Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-28
oryauis,d l.se.v Must Choose

ORGANlZEp labor cannot hide eehind the
~ skirts OF the accusation. voiced by ono
OF its leaders. that The halt-pleS. half-com-
mand. addressed t. /, over tho signature OF
President Wilson, came not from him but
from q capita!iStic coteris. using his name
and taking advantage % his illness. Or
ganiEed labor knows full we'll that the docu-
ment is genuine. that no one else could have
written it, aud il Knows further, orinced
by Fitzpatrick's silly statement that Its tone
rings true with the spirit and determination
OF the American people in this seeming crisis
in their affairs, Organized labor knows.
too, that IL ii does not heed the word Of the
President, but permits the coal miners to go
out on strike ina disloyal effort to paralyzo
the nations industries. ii will be signing Its
own death warrant Without legitimate eN-
cuse for compelling strike at this time
and with public feeling running at flood tide
against it, walkout of the miners now will
be doomed to failure sorrier than has fallen
to the lot Of the striking steel workers
There is no doubling the tone OF the
Presidents address TO the coal miners in
which he orders them to call of the pro-
posed strike and settle their grievances by
negotiation il possible; If not, then by arbi-
tration. 1t is the head Of the nation speak
Ing with the national authority in him
vested, nation whose patience Is well-nigh
exhausted by repeated class demands and
edge from the unnecessary industrial turmoil
into which it has been plunged, not by honest
labor, but by leaders who do not reflect the
views Of the men they are supposed to rep
resent, and by playing on class passion and
animosities, are seeking to lead them straight
into the abyss of Bolshevism and revolution.
The presidential letter is no less than an
ultimatum, and if it becomes necessary for
him to enforce his position the President
xr-i1l hor horl Of Il Jim, NIT
cept for those who have something to gain
through class antagonism. That he Is ready
to meet the issue shou!d the miners refuse
to heed his words Of advice and quit their
Jobs. is manifest What remedy he has in
mind, he has not said, and perhaps it would
be better il he we're to make a frank state
ment of what means he proposes to use
should the clash come. However, there is
little question that he would rely on the war
machinery which is still set up. Regrettable
as would be the enforced use of troops to
guarantee the operation OF the mines by pro-
tecting the workmen, among them thousands
who will remain at their posts, refusing to
strike at the mere behest of nominal leaders
who have dispensed with even the formali-
ties OF a vote, it will be sanctioned publicly
as perhaps the only bar against a national
cataclysm.
But even here extreme caution must be
exercised, lest the government itself play into
the hands of the radicals, whose program
of industrial revolution includes the national
ization Of the mines, together with all other
great industries. Federal protection need
not extend that far, and it would be unfor-
tunate were the Federal government to take
over the mines without first receiving the
express mandate OF majority of the Ameri-
can people.
There still is hope that the Presidents
action will clarity the industrial atmosphere
and that sanity, returning to the masses OF
workmen whose loyalty cannot be ques-
toned Will lead them TO take their organ-
cations out OF the control Of the Lewises,
the Fosters and other self-constituted leaders
who would defy the government for the at
tainment of their own selfish ends.