The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-11-15
THE GREAT UNITED STATES
LABOR CRISIS

The steel strike, which began several
weeks ago. still continues. Added to this,
is the great coal strike, which began Novem-
Der /, and, because of certain developments,
has become an issue between labor and the
United States government.
AS The Theocyat readers know, the
United Mine Workers of America
were enioined by Federal Judge Anderson
of the u. S. District Court from in any
manner whatever prosecuting their strike.
This injunction was temporary, but on Nov
ember 8, at Indianapolis, it was made per
manent, and the officials of the United
Mine Workers Of America were that day
ordered to withdraw the strike order under
which over 100000 men quit work Novem-
Der |. The mandate was issued by Judge
Anderson.
Attorney General Palmer, speaking for
the U. S. government, said:
"This is the most critical hour in the life
Of our country. The test is being made
whether the government has the right and
the power to protect all the people from
national disaster which would be inflicted
upon them by single group for its own
advantage.
dispute over wages, hours or conditions OF
capital The governments offer of a peace
full settlement had been rejected, and the
government faces the alternative of sub
mitting to demands of group, or challeng-
ing the assertion by that group, of power
greater than the government itself.
Mr.. Palmer further urged that the coun-
try vigorously support 'some of the new
proposed legislation which would place the
strong arm of the federal government over
powerful corporations.
Federal Judge Anderson, on behalf of the
government, gave the officials of the United
Mine Workers of America seventy-two
hours from last Saturday afternoon, Nov
ember 8, to call off the strike.
The officials of the American Federation
of Labor, the organization which includes
all union labor in the United States, with
membership of over 100000 men, in con-
ference at Washington, decided to stand by
the United Mine Workers Of America IN
their strike and in their contest with the
United States government.
The American Federation of Labor issued
a statement on that day denouncing the
u. S. injunction as an act of autocracy, and
declared that the coal strike was justified by
the sufferings of 100000 workers, whose
22OO delegates, in official convention, voted
for the walkout and instructed their officials
to call the strike November |.
The statement further declares that the
U. S. injunction against the strikers twas
so autocratic as to stagger the human
mind" that the Lever act, under which
the government acted in the court proceed
ings, was illegally made to apply to work.
ers, and that its use against the coal miners
was not only "an injustice to workers but
to all liberty loving Americans.
All the money in the treasures of union
labor was pledged to the support of the
coal miners union in defending the officers
in the organization, should they be sent to
iail for contempt of court and defiance of
the government in refusing to call off the
strike
1t was declared that 'labor had fought
with it's men and its money to win the war
for world democracy, but now it must fight
the government whose arm it upheld in that
conflict, because the government, in the in
junction suit against the miners, was strik-
ing at the vitals Of organized labor"
The American Federation of Labor chiefs
at the parley in Washington were Samuel
F. Gompers, President, Frank Morrison,
Secretary, Daniel ]. Tobin, Treasurer, John
R. Alpine, Frank Duffy, w. D. Mahon, T.
A. Richert and Jacob Fisher, Vice Presi-
dents.