Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-30

wbrkers In other fields. where opera
sYs had been given no oppotunity to
even consider demands for Increased
w6Ees or decreased hours.
All this has been done while the
naners In every field. through their
rht or collective bargaining. had
te operators. liking wages and hours
fT q DEFINITE period, which has not
y expired; The operators, upon the
tNir Willingness TO negotiate and ar
pirate. providing the strike is de-
IfSsrred, while the miners rejected the
fneans OF settlement, and refused to
d$fer the strike.
Some OF the wage contracts were
government. operating through the
fuel administration. to run during the
GRtin1ation of the war or until April
uatil a time still in the future with
out regard for the continuation OF the
s'while it is perfectly plain that tho
war Is sfill on. and any contract run
mug until Its conclusion is still in
tTce. whatever weight may he given
tH the argument that the successful
oneration of the war no longer requires
SUCH contracts il has no application
whatever to tho large number OF such
c9,tracts which expire at n fixed date
TIE armis,ice did not end the war, and
tip courts in many cases have held
tfsit the war emergency statutes are
sun in force: the same rule must apply
t3 war emergency contracts Tho Con
E4ess has held TO this position go late
as october %; when an &C; Of Congress
festi"e the food and fuel control act
Must Protect Public.
sThe suspension OF the restrictions
as 10 the price OF coal Is not nccessar-
lly permanent and conditions warrant
a renewal OF these restrictions at this
tisie. and yet the government. if 1t
rGSns'aies the order fxing II maximum
pTce. would DO absolutely helpless to
protect the people against exorbitant
pHCes of the product II the contracts
mede under It's sanction should now
mean That change could not be ne
E4tia'cd. and either agreed upon or
aSitrated. II proper protection of the
public be accorded in the settlement.
bqt II does mean Chat the public Wei.
rare IN The wartime emergency must
SUI! be the same permanent interest
'o s. pc servo ny both parties The gov.
,oE,cat conciusion, VIII paralyze trans
portation and industry. II will deprive
unnumbered thousands OF men. WHO
employment of Their right TO earn a
fi an,,s.. ,.. FER ,hemsSlves and their
and, II continued only for a few DAYS.
VIII bring cold and hunger 10 millions
OF o. our people; If continued for month
ITS wake. !, would he more deadly
attack upon tho life OF the nation than
an Invading army.
BY enacting the food and fuel CON
trol act, Congress has recognized the
vital imp2rtance IN the present circum-
stances of maintaining production aud
distribution OF the npcesearjes of ljfc
ana has made II unlawful for any con
ccrteo actiQn, agreement or tho ar
ranEcmtnt to be made by two or more
persons TO limit the facilities Of trans
nortation and production. or to restrict
mo supply and Distribution OF fuel or
70 ala or 2bet the doing OF any act
having this purpose or effect. Making
z strike effective under the circunl-
stances which have described amounts
to such concerted action or arrange
rent
1T Is the. solemn duty of the De-
Dar,ment OF Justice 20 enforce This
statute. We have enforced Il in many
cases. We must continue to do so. ir-
respective OF the persons involved in
Its violation. hope It Will not he
Indeed, am hearing from many
sources that large numbers OF tho
MINERS themselves do not wish tn uuit
work and will not do so If assured of
the projection Of the government, Of
which. they properly feel themselves
Workers VIII lie Protected.
1T is. probably unnecessary for mo
TO say that such protection Will every
where be given. SO that men may cx-
ercise their undoubted right OF con-
tinutng TO work under such terms and
conditions as they shall zee ut. The
facts present a situation which chal-
ienges the supremacy Of tho law mi
every resource of the government will
ne brought 10 bear to prevent tho ma
tion1i d.sasi which would Inevitably
result from the cessation Of mining
ODCrntiOnP,'