The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-27


coal strike is now entering upon its
eighth week and at the time this is
written it has caused as yet barely
a ripple upon the surface OF gen
eral affairs. Everybody was more
or less excited when the strike was
called and it was expected that
something would happen" shortly
after the miners ceased work on
April l. To date, however, that in
definite something" is still IN
allegiance.
There are three reasons for this
extraordinary situation following a
nationwide tie-up of one of the
great basic industries. In the first
place, the strike came at a season
of the year when normally the de-
mand for coal is at its lowest ebb
and at a time when the industrial
demand was below normal Sec
ondly, there were large reserve
supplies of coal above ground
when the strike was called and the
non-union production added to these
reserves has been sufficient to pre-
vent fuel shortage Is yet. Finally,
the miners have SO conducted the
strike that there has been COM
paratively little disorder and few
clashes have occurred between
them and their sympathizers and
the duly constituted authorities.
Far different conditions prevailed
at the time of the 1919 strike. Then
winter was at hand, the demand Sor
coal was above normal, there was
no reserve stock on hand, and
neither miners nor operators were
in such a state of mind that they
could or would avoid clashes that
threatened law and order. Prices
of coal to the consumer began i'm
mediately to advance, and in no
time at all the public and the fed
eral powers were aroused to a
point where government interven-
ton was inevitable.
When the present strike was
called it was announced that the
government would not interfere
until it was evident that the pub
lie was being pinched by fuel
shortage or some other untoward
developments had taken place. OBJ
viously that time has not yet ar
rived and there are no indications
of its arrival in the immediate
future. Indeed, it may be said
that the conditions attending the
strike thus far have been such as
to make it waste of time to at
tempt to bring about a settlement
of the controversy. Neither the
miners nor the operators have suf-
fered sufficiently to feel that the
strike must be ended, even at the
cost of concessions by one side or
the other, and nothing has oc-
CURED to arouse the general pub
lie to a degree that would make
government Intervention advisable.
Public Opinion Important.
Public opinion is an extremely
important factor in a case of this
kind. In the absence of specific
laws under which the administra-
ton might proceed to end the
strike action can be taken only
when it appears that the general
welfare is jeopardized and when
there is an overwhelming public
sentiment to support whatever ac-
ton may be taken. There is no
federal law prohibiting strikes or
lockouts, none under which the
miners and operators can be com
PEELED to arbitrate their differences,
and none requiring the acceptance
of terms of settlement proposed by
the government or any outside
agency. The state of Kansas has
a law aimed to accomplish these
ends, but it has not been demon
strated complete success as a
state measure and of course it Of
fers no solution for the national
problem.
1t is a peculiar situation. Sooner
or later a strike of this proportion
must work hardship or possibly dis
aster to somebody. The strikers
and their families will be reduced
to suffering and want. The opera
tors and investors in mine prop
critics will suffer financial losses
that may prove serious. Other in
dustries will be handicapped or
crippled by d fuel shortage, and
eventually the general public will
have to pay more for its coal and
find it difficult or impossible to OBJ
tain the needed supply. Still moth
ing can be done to avert these I'M
pleasant results of a labor contro-
versy. 1t must become sufficiently
serious for everybody concerned TO