18 Jan 1918
Page 1
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Newspaper
The Mobile News Item
Location
Mobile, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Jan 18, 1918
Page
1
National fuel order takes effect today forcing industrial plants to close for five days. Estimated impact exceeds a thousand workers losing five days pay as larger plants on the city outskirts suspend wages during the idle period.
The Petrograd correspondent reports Lenine is displeased with Trotzky who dominates public focus and pursues his own foreign policy. Lenine may resign to seek a confidence vote while Trotzky acts independently. In Washington the first heatless day brings cold waves and frost warnings across the eastern United States with below zero readings in Indiana.
The food administration issued a wartime order exempting all food handling manufacturing and distributing agencies from fuel restrictions. A letter from Dr. Garfield says the ruling does not apply to newspapers or other industries run entirely on hydro electric power.
Official word states President Wilson will not interfere with the fuel restriction. Congress grapples with delayed action and charges the fuel administration overstepped authority. Senators call the dispute impotent and chaotic as rhetoric flares in the Senate. Representatives from New York condemn the order as harmful to the nation.
Federal grand juries in many districts are investigating complaints that coal operators and wholesale and retail dealers violated government fixed prices. Arrested dealers in Knoxville and Covington on complaints of district attorneys have been made. Officials were instructed to distribute coal reaching their jurisdiction during the five day period of industrial curtailment to preferential users.
Acting Mobile County Fuel Administrator S A Tonsmeire announces a sweeping order under the Garfield fuel control that bans burning fuel on heatless Mondays. All retail wholesale and general stores, movies, theaters and business houses must close except drug stores. Food shops may stay open half days. The decree runs from January 21 to March 25 with exemptions only for druggists.
Mobile education officials indicate local exemption boards will not expect teachers to assist in classifying registrants. Chairman George Toulmin noted teachers are already overworked and should not bear additional duties. Washington sent letters seeking nationwide cooperation from superintendents and teachers.
January 18 report says about 100 telegraph operators resigned at the Chicago board of trade as bitter cold halted most outside trading. Traders wore overcoats caps and mittens while building officials said heat would be increased shortly.
Postmaster J Blocker Thornton reports steady demand for war saving stamps at the Mobile post office with daily purchases of one hundred dollars or more. He has received no guidance from the department about observing a legal holiday on Mondays.
Geneva reports several South German newspapers alarmed by a 1917 rise in bigamy. They accuse authorities of condoning the offense due to numerous acquittals and lenient sentences, signaling a perceived decline in moral enforcement.
The News Item touts exclusive AP leased wire coverage for Mobile readers. It claims access to war theater dispatches, city reports, and worldwide news delivered fresh each afternoon. The piece emphasizes the paper’s attractive AP presentation and urges readers to choose The News Item for afternoon news.
Paris reports that on the western front quiet has settled for infantry activity. Big guns dominate the soundscape while patrols await raids. German forays on the Champagne front were repelled by French forces, marking minor actions amid ongoing trench life.
Associated Press reports that a bill to create a director of munitions with broad centralized control of war munitions, without cabinet status, was favorably reported by the Senate military committee. A separate bill to form a war council neared completion.
General Pershing reported two Louisiana soldiers dying of pneumonia in overseas service. Private Benny Boylston of the labor company died January 13. his mother Nora Boylston of Saline Louisiana is listed. Private Marshall Bell of the labor company died January 14. his sister Rena Wilkins of Washington Louisiana is listed.
The forecast from Washington on January 18 indicates fair and continued cold conditions tonight with heavy frost along the coast. Saturday should be fair with continued cold temperatures.
Reports from London on January 18 note no new clarity on Russo Romanian relations or the former emperor’s escape. Dispatches hint at possible assembly today in Petrograd and growing ferment. A Daily News correspondent says trouble appears likely as Petrograd garrison soldiers grow more divided from the government.
Vechernia Vremya reports Kerensky fled to Novo Tcherkask in the Don Cossack region after losses at Gatchina and sought Kale dines but was declined. He then moved to Vinland and spent a night at Rodzianko's house before reaching Sweden.
Deputy U S Marshal and Justice Department agents posted notices at district boundaries warning aliens to stop and go no farther toward a government contract and shipbuilding area. A German visitor reported being barred from business and living quarters after the warning was issued.
The Louisville and Nashville railroad proposes a substantial cut in wood freight rates for fuel use within Alabama. The change would apply only to within state shipments and could take effect in under ten days if timber dealers request it, per an L and N letter. The aim is to help dealers profit on wood moved from northern mills to Mobile.
Spot cotton remained stationary at 31 cents a pound on Thursday with no sales and receipts totaling 47 bales. Market activity was limited as quotes stayed firm and traders awaited further directions.
London dispatch summarizes German sentiment on Germany Russia Brest-Litovsk and Petrograd talks. It notes cautious optimism as parties warn negotiations may fail and riot outbreaks in Hungary and Austria after Chancellor von Hertling’s Reichstag statement. Freight and rail curtailments cited as wartime measures.
A neutral correspondent in Germany chronicles severe food shortages affecting children and widespread disease such as tuberculosis and dysentery. He notes coal scarcity, war weariness, and a desire for peace with victory as Prussian militarism clamps down, shaping public mood and policy.
Local exemption boards disagree on how to classify registrants with dependents under Provost Marshal General rules. Some say all men fall into the fourth class regardless of salary, while others contend dependents who draw more from the government than their salary should be in first class. County board chair George Toulmin notes the county has classified bona fide dependents by default and the district board upheld that classification in all but eight of about 175 government appeal cases.
The fuel administration ordered a five day shutdown of manufacturing plants east of the Mississippi and in Louisiana and Minnesota to relieve coal shortages for ships and the army. President Wilson approved the measure after Senate pressure and protests, with Garfield signing last night. The decree mirrors the prior abstract and lacks detailed interpretation, causing continued confusion over its implementation.
Jan 18 New York enters an industrial suspension period as merchants associations and industrial groups protest the order while the New York Stock Exchange stays open and retailers plan to continue business for the day. Labor readers pledge loyalty to the government and arrange relief funds for unemployed workers as a million lose wages.
Mobile church and Recreation House organizers at Fort Morgan conduct an all day fundraising canvas led by M J Vickers. Reports from workers were encouraging as Chaplain Blanchard visits from the fort to promote support for improving worship meetings and indoor recreation for the troops.
Mr Percy Maer collector of customs for Mobile has been appointed local agent of transportation for the war trade board He will issue licenses for bunker fuel ship and sea stores and other necessary ship supplies He was notified by telegram and expects instructions on duties in Mobile immediately This does not interfere with his customs duties
Presiding Judge Safford Berney announces circuit court will resume sessions February 4 and continue indefinitely. The court will hear state criminal cases city and county appeal cases equity and law matters on the docket from the past two terms.
London reports Premier Lloyd George telling labor delegates that democracy can only endure with readiness to sacrifice. He tied war aims to Belgium restoration and reparations, warned Germany’s intransigence, and said the war will continue until a just peace is achieved or Britain and its allies prevail.
In New Orleans on January 18 delegates from fourteen southern states heard Dr. P. F. Bahnsen urge full quarantine of tick-infested cattle. A. A. Coult said 4,900 square miles in Florida were tick-free and the campaign would continue until the state was tick-free. Other speakers included George W. Wharton, K. B. Smith, and W. B. Dalrymple. the conference would run through Friday with some discussions extending.
City Commissioner George E Crawford advertised for bids to supply a motor fire truck for the Mobile fire department to replace the aerial apparatus destroyed in the September 28 fire at Commerce and S J Michael streets. Bids open February 1 at noon. Estimated cost about $12 000. The modern truck will include the latest fire fighting deviations.
Washington dispatch reports the fuel administration drafting a supplementary list of exempted plants under the fuel restriction. The new list would add industries to those already notified as allowed to operate, but officials doubt it will be made public due to high demand for exemptions. Dr Garfield and staff focused on supplying bunker coal for ships stranded by fuel shortages as floods trigger widespread inquiries from eastern states.
New York trading opened with a general slow pace as the government fuel order impacts industry. Investment shares were mostly steady to lower while speculative issues such as International Paper Marine preferred Crucible Steel and Central Leather fell 1 to 2 points. United States Steel dropped about a point. Commission houses remained cautious and short-siders stayed largely committed to the market.
London reports theIrish convention adjourns to next Tuesday as the government probes for a compromise on the disputed point. Premier Lloyd George weighs Ulster council influence and the Marquis of Londonderry is named in connection with a possible settlement.
Gideon Pillow aged sixty five a Confederate general known as Gideon low died in Little Rock Arkansas on Thursday of pneumonia. He was a long time county official and a native of the area with years of service.
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