Salt Lake Telegram | 1944-04-06 | Page 1 | Ickes Warns Draft of Miners May Result in Coal Shortage

Ickes Warns Draft of Miners May Result in Coal Shortage Je WASHINGTON April 6 UP UP- UP Fuel Administrator Harold L. L Ickes said Thursday that refusal to defer coal miners under 26 years years vf of age would have a very serious effect on the nations nation's coal stockpiles and might result in severe se severe severe se- se se- se vere restrictions on coal tion He warned of the drastic effects effects effects ef ef- ef- ef which might r result sult from general general general gen gen- eral drafting of below 26 coal miners during a press conference which coincided with a regular weekly meeting of the war man manpower manpower manpower power commission The commissions commission's commissions commission's commis commis- sion's session was said to Involve a thorough review of the general draft situation and pleas of vanous various various vari van ous industries for deferment of their younger younger Coal mining it was said was one of the industries whose plea was being considered by the theW thew W M MC C. C r Observers doubted however that the commission would extend much much much-if If any the any the small list of in industries industries in- in which have been cited by byan byan byan an interagency committee as entitled entitled en en- ti titled le to some deferments for key workers under 26 because of the essentiality of f th their ir products Ickes told his press conference that the average of coal miners has increased sed from 32 to 45 years during during- the past four years and that this in itself has cut coal production production pro pro- because older men are unable unable unable un un- un- un able to dig as mu much h coal oal as younger young young- S er men The new developments followed closely on the appeal by the house military affairs committee for all F 4 draft registrants under 26 to find employment nt in 1 essential in In- The committee is st studyIng studying study study- dyIng dy- dy ing legislation to force into war wan jobs all 4 who fall fail to make such a move of their own accord