South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-11-20
NOVEMBER 20. 1919.
MINE OWNERS AND THE INJUNCTION

Big bituminous mine operators are complaining
saith the dispatches. that the government is
doing all that it could under the federal Injunction
drive the miners back work: that the calling
off OF the strike was not genuine and has merely
converted 1t from strike into concerted surrender
OF their jobs the part of the The in
situation is that Uncle sam should now get behind
them with bayonets. il need be- and prod them into
the mines whether they would go or not
Which throws a little light on the mental pecul-
iarities OF the mine upon the possible
Ignorance with which they speak. quite as incom-
patable with the real status OF the case as the
titude assumed by the mine workers
Where do the mine operators come in this
quarrel between the government and the mine
workers anyway? The government hasn't taken up
the mine operators quarrel at ALL so far as the in
junction Is concerned, fact which not only
government but Judge Anderson has made plain.
The United states-the peoples agency OF united
acknowledgement in the behalf of the people ard
asked for injunction prohbitive of the viola
tion of the Lever act under which the public claims
protection against coal famine. the result of a
strike. pending the end of the war. ,,,..
So far the injunction case is concerned, the
operators entirely out of It. and they should be
kept out. The conference that is being held in
Washington. presided over by sec'y of Labor VII
to settle the differences between the mine work
and operators. is an entirely different matter
separate and distinct from the injunction case as
daylight from darkness
The American public may have particular am
bition to take up the mine owners fight: may be
indsposed to take sides with a clique so Badly
smeared with unclean hands-and when it comes to
bayoheting work. we'll the inalienabe right
to loaf Is just sacred the workingnan as it is
to the idle rich" When the department of justice
is satisfied that there is conspiracy not to return
10 work. the part OF the men enjoined and in
defiance OF the injunction, contempt proceedings
Will probably be brought. but it viii be for contempt
Of tho court and not of the mine owners
Uncle Sans interest in the quarrel between the
and workers of the mines is being shown in
the conference at Washington, not in the federal
court a. indianapolis. Sec'y Wilson played manly
and admirable part too III opening that conference
when the representative OF the public. he laid
down the law OF justice and common sense to both
parties to the controversy; the miners and coal
operators alike.
He told the union officers the bitter truth that the
3O-hour week and the 90 percent raise are equally
.imposssble"-the former because would limit
production at a time when increased production is
soreIy needed and the because II would put
the miners out of line with the other workers Of
the country adding unjust burdens 10 their cost of
living and giving the miners unfair advantage.
This statement came from secy Wilson with
special force and persuasveness because he spoke
not only government Official but as a coal miner
himself whose loyalty to the best interests OF the
craft has been questioned.
AT the time he declared that "the stand-pat
position taken by the operators heretofore is an i'm
possible one"
While maintaining that the wartime contract
governing the coal industry is still In force the
secretary remarked. tactfully and truly, that "the
people of the United States are shylooks" Re
gardless OF teehnicalities. the miners need more
money to meet the cost OF living. though so
mach they have demanded They should have
what they need. They must make concessions. and
the operators must make concessions.
Both sides have been told sernly where they get
Off" The nation. through its federal government.
has served notice that il will no more pernic-
nonsense from either capital labor in
coal industry. Now let the righteous and
method be applied other industries
But let not confound this injunction proceed
ing instituted in behalf OF the people anything
like proceeding brought TO give aid and comfort
to the mine operators It may have that effect but
such effect IS only incidental The cause was the
welfare CT the people and not Of the mine
al. Had there been danger of a coal famine.
there would have been no injunction.