Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-11-07
uNw,sE TO ADJOURN.

IN face Of the labor difficulties facing
the nation particularly the coal stu
alton. congress is acting unwisely to
consider an, adjournment. We are in
formed from washington that the
senate leaders have practically agreed
that no domestic legislation can be
put through at this session and If they
can dispose of the peace treaty next
week formal closing of the present ses-
sion will take place.
While congress may not be in posi-
ton to straighten out some of the
labor difficulties and has the power
If it had the courage to use it, to settle
the coal strike, it should remain in ses-
sion II for nothing else than the moral
effect it will have in the nation. 1t
has the power to pass legislation which
would bring into existence an arbitra-
ton board with real power to deal
with problems Of this character.
While congress is thinking of ad-
journing what is the situation in the
United States? Many strikes are, in
progress. Close TO half million steel
workers are still out and a settlement
does not seem to be in sight. Many
industries allied with the steel mills
are being crippled. Steel is at a
premium. Even the carpenters can not
secure sufficient nails with which to
work. The great producing coal mines
Of the nation are virtually tied up;
winter is but a short distance away
when fuel must be had at any price.
Neither the government, the coal
miners nor the mine operators are
making Roadway. The miners and
operators are in a deadlock. The gov
eminent tied up the strikers funds
to support the men who are not work
ing, but sympathetic unions are lending
financial aid to them. The United Mine
Workers have plans under way to dis
solve the restraining order which the
government secured and will ask that
the Injunction be declared void, the
department of justice having bluntly
rejected the proposal of the unionists
that the injunction be withdrawn.
Samuel Gompers. president of the
American Federation of Labor, de-
clares that the representatives of the
mine owners withdrew from the recent
labor conference for the purpose of
trying to settle the coal strike. This
is denied by the operators who de-
clare they withdrew so that Secretary
of Labor Wilson would not be en-
barrassed by their presence in trying
to get the representatives of the
miners to come to an honorable agree
ment.
The incident goes to illustrate that
the operators and the miners are get
ting farther apart than ever and neither
Is willing to show a disposition to set
lie the strike. The injunction does not
seem to hold out hope for a settlement
for, even il a court mandate was is
sued to the head of the United Mine
Workers to call off the strike, 1t is
likely the miners would still refuse to
go back to work.
A coal famine for this country would
be terrible thing especially when peo-
pie are hard pressed to meet the pres
ent high prices for the common neces-
stiles of life. Congress should take
heed of the dangerous situation and
remain in session until such time, at
least, as 1t is eased. Domestic prob
lens Of the United States today are
more pressing than the ratification of
the treaty and the people look to con-
gress to devote its undivided atten-
ton to their solution.