The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-10-28
MEANING OF THE COAL STRIKE.

MEANING OF THE COAL STRIKE.
The failure of the efforts to compose the differences
between the coal operators and miners not unexpected
There was something extravagant in the demands of
the miners that portended than desire for
readjustment of wages and hours. The threat meant
that the miners believed they had the upper hand and
could enforce any demand they cared to make. They
tested their position by making the threat and feeling out
the other de and when they discovered that the opera
tors willing to compromise, that President Wilson
anxious to keep industrial peace, and that the pub
lie generally apprehensive the miners evidently de-
termned to strike in spite of any counter proposition
that might be offered.
Twice within few days organized labor has houted
the direct appeal of the President of the United States
stay in conference and patiently work for amicabe
adjustment of differences The public will not and
not overlook this great fact The spirit of compromise
small may be, is the side of employers and pub
ic The spirit of industrial warfare is the side of
ganized labor No doubt many of the rank and file of la
Dor honestly believe that warfare unavoidable; but the
leaders of labor know better They know that they could
remain in conference and find method of avoiding
strikes. When they fail and refuse to do this and twice
within week turn deaf to President Wilson's APP
peals they responsibility that is too heavy for
them organized labor to bear 1t is too much to take
the step that will dsorganze the industry and transpor
aton Of the United States and subject the people to the
dangers of starvation and freezing
What the aim of the miners and the other extremists
in organized labor if it is not wage adjustment? The
may be found in the action of organized labor in
England radical element in America is driving the
labor unions into movement having for its logical end
the sociaizng of the railroads. the mines and all the
great industries of the country The Plumb plan, which
proposes that the people shall buy the railroads and then
give the profits to the railroad workers. is to be applied
to the coal mines if the radicals have their way.
After the railroads and coal mines have been sovetized
the remaining industries of the country will be easily
brought under the control of organized labor.
That is the program of the radicals. The fight has
advanced further in England than in the United States
Within few months the world will know whether En-
gland is to undergo industrial and political revolution
ending in form of bolshevism The movement has much
further to in this country and if it is to succeed it
will be only in the distant future for organized labor
red lines is not numerous and there hopes that
sentative and purely American labor leaders will regain
control before the fatal steps made.
If, however the conservatives are borne down by the
reds within the ranks of labor in the United States then
the people will take hand There be only one su-
preme authority in the United States The government
50 class cannot cOnCf0 It unless TINS
class constitutes the people themselves Assuming that
the people will not turn red but will prefer to live in
free republic with guarantees of lfe liberty and prop
erty the attempt to bolshevze the United States will be
beaten matter how determined the reds my be and no
matter how the struggle
The urgent need of the hour is strong, allcompellng
grasp of the situation by the government of the United
States This control must be asserted forthwith in be-
half of the people, without too much questioning over
forms of procedure legal complications. The authori-
to defend the people against domestic instruction and
violence is in the United States 1t has the
power to make its authority effective. Congress can
place the coal miners under the direction of the Presi
dent and he operate them under the military power
If necessary that will be done, for coal must be taken
from the ground and delivered to the people If the coal
strike runs longer than week two the railroads will
feel the pinch and food distribution will lag The rail-
roads must be kept running If it is the intention of the
railroad operators to follow the mistaken policy of the
coal miners then the railroads must be operated by mill
AIRY authority under the iron hand and inexble will of
The government, acting in behalf of the people-Wash-
ngton Post.