Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-11-04

, gently and emphatically by President Wilson
! in his appeal to the coal miners.
! The country has resOunded with echoes
approving the Presidents declaration that the
proposed strike was immoral and Illegal
echoes of a character and from sources that
can leave no question as to the attitude of
the millions who have no immediate interest
| in the disputes OF the miners and the mine
owners, except in so far as the price of fuel
to the consumer ultimately may be affected
| 1t is of no consequence to them in the present
| circumstances, whether the miners are de-
handing the pay of an ambassador, with
thirty hours a week labor, are willing to
accept more modest compensation with
! forty-eight-hour work week.
But the people do feel a vital interest, not
| so much in their own welfare, per se as in
| the power and ability of the federal Gov
| eminent to protect the public welfare. The
| question transcends in Importance the dis
pute of any class or group, regardless of their
avocation in life. 1t is far more consequential
| than the health and comfort of the people,
which are threatened by the suspension of the
mining activities. 1t involves the stability
| of the Government, its power to enforce the
! law of the land, upon which our liberties rest.
UnquestiOnably the courts of the land are
we'll within their constitutional rights when
they assert their powers to protect the pub
| lie welfare. The Constitution of the United
States is clear and specific on this point and
there can be no serious contention that
strike which threatens, on the eve of winter
all OF its accompanying discomforts and hor-
rors is inimical to the public welfare.
The rights and wrongs of the case were
admirably stated by the President who spoke.
also, OF the duties and powers and intentions
OF the Government. Mr. Wilson accentad
the challenge of the coal miners. The head
OF the miners organization made no effort at
concealment. The demands of his organiza-
ton must be accepted or there would follow
strike that would throttle the industries
n Moti
misery among millions of innocent and help
less people.
President Wilson answered this ultimatum
calmly, but no less emphatically. The pro-
posed strike, he said, is not only immoral
but illegal, and he added that the United
States Government would not permit the
miners to carry out their threats. The in
junction granted by Judge Anderson at In
dianapolis is the logical consequence.
The Government doesn't propose to sit
calmly and permit any class or group TO pre-
cipitate a national disaster such as would
follow inevitably if the coal-mining operations
in the United States should cease for any
extended period. The right of workmen to
strike is not involved in the litigation, nor
is it to be questioned by the Government in
the injunction proceedings, so that 1t is un-
likely that the denunciatOry statements OF
Acting President John L. Lewis of the United
Mine Workers, and his associates about the
"abrogation of rights, ETC." will inspire
great deal of sympathy.
AS matter of fact, the proposed strike of
the coal miners invites attention to piece
of wartime legislation that is still on the
statute books and which, it may be urged, is
applicable to the present situation. We refer
to this provision in the Lever War Food
Control Act:
THAT any person who conspires,
bines, agrees or arranges with any 9TH
er person to limit the facilities for
transporting, producing, manufacture
ing, supplying, storing or dealing in any
necessaries; to restrict the supply of
any .-ecessaries, to restrict the distribu-
ton thereof, be ned not exceeding TO-
600 or be imprisoned for not not more
than two years, or BOTH
1t is the contention Of many learned lawyers
in Washington and elsewhere that under this
statute the leaders of the proposed strike
might be indicted, prosecuted and impris-
Oned.
We do not believe, however, that the Gov
eminent will invoke this law in dealing with
the present situation, but will rely upon it's
recognized powers to protect the public well
fare, at the same time continuing through
the proper channels efforts to bring about
a satisfactory settlement of the questions at
dispute between the miners and the mine
owners.