Evening star., 1919-11-10

Coal Strike Crisis.


apolis, extending the restraining or
der to the point of demanding the
cancellation of the strike order in
obedience to which the soft coal miners
have ceased work. it was announced
in court by attorneys for the union
that the acting president and secrc-
tary OF the organization would obey
the order, though it was explained
that they could not bind their fellow
union officials. Now the president of
the union has repudiated that pledge
and goes into a meeting of mine Off
ciaIs at Indianapolis today in an at
titude which may forecast a refusal
to obey the mandate
Such refusal will precipitate lam
entable situation. Arrest for con-
tempt of court for all those who thus
decline to observe the order will pre-
sumably follow. The country will be
faced with repetition of the Debs
affair of 1894. The rank and file of
the miners union may refuse to re-
turn to work. There is no power to
compel them to work. Disorder may
ensue. A chaotic condition may prevail
in the coal-mining region. The disas-
ter of stoppage of the nations fuel
supply may threaten to continue in
definitely.
By its action yesterday the execu-
tive council of the American Fedora
strain. The council has proclaimed
to the country its emphatic justifi-
cation of the strike and denunciation
of the order of the court. It appeals
to the people of the United States in
behalf of the striking miners in the
same manner TO indorse and aid the
men engaged in this struggle.
This action by the largest repre-
sentative labor body in the United
States is direct challenge to the
court and to the government 1t is
the result doubtless of the radical in
fluenees that have recently been gain
ing aseendency within the organiza-
tion. 1t is in the last degree unfortu-
nate that body that has been 50 gen
orally constructive and helpful to the
cause of labor should in this crisis
now declare its opposition to the
processes of law and invite the peo-
pie of the country at large to join in
that opposition
The issues are joined. The govern
ment in all three OF its branches-ex-
ecutive. legislative and iudieiaLha;
taken its stand and will not withdraw.
If organized labor in this country un-
dertakes to resist the government a
conflict must result. Tie outcome of
such a conflict cannot be doubted. The
American people. whatever the merits
Of any particular claims of any body
of workingmen. whatever the degree
OF justice in the demand for better
ment of conditions, whatever the feel
ing of impatience with the lack of law
more specifically covering these situa-
tions or the Invocation of existing laws
to meet grave emergency. will not
support defiance of the orga 1ized aJ-
mlnistration of the country. when the
government is engaged in an effort to
promote the general public welfare
by averting the national calamity ot u
complete stoppage of the nations fuel
supply, the failure of which would
check all industry, all transportation,
all supplies upon when the people de-
pend for employment and sustenance,
for protection against freezing md
starvation.
The question to be worked out :
whether the government, representing
all of us, cannot, in order "to promote
the general welfare" prevent either
capital or labor or both OF them to-
gether from taking control of produc-
tion of the necessities of life, from
checking the supply of these neces-
sites at pleasure, and in the exercise
of this control from threatening the na
tion with disaster worse tnan war in
industrial non productivity, and in
freezing and starvation.
There is only one sovereign in this
republic and that is tae government.
chosen by all Americans and intrusted
with the aggregate of their individual
shares of national sovereignty-the
government of all the people, by all
the people and for all the people.