Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-10-30
IMPENDING COAL STRIKE
OUTSIDE PALE OF THE
LAW GOVERNMENT SAYS
Continued from Page one)

war is still on and any contract run.
! ming until its conclusion is still il
force, whatever weight may be giver
1 TO the argument that the successful
| operation of the war no longer re.
| quireS such contracts, it has no appli.
cation whatever to the large number
OF such contracts which expire at q
fixed date without regard for the wal
period. 1he aImistiee did not end the
war and the courts in many cases have
held that the war emergency statutes
are still in force; the same rule mus!
apply to war emergency contracts.
The congress has held to this position
so late as October %, when an act of
congress was approved making even
more effective the food and fuel con-
troll act.
TO Restrict Coal Prices.
THE suspension of the restrictions
as to the price of coal is not necessa-
rily permanent and conditions war
rant a renewal of these restrictions at
this time, and yet the government if
it re-instates the order fixing a max
imum price would be absolutely help
less to protect the people against eX-
brilliant prices of the product if the
contracts made under its sanction
should now be deliberately broken.
This does not mean that a change
could not be negotiated, and either
agreed upon or arbitrated. if proper
protection Of the public be accorded
in the settlement, but it does mean
that the public welfare in the war
time emergency must still be the
same permanent interest to be served
by both parties.
The government is the protector of
the public welfare
THE proposed strike, if carried to
its logical conclusion, will paralyZe
transportation ana industry. 1t will
deprive unnumbered thousands of
men who are making no complaint
about their employment of their right
to earn livelihood for themselves
and their families; will put cities in
darkness, and. if continued for only a
few days, will bring cold and hunger
to millions of our people; if continued
for month it will leave death and
starvation IN its wake. 1t would be
a more deadly attack upon the life of
the nation than an invading army.
BY enacting the food and fuel con-
troll act, congress has recognized the
importance in the present circum-
stances of maintaining production,
and distribution of the necessaries of
life and has made it unlawful for any |
action. agreement or the |
to be made by two or |
more persons to limit the facilities of |
and production, or to |
restrict the supply and distribution of |
fuel, or to aid or abet the doing of |
any act having this purpose or effect.
Making a strike effective under the
circumstances which l have described
to such concerted action or
1t is the solemn duty of the de-
)artment of justice to enforce this
tatute. We have enforced it in many
asses We must continue to do so
Irrespective o. the persons involved in
Is violation. | hope it will not be
necessary to enforce it in this case
indeed | am hearing from many
ourees that large numbers of the
miners themselves do not wish to quit
york and VIII not do so if assured
+ the protection of the government.
# which they properly feel them
elves a part.
1T is probably unnecessary for me
o say that such protection will every
where be given. so that men may ex-
rcise their undoubted right of con
inuing to. work under such terms
md conditions as they shall see fit.
me facts present a situation which
hallenges the supremacy of the law
md every resource of the govern
nent will be brought to bear to pre-
'ent the national disaster which
would inevitably result from the ces-
auon of mining operations"