Evening star., 1921-10-27

Editorial Digest
0utlawing the Kansas Mine Leader

ISNt@oW4AS SHG lAduoob MEUC Ae6UeC
IF It were nothing moro than a
contest within the union, the matter
would have little public interest. but
the fact that the. international ia
standing for a principle. In opposing
Iowat. upon which ii bassd. the right
Of all labor unions to exist, makes
the matter one Of public concern
comments the Houston Post (demo-
cratic) upon the action of John L
Lewis. president of the United Mine
Workers. in suspending Alexander
Howat from office. -
The principle involved as stated by
Lewis. that Of the sacredness of con-
tractual obligations. is lost sight OF
in the discussion by some of the pa
pers, which view the incident rather
from the angle of Howat's insubor-
1 and to the Industrial court of Kan
sas. 'Howat is not only in open re-
| bellion against the civil authorities
of Kansas; and Is now in jail for re.
fusing to obey the Kansas industrial
law, but is in revolt against HIS own
Scranton Times (democratic). while
the Rochester Democrat (zepub-
lican) thinks replacing Howat as
head Of the miners shows that the
Industrial court has the respect OF
the higher union officials" The
Grand Rapids Herald (republican)
says. Lewis saw clearly that If
American labor is to sanction law
violation and demand immunity FOR
Niolators unionfsm's life would ne
shortened" and "he took the bit i'll his
mouth and dcfied not only Howat, but
;; Howats thousands Of followers ny
ousting him from Office" That this
was Il measure of self-defense Tor
unionism is implied in the comment
! of the Wichita Beacon Gndepend-
enD that "any denial o. Lewis au-
thority ut this time is deniat Oh
the power of the American Fedora
ton and the cause of organized labor
in America" and of the Kansas City
Journal (republican) that Howat
policy of universal defiance of every
thing, the state included, was inlmi !.
cal to the interests OF the miners.
THE showdown that has come IN tne
ranks of the United Mine WORKERS o.
America is one|of the most important
developments OF this present recon.
structive period" is the opinion OF
the Butte Miner (democratIc). but tnat
President Lewis method VIII achteve
all that it aims for is. doubted oy the
New York World (democratlc)' "a1cn
'They are striking for no economic
reason, but to show disapproval OF
the industrial court and its decisions
Unless the state of Kansas Is ready
to take over all business within It's
borders, guaranteeing : profits and
wages, it is in no position to enforce
decisions concerning profits ana
wages by fines and Jail sentences.
The Hartford Times tdemocEatic).
on the other hand. thinks that kan
Sas has devised the most practicable
means yet developed in America to
handle strikes that affect the conven.
fence and security of the people. and
that Howat lis in jail. where he; be-
longs" for violating the courts de-
cision. The circumstances in Kansas
are peculiar" admits the Philadei l.
phia Bulletin independent repubil-
csn). but the fact that the lnterna-
tional Mine Workers Union is willing
TO outlaw a strike which processes to
be a challenge to the Kansas law and
its industrial court and martyrdonl
for the right to strike is significant
of a new attitude on the part OF Or
ganized labor
The main line of comment. however
may be summed UP as an endorsement
of the face value of President Lewis
defense of the principles of fair deal J.
ing among men" 1t places the Whole
question ION high moral ground and
if the facts are true. contains an arsu-
ment that is unanswerable.' says the
Mobile Register (demdcratic), in line
with the New York Times dndepend-
ent democratic). which labels Presi-
dent Lewis statement as honest
unionism." and the Newark News tin-
dependentI. which says. This INSIST
ence by the internationa! that unions
Of their obligations is the Kind OF talk
the country likes to hear" THE is
sue lin the Howat CONTROVERSY, states
the jI7,Susas City Zines CindepenaEnt
"is that Of the honor of organized Ia
bor." while the Houston Chroniele tiu-
should be proud Of John l.. Lewis. He
has taken a courageous stand for good
faith. for obedience to law. tor
straightforward, manly unionism.