Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-10-31
The CHOW DOWN.

N ff0&T1SAAAS OF the united Mine
WI Workers Of America, who ad-
aourned their conference At Indianapolis
\ without delaying the bituminous coal
strike set for tomorrow, want show
down and they will get il. The United
states 10 In no mood to tolerate a
strike in the coal mines. Winter is
< virtually here and the consumers do
not propose to freeze to death because
~ existing differences between the
mino operators and their employers.
Both are to blame. The miners and
their leaders are taking the most un-
wise step in their career in leaving
the mines and the consumers to shift
for themselves. The operators are
only too anxious to hide behind the
protection of the government of the
United States. Both should be brushed
aside in considering the common neoes-
sity-gstting coal to The consumers.
The time has come in this country
when the government Of all the people
should talk so plainly to owners and
miners that no doubt will be left in
their minds that it they can not get
eegether for successful operation Of the
mines, they may expect oonfiseation
Of their property in toto and the dec
1aration Of an open shop for the mines.
They need have no fear the govern
ment can not operate the mines to
capacity. That is matter of organ
ration. Nor need the men who work |
In the mines under government opera
tion fear interference by strike pick
eters.
The miners claim, through their rep
Tesentatives, that only new wage !
agreement stands between them and
the operators; that they are willing to
femain at work If their wages are !
raised. At any other time than when
coal is in such imperative demand they
might be justified in standing out for
the increase. But unfortunately for
them they selected the wrong time. |
The nation must have coal. There need
be no argument on that without it
In cold weather there will be great
suffering not only from the cold but
In the throwing of hundreds Of thou
sands of men out of work in various
industries because there Is no fuel 70
keep the plants in operation. That |
condition can not be. The miners are
using club. They are mainly injuring
their co-workers in other industries.
John w. Lewis, acting president of
the United Mine Workers, says 1.-THE
Issue has been made, and If it must be
|settled upon the field of industrial bat
tile, the responsibility rests fairly and
bQuarely uDon the coal barons alone"
Yes, the issue has been made. But
Mr.. Lewis and his lieutenants have
failed to consider The public. It is the
public through it's government who will
osttls this strike and il will not be set
tisd satisfactorily to either the oper-
|ators and the miners who are SO willing
es cut Of the nations fuel supply at
season Of the year when it would be
|euieidal to be without it.
When union leaders say there is no
|way of recalling strike order, then
they admit that with their organiza lions
there Is vital weakness. They fail
30 see that 1t is not the owner or oper-
htor they cause to suffer but the people
% . whole. And the consumer has no
moro sympathy for the operator than
- has for the miner who is willing to
80 strike Of this kind go on without
neino 70 the far extreme to prevent il.