South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-11-13
Nine Workers AmericaniSm
Bloc to BOLSheUikS

Anderson's federal court order is a tribute tC
loyalty organized labor in America--Organizcd
labor as American organized labor.-no less pro.
the support that gave o the country
in the prosecution OF the
As the case was presented to Judge Anderson b,
the government. the action of the miners one OF
finishing Job" the end OF the union contract
which means the OF the war. and a declaration oil
peace. later than April l.
That the issue invcIvedi tSc lend Of the war
The president proclaimed 1t. attorney gen
eraI of the United Judge Anderson OF the
federal court gave legal affirmation. wal
Is ended and that under the Lever act, wal
measure. the could resist internal
ference with the prosecution Of that
The president attorney general. court
have held that strike of coal miners, sitting prOduc
ton Of coal interfering with the
the government for purposes including
transportation of troops, and melting people In
state unrest, a result OF the possible panic
through starvation and freezing because of
closing down of industries and coal shortage comes
within the provisions Of the Lever law.
II is a splendid compliment the mine workers
receiving order by due process Of law" the!
should. though protesting the legality Of it, have
concluded TO comply Herewith:
we comply with the mandate OF the court"
said Acting Pres't John l.. Lewis, of the Mine
Workers union. I'VE do this under protest. but
we arc Americans and and Will
fight government
which later explained that they would no
fight country Of which government thu
constituted authority"
II HAT listens like pretty good AmericaLism In fact
what little Is known of the debates--yhich were
held in secretDreccding the announcements. seems t
indicate that they pretty much along the line o
maintaining AIncricansn.
I'VE placed in the situation of being
called yellow" said district president 'if
obeycd the court order, the more radical among
the miners wanting to defy it, II did that
placed union before country,
would he anarchists We Americans first
and placed country before union
which doesn't sound 80 very bOlshevtk, even az II
worst. Ii is quite apparent
being control OF the United Mine Workers. par
ticularIy the head. though the union may b.
somewhat eaten 10y them-out in the ranks.
IL sounds much better, Is much more American
esque than the attitude assumed by the heads OF tn
American Federation of Labor IN conference Wash
ington. as to SAVIOR well the SimOn-pure American
variety
America needs of that brand of Amercanisn
assuming that it speaks from the heart-and needs
not alone from the ranks of labor.
O doubt but that will be said the mine work
IN that they deserving OF credit for sur
rendering, they have only i'm the face OF con
Il
altruistic institution. only minor rights which
neither employers government need feel bound Il
respect. are quite certain O attitude--bu
TO return to the issue.
The mine workers surrendered. under the issue
forth, the mine operators TO the govern
interccdlns behalf of operators
may have that effect temporarily, but fundamental!
and on face least the Is mucI
b measure-lOyaIty to the government during IN,
|
Is demanded
None of the issues of the have been settled
except the in which the government was con
ccrned that Of finishing up the war-and may
hope that before that is finished the miners anC
operators will have together vii
have provided kind OF machinery forcing set
Element q by something other thar
strike methods.
Bear in mind that neither the injunction nor thu
mandate. mas been employed surrendered to in thi
instance. behalf operators operators have
figured In the proceedings. The clash has
tween the government and the strikers
Insofar as the operators have been benefoiarics
the government stepping hold
ing the miners their contract which govern
Ilcnt Is a party until the end the but that wa
once and the truth Of the miners claims ant
cause once known. thc operators may find condition
different.
The lessons TO be Grawn the crisis are first
unions respect stand BY their contract
their very end this particularly when the govern
rnent Is party it. this
this particular union while il may be
bottom has proven pretty well saturated witt
/ AmCriCansm ut the top.
Americanism still has hold American labor
and America must maintain that hold-tO do which
some industrial Justice be formulated
promoted and guarded 10y Jaw guaranteeing a "squar
deal O sides.
And after time VIC may be gracious enough 10 adj
tbs+ ,-a so-,othirg tho t,ei-