U.S. At War: Toward the Deadline

The U.S. was short on coal—500,000 tons a week short. Fuel Coordinator Harold Ickes advised the public: "Avoid panic . . . accept what coal is available . . . exercise the utmost conservation."

Then Coal Boss Ickes turned a hard, accusing stare on the War Labor Board, as he handed back to the owners the last one of the nation's 31300 Government-operated mines. Had WLB got around yet to approving a new mine-operator contract? If not, WLB had better hurry it up. A series of runaway strikes, just at a time when the nation is dangerously short on coal, with winter...