them for future employ- ment on a pro-war basis. At that time the Executive Committee considered that the situation was becoming acute; and the mattor was taken up directly with Washington, with a strong request that our miners be let alone. As a result, on January 25, 1918, the following telgram was received from William McCormick Blair:
"Account of critical coal situation it is most important that men in anthracite coal fields be not disturbed or unset- tled but on the contrary in connection with our ship building bulletin they be shown that their work is actually a very im- portant part of shipping programme. ithout coal all the ships in the world would be of little use unless built for other fuel; therefore try to bring out and emphasize in all talks the impor- tant position coal mines holds in war programme, and opportunity for service unequalled by almost any other civilian work in
country. Please instruct all chairmen and speakers in your county to bring out above points and not to ask for any enroll- ments of men for ship-building work in your county."
An improvement in the situation seemed to come about in the spring and summer of 1918, due partly to an united effort to prevent miners from being drawn from their labor in large numbers; and due
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to the fact, of course, that during the warm weather the domand for anthracite coal is no where nearly as great as in the winter -- particularly a winter as rigorous as that of 1917-18. While industries and railroads and steamships use by far the greatest proportion of all the kinds of coal that are mined, the heating of homes in which one hundred million people live has a very marked effect at all times on the fuel situation.
Minors' Exemptions
Another matter that was uppermost in the minds of the people of Lackawanna County as the war progressed was the possibility of exempting miners from the draft. August 30, 1917, the District Exemption Board gave an audience to representatives of the anthracite operators at Scranton in reference to exemptions Mr. F. M. Chase, Mr. Frank H. Hemelright, and Mr. A. P. Jessup, and a number of manag- ers of companies located near Seranton were present. After a gener -; al discussion between the members of the Board and the operators, the chairman of the Board announced that there would be no wholesale oxom tions on account of mining; but that if the several operators would ; present to the Board a list representing ton per cont of their om- ployees, certified by the local exemption boards as physically and otherwise subject go service, they would consider the exemption of 1 that number.
On June 29, 1918, Colonel Watres stated on absolutely ac@ curate information that of the 2,594 men who were called into the draft for June 24th from the anthracite counties, at least one half of them were mine workers.
"I urged that General Crowder should so define the Act that all draft boards would clearly understand that the mine worker was not to be put into the class of the common laborer. I be- lievo that the result of my letter to Chairman Pepper unques- tionably is that in the future draft boards will have a proper view of this question."
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No definite arrangement was made before the end of the war in regard to he attitude of the draft toward men vorking in the
mines. There were always conflicting opinions on the question,
and the question itself was a much complicated one. One opinion was that no distinction would permanently relieve the situation, because no matter what position a man was drafted from, the tendency was for miners to quit their work in many cases to take the place of men who had been drafted from the industries. The directly opposite view was that no men at all should bo drafted from the mines; and that as soon as a man otherwise subject to service left the minos, he should not be allowed to onter the industries, but should immedi- ately be drafted into the army. Perhaps the latter view would have been adopted from necessity had the war lasted longer. It is not certain, but the opinion has been advanced that the draft boards did stretch their authority in exempting miners from military service.
Exclusion of Labor Scouts.
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Toreseeing grave difficulties ahead in the vinter of 1918-19 in regard to the whole situation, the waiter, in August, 1918, immediately after he bocamo Brooutive Secretary, excluded as an emergency act and without authority, excepting that of the jus- 110 and necessity of protecting Lichawarns County's most important contribution to the war, all labos scouts from operating in the
County. This order, backed by palles setherity, undoubtedly held a very large number of working non within the County.
Exemotion Order.
In October, 1918, Mr. George E. Stevenson was peremptorily
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removed from his position as chairman of the District Exemption Board, a position he had occupied for more than a year. In close touch with public affairs and keenly alive to the coal situation, he had constantly fought for the protection of mining at full capa- city. In October he issued an order to the local draft boards to exempt mine workers. He was removed by his superior for the reason that he had no authority to issue such an order or any order at all. It was again a conflict between the protection of our great war industry and the inconsistent demands of the Government. We must mine all the coal that was needed, and at the same time we must give up many of the men who would mine the coal. Mr. Steven- son retired from his position in silence, and probably with the feeling that he had sacrificed himself to principle.
Return of Labor.
The end of the war relieved the coal situation as it relieved the situation in so many other matters. Ilo more mon were called away; and first scores, then hundreds, and finally some thousands came back to our County. Some of them, though not a large proportion, who had been in the mines returned there. AS a
subject of war history, coal mining and questions pertaining to it ceased to be a matter of importance soon after the end of the war. The labor difficulties in the mines, since the war, are not any more a part of war history than are the changed conditions in all other labor, industrial, commercial, and social interests. But the war had an effect on coal mining that is still folt and 111
be felt in the future. In the last two years there have been fewer men engaged in mining than before the war, their wages have been much higher, and their total carnings have increased immensely.
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The miner himself is more independent and his family is much better cored for.
Americanization.
Of all our inhabitants, the miner, because of his recent arrival in this country, needs both scholastic and social education. And he has become ripe for it.
Demand for Coal.
Another effect of the war has been to make it necessary for the mines to work "full time". The industries of the United States, transportation in the United States and transportation at sea, never drew on the American coal supply in times of peace so heavily as during the last two years. In addition to the American demand, Europe, many of her mines disabled, has added an enormous demand for our supply of coal. At this time of writing, December, 1920, there is a very severe shortage of anthracite coal in Lacka- wanna County, right where it is minod, where the mines are working full time, and where there is not a single strike among the miners. It all means that the war has given a great impetus to mining.
Fuel Administrator.
The coal operators, the miners, the Committee of Public Safety, and all citizens with influence greater or less, were deep- ly interested in seeing that the maximum supply of coal was mined during the war. That was one side of the problem. The other
was in the management of the distribution of coal. It was the duty of the Fuel Administration, in co-operation with all agencies, governmental, partly governmental, and with the coal operators,
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industrial operators, consumers of coal, and the transportation companies, to see that the local market was neither over-supplied nor under-supplied; and more particularly, to see that no part of the local market received more or less than it was entitled to. Hoarding of coal for domestic uses or buying large amounts for a long period could not be permitted; nor could any family, for reasons commonly humanitarian and because the vigor of every family was needed to play its part in the war, be denied fuel for ordinary purposes. Of course, the main purpose of the Fuel Administration was to control the use of coal at home that the maximum amount possible could be shipped to other parts of the country.
On November 20, 1917, Colonel Wetres was notified that Mr. Tudor R. Williams had been appointed Fuel Administrator for Lackawanna County, the appointment having been made by Federal Puel Administrator William Potter. In the course of a few weeks Mr. Williams had appointed local administrators throughout the County, as follows:
Assistant -- W. F. Forster.
Distribution -- A. W. Close, Dunmore; D. L. Crane, Car-
bondale; Professor M. W. Cummings, Olyphant; E. D. Morso, Clark's I Summit; W. C. Nicholson, Jermyn; J. F. Tubbs, Taylor.
Inspection -- W. B. Price, F. B. Jones, John G. Hayos. Equipment -- W. F. Shean, Legal -- George L. Peck,
The local fuel administrators, surrounded by sub-commit- tees, worked under a general committee that advised and assisted Mr. Williams. The subjects which the Fuel Administration took under advisement with authority to act, were:
1. Elimination of un-economical isolated plants.
2. The application of the skipstop to railways, and the regulation of coal heating and lighting;
3. Ecomomy in utilization of power and light in factories;
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4. Utilization of water power and interconnection of power systems;
5. Limiting the production of power to the most effici- ent plants available;
6. Economy in the refrigerating and ice-manufacturing industries.
Fuel Administrator Williams acted in close harmony with the Committee of Public Safety, kept them informed of his operations, and of the operations of his subordinates, and asked for and accepted the services of the committoes of public safety throughout the County. He laid aside almost all his own business and conscienti- ously performed the duties of Fuel Administrator far beyond the limits prescribed for him. It may be added that the position was not one that would render any man more popular; and he was con- stantly besieged by individuals and industrial managers on account of rulings he made in granting or denying supplies of coal.
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Econony in Fuel.
His organization used persuasion and propaganda more fre- quently than it exercised prerogative. They taught lessons of the most rigid thrift in the use of coal, light, oil, and gasoline. People without children were asked to live with as little heat in their homes as possible. Only the most necessary lighting by gas, electricity, ani kerosene came to be the rule, Fewer street lights
were used and for shorter periods during the night. Display signs using electricity were at first limited, and later laid aside. Be- fore the end of the war certain stores were closed on certain days, and automoblies were not allowed to be used on Sundays for any but the most necessary purposes. All these things and many more for the saving of fuel were institutions all over the United States, of course; but in Lackawann County, both because of the conscientious
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patriotism of the people and because of the excellence of the organization of the Fuel Administration and of the Co mittee of Public Safety supporting it, they were actually and literally in force.
The work of the Fuel Administration was really personal work that is, it was personal between an agent of the Fuel Admin- istration and every single individual that made every single pur- chase of coal from November, 1917, to November, 1918. It was de- tail work. In each case the individual must show why he had to have coal and for what purpose he was going to use it, and ho eco- nomical he was in the use of the last coal he had. It is probable that very little coal was wasted on the one hand and that very lit- tle if any suffering or industrial loss arose from the lack of coal. About two months beforethe close of the war, Mr. Williams made the following official statement in regard to the Fuel Admini- stration. It is valuable now as a specimen of an able administra- torss view of the situation during the critical periods of the war.
"To say that fuel is the most essential thing during the war is no exaggeration, for of all things needed, results can be obtained by ommission or substitution except when fuel is needed. The Fuel Administration has recognized this and through a volunteer organization hopes to get through the com- ing winter by a systematic stimulating of production, curtail- ment of unnecessary use or waste, and equal distribution of the available supplies of coal.
"In comparing production last year with the amount produced this year, ton for ton, we are ahead now, and by the wonderful desire of the operators and mine workers to win the war, we are expecting even better results. It is also expected that cach ton will go farther this year on account of the inspection on the part of the Fuel Administrator, assuring abetter grade of coal. The new plan of allotting the minor a certain amount of coal to mine will give him some thing new to work for, and we are sure our mining will not fall behind.
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"Some restrictions have been made as to the use of coal only because those industries most essential to winning the war must be taken care of. Very fe classes of industries have been denied fuel, an arrangement having been made whereby those industries found not to be most essential have been permitted to use the larger sizes of steam coal. Economics
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such as the skin-stop and th lighting orders as well as the elimination of many isolated power plants have rot orl" saved coal but money.
"Better co-operation between the Fuel and Railroad Ad- ministrations assured better distribution. en the Fuel Administration, last spring, asked the poo le to 'place your order now' it by no means meant that we would get our orders delivered then, although many took that interpretation -- a thing that would have been impossible. The idea was, how- ever, on account of war work, people were moving from place to place by thousands; and the only way to find out how much coal each community needed was to compile the any individual requirements in order to make up the country's coal budget, and plan to send fuel only when and where it was needed. The Fuel Administration, in its planning, however, depends unon the patriotism of the iners to produce the coal and the patriotism of the people to obtain only the amount they absolutely must have."
Construction and Materials.
All during 1918 the question of non-essential constructior with the use of essential material for this construction, was loom- ing up as a problem of increasing importance. Before definite steps were taken to check non-essential construction by the author- ity of the Government, that is, as carly as May, 1918, the Chairman of the Executive Committee, Colonel Watres, conferred through of- ficials of the Pennsylvania Council of National Defense with the Pri orities Division of the War Industries Board, on the specific casos of a $200,000 school house in the Borough of Throop, and of a sewer contracted for at $150,000 in the City of Scranton. Through the influence of Colonel Watres, both operations were postponed.
Circular Number 21 of the Priorities Division of the War Industries Board, dated September 3, 1918, put into full operation the supervision and curtailment of non-war construction. In Lackawanna County, the Committee on Construction and Materials was appointed by the Executive Committee with the Chairman and the Executive Secretary as members. It was at all times an agent of
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the Committee of Public Jafet and had at all times the help of its organization. The business of the Committee on Construc- tion and Materials was transacted by l'ayor Connell, liss fullen, and the Executive Secretary, through the war office.
The following report shows the attention to de "il and the vast amount of business transacted by this Com ittec; and at a time, too, when the Fourth Loan, the influenza enidomic, and all other war business of the Committee of Public safety and its various branches, were demanding the attention of the war office.
Record of the Operations of the Committee on Con- struction and Materials, Pennsylvania Council of National Defense and Com- mittee of Public Safety of Lackawanna County, September 25rd to Novem- ber 12th, 1918.
Undor instructions of the Central Committee, Porns 1- vania Council of National Defense, the Executive Committee of Lackawanna County passed a resolution September 25, 1918, to put into effect in this County the regulations of the Priorities Division of the War Industries Board, limiiting and servising building opere ions. Chairmon Colonel Louis A. Watres was aut orized to apoint a committee on Construc- tion and Materialsm and Executive Secretary Eugene H. Follows was by resolution made managing secretary of the Committee.
The following Committee was appointed, with execu .ive power :
Alexander T. Connell, Mayor of Serenton, Chairman; Colonel Louis A. Watres, ex-officio; Eugene H. Fellows, ex-officio; William A. May, George W. Clark, John Von Bergen, John E. Bradley, J. A. Lansing, J. T. Loftus, A. D. Connoll, Joseph E. Loveland, Thoma R. Brooks, Frank b. Svartz, Frank R. Coyne, J. A. Powell, Ellis Jones, P. A. Philbin, James F. Jordan, Frank H. Homelright.
At the first meeting of the Com ittee on Construction and Materials, held at Mayor Connell's office October 1, 1918, methods of procedure were decided upon, and the Chairman was by resolution authorized to appoint a sub-committee of three, including himself, to transact the business of the Committee in the intervals between meetings. Chair an Connell appointei
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the following sub-committee, giving them over to act and instructions to report.
Mayor Alexander T. Connell, Chairman; A. B. yonnell and George W. Clark.
The business of the Sub-committee as well as of the general Committee was to be transacted through the offices of Eugene H. Fellows, Executive Secretary of the Committee of Public Safety.
At a subsequent meeting. October 8, 1918, the Chairman appointed several sub-committees to attend to individual applications for permission to build, whose reports and recommendations vere accepted and followed by the working committee. After this the general Committee did not meet
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