Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-01
The Strike Begins.

Owing to the fact that the soft Goa!
strike was ordered to take effect at
midnight on Friday, it will be i'm
possible for two days to determine
the extent to which the order has been
observed by the union miners and
followed by the non-union workers.
For Saturday is practically a holiday
in this industry and there is no min
ing on Sunday, so that until Monday
morning the toll of non workers can
not be computed.
However, it is not to be doubted
that the strike order has been or Will
he generally obeyed by the union
miners and that a large number of
the non-union workers will follow suit.
Upward of 100000 miners, perhaps
close upon 100000, will in all hkeli
hood be idle. The injunction issued
yesterday at indianapolis is not di-
rectly calculated to hold the men at
work 1t is not addressed to them in
rdividually, but to their leaders, who
are enjoined from directing the strike
It is reported that the leaders regard
this move of the government with
complacency, inasmuch as the strike
once ordered requires no direction"
~ just what will constitute violation
Of the injunction, as long as it runs
temporarily, or if it is made perma
nent after the hearing next Saturday,
cannot be foretold. Acts of admins
-iSration by the mine union officials
may be held by district attorneys to
be in contempt of the order, but it
will be for the courts to pronounce
-sEpon the fact. The injunction. though
protested vigorously by the representa-
odtives of organized labor, may not
prove to be in itself an effeetual means
of checking the strike. Not until it is
"a actually applied in specific cases can
its influence for restoring production
ct the mines be determined.
8, The whole purpose of the govern
ment in resisting this strike is to pre-
vent the failure of the soft coal sup
ply. This can be accomplished only
by resumption of mining. The men
cannot be forced to work. If any con-
siderable percentage of them want to
work and are striking unwillingly and
will return to the mines if guaran
teed protection, production may be re-
sumed upon show of force by the
government to that purpose. The
presence of troops in the mining dis
a.triets, however, is not primarily for
that purpose, but to suppress disor-
der. Yet the two objects are in eff
feet identical, for disorder is likely
= to arise only through efforts of the
operators to work the mines with nom
union labor or with deserters from
1.-THE union ranks The great bulk of
coal mining is done by unskilled men.
A few of the operatives are skilled in
certain directions, but under compe
tenE supervision, which can be given
by non-union officials, foremen and
:. superintendent, coal can be mined
by men with little or no experience.
In this the coal industry Is different
from steel making, or practically any
other line of manufacture.
In these circumstances it is prob
able that if protection is afforded by
the government efforts will be made
to operate the mines despite the
strike. With the injunction exert
ing moral effect above ground and
with protected non-union workers
mining coal below ground, this strike
battle may be fought out on both
levels TO successful issue.