Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-12-30
Betrayal of Public in Coal
Strike Negotiations
Alienates Voters.
SOP TO MINERS
GETS HIM NOWHERE
leading Democratic Candidate For
Presidency Plays Poiitios' In Hand
lino Big Questions - Loses Favor
Among Both Labor and Citizens
Who Advocate Coolidge Kind Of
Law and ordsr - MoAdoo Profits
1By q. g. Dougherty.1

Washington. Dec. S0.-From po-
litical point Of view, Attorney General
A. Mitchell Palmers handling OF the
coal strike situation has been series
of blunders. In tho opinion OF many
astute democratic politicians here.
They frankly regard them as so disas-
trous in their effect on Mr.. Palmers
candidacy for the democratic nomina-
ton for president as to eliminate him
from further serious consideration.
The view of most democrats In
washington today is that William g.
McAdoo. as result of Mr.. Palmers
political errors" has tho same stra-
tegic advantage or disadvantage Of be-
Ing out in front at the present time as
General Leonard Wood occupies with
regard to the republican nomination.
1t Is Wood against the field in the re-
publican camp, and McAdoo against
the field in the democratic wigwam.
Just before the coal strike situation
developed it was the quiet impression
of democratic politicians here that Mr..
Palmer had the advantage over Mr..
McAdoo. For a long time it has been
conceded that these two men were
we'll in the lead. Every democrat go
ing over the available presidential
timber in the party named these two
men first. Palmer sentiment had been
slowly but surely overtaking the Nc
Adoo boom, particularly on account Of
the strong friendliness of the drys
toward Palmer. In addition to this
the huge amount Of political patron
age in Mr.. Palmers hands had been
wisely used, politicians agreed, with
the result that there were centers OF
Palmer sentiment all over the country.
Men who made mo concealment Of the
fact that they were for Palmer for
president in many Instances were CIV
en- much coveted places, tt-was safd.--
Loses Union Labor Support.
Then came the injunctions against
the labor union leader, granted by the
courts but applied for at Mr.. Palmer's
direction. This action by Mr.. Palmer
while most Irritating to union men,
whether coal miners or not, raised Mr..
Palmer considerably in the estimation
Of the sort of voters who piled up
tremendous majority for Calvin Cool
idge In Massachusetts,. Most politi-
clans were privately OF the opinion
that Palmer's defiance of the labor
leaders and union labor generally
would strengthen him more than 1T
would hurt him. But it did hurt him
with the union labor element.
BIunders in Next Move.
Next came, however, the split with
Fuel Administrator Garfield, the fur
ther negotiations with John L. Lewis,
president Of the miners, and others,
ending in what DR.. Garfield character
lied as a. violation of principle. In
stead of standing by the Garfield pro-
pcsal, which proposed a IA per cent
increase to the miners but no advance
In the price Of coal to the consumers,
Mr.. Palmer negotiated an agreement
which gave commission dominated
by the operators and the miners the
right to advance coal prices in order
to grant wage advances.
Politicians take the view that this
might have been good politics had II
stood alone, without the injunction
background. They point out that 1t
was lust what the government had
been doing all thru the war, and
friends of Palmer declare that 1t could
not be any worse on the public than
the McAdoo advances in wages to the
railroad employes-recouped ate ono
from. the public by an advance IN
freight rates and passenger fares.
Wound Fails to Heal.
Reports coming in from the country.
however, are to the effect that In this
proposal with the leaders Of the mine
workers Mr. Palmer has not healed the
soreness against him growing out OF
the injunctions in the slightest degree.
Not even the union miners themselves
are pleased, hut are practically as BIT
ter against Mr.. Palmer as they were
before the negotiations Of which DR..
Garfield disapproved began. SO that
the politicians regard Mr.. Palmer as
having lost the union labor support
beyond recapture.
But by hisrlater negotiations with
Lewis, tho politicians point out, Mr..
Palmer has hopelessly alienated the
called 'Iaw and order element.
They think this effect will be accom-
plished even If coal prices do not ad-
vance before election date, but there is
scarcely anyone in Washington who
does not think that coal prices will be