Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-12-16
EDITORIAL OPINION OF
IDAHO EDITORS
ASPECTS OF THE GREAT COAL
STRIKE SETTLEMENT.
(Tribune, Lewiston.)

Most people are doubtless SO glad
the coal strike is over and its further
consequences are not to be expert
enced that they are not concerned with
the way in which 1t was terminated
and the meaning thereof. To another
and more responsible order of people.
however, the origin of the sudden and
unexpected negotiation is of as great
concern as the result itself, because no
controversy is ever settled, speaking
largely, until 1t is settled right, and
there can be no particular reinsurance
to the country in the present truce II
1t leaves a situation favorable to a re-
currence on the same or similar lines.
But the country cannot form a useful
estimate as to the source and meaning
of the settlement as things are now
organized. Whether the president
! sought the conference and the sort of
representations he caused to be made
to the miners, or whether the miners
sought the conference and the reasons
that induced them to do so. Is not
known. The country does not know
the extremity to which it was reduced
and whether it was forced to capitulate
or whether 1t was In a position to COM
pei capitulation by the miners. The
presidents intimate circle and the min
ers' union circle know the facts, but
the public remains In the dark. The
circumstances will certainly dribble
out, sooner or later, but not at the
time or In the way that will drive home
the lesson OF the strike to the great
masses of the people who arc ex-
pected to form the public policy and
| to bear both the public and the private
burdens resulting from tho policy and
| the decision.
Lacking knowledge OF the facts, 1t
cannot be told with certainty what part.
| Ii any. the injunctive writ and the
tpenal processes played In forcing mat
tiers to settlement. such facts as
are available seem to show that the IN
junction did not advance, but rather
retarded, the settlement. Strikes, even
strikes held to come within the pur-
view Of the Lever act, are one OF those
human facts which cannot be controlled
Inv statute, although the statute can
deal with certain manifestations or by
/, products, to which they give rise. Until
1 the government shows the purpose and
the power to cope with these overt and
claim to assert Jurisdiction over the
| Intangible and the passive. For similar
| req sons the clause In the pending rail-
road bill forbidding strikes win prob.
ably prove a mistake. however destr.
able the purpose IL. There 10 q human
question involved here that cannot be
successfully ignored or set aside.
Whenever the government 10 able to
protect persons engaged In. the pursuit
OF their natural rights. whether Of
working or of not working. and to sAfe-
guard lawful and honest property val
ues, II will doubtless have DISCHARGED
the fun measure of Its duty and power
| In reducing the strike danger to a min
limum. 1t is not to be expected, II a.
lprobably not even to be desired, that
| tho strike should disappear from the
| industrial equation. We are a very i'm
perfect world, full OF inequality. Il,
Justice. wrong, ain, sorrow and suffer-
ling, and we will al stlll have u mi
J up with many things that N, Disturb