Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-14


upon the days that have just
drifted past than was the case last
Il Sunday. For week ago Jim and
Jane. seated side by side of holiday
morning to review the affairs of the nation,
found things looking moderately dark. There
was the coal crisis and the Mexican crisis and
the crisis incident to the hesitancy of the Ger
man government to affix the required signatures
to the peace protocol The crisis business
being somewhat overdone
and then there the fact that the fate
of the peace treaty looked none too propitous.
To Jim and Jane it must have seemed that this
business of keeping posted the trend of
events was rather dsheartening proposition
Things better this week. Things have
habit of breaking that way for Jms and James
Uncle Sam. His nephews and nieces. without
going to the extreme necessary of bona fde
optimst should at least have reached the point
where they may gaze upon transient clouds
upon the national horizon with the undismayed
vision of meliorist, to coin needed word
The coal strike is ended. The national crisis
precipitated through the announced determine
ton of less than ne-half of per cent of
the population to starve and freeze the Ameri
can body polite to qualification of their ambi-
lions has been passed.
President Wilson's proposal, which formed
the basis for the agreement under which the
striking mine workers return to their jobs,
briefly to this effect The immediate resump-
ton of operations. the workers to get IA per
cent increase in wages the cost of which is
not to be borne by the public; the appoint
ment of commission by the President study
wages. profits and all conditions surrounding
the industry. When this commission shall have
reported further revision in the workers,
wages. hours, etc. may be put into effect. The
possible future revision would be retroactive
to the date of resumption of work by the
miners.
Settlement upon this basis is hailed by the
workers their victory, by the operators
theirs and by the public theirs, fact which
speaks well for the diplomatic sagacty of the
President and the Attorney General Concede
the victory between operators and workers
where you will. there can be but viewpoint
to the greater victory-that of Americanism
over the doctrines of Lenin. An additional
blow has been struck upon the battered jaw of
that wabblng pork-and- beaner. old Radical
Labor and he is sagging toward the ropes. 1t is
a splendid fact that Uncle Sam, with hundred
million patriots back of his corner packs wall
lop In each fist that indiscrimnately bearded
red stand up
The criminal contempt proceedings against
those officials of the recalcitrant miners who
disobeyed the injunction forbidding the further
ing of an illegal strike have been. for the time
being. dropped. But the prophecy may be safe
ly ventured that it will be a long. long time be-
fore they any others contemplating similar
defiance forget that there is only one supreme
will or supreme power in these United States
and that that will and that power. vested in the
government by every decent and woman
in the nation. may not be defied with impunity
The despotism of the law over the lawless is
happy subject for contemplation.
On Friday the announcement of Fuel Ad-
minstrator Garfeld's resignation was made. on
the basis that the terms of settlement OF the
strike finally accepted contravene his con-
ception of the main principle involved. The
main principle, as seen by the fuel administra-
tor. was that the public should not be requested
to bear any part CT increased operation
penses incurred in meeting the demands of the
mine workers. The public, already staggering
under the heavy burden of living expenses. is
heartily in accord with DR.. Garfield in this
sentiment. The pity of his resignation lies in
the fact that while there is nothing in the i'm
mediate provisions of the settlement which
runs contrary to his expressed determination.
his assurance to what future developments
may bring forth cannot but to give
hdence to any who may at present be planning
to gouge the public
The function of the commission as provided
for is to investigate and that justice is done.
The public asks no more than this. DIR. Gar
fields resignation would have been better
timed had it been offered when the gouging
he anticipates had become fact and not a
speculation. So timed it is more than
possible that he might never have had cause to
proffer it,
The republican national committee came,
have acted, and have gone. Each of these
processes was marked by confidence. The re-
publicaRs strong in the knowledge that for
over year things have been breaking their
way. stepping high Yet they are stepping
carefully.
They shook hands all around and slapped
each other on the back. They named Chicago