The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1922-04-13
HI COAL STRIKE

The COAL SIRlhE
Strikes are so often a collision O.
so-called labor leaders with s~o-callee
leaders of industry, that it is not al
ways possible to say where pretenst
leaves off and reality begins. Not
only our judgment of the event, but
our course of action with reference
to it, is dependant on a knowledge
of the inside facts, a knowledge that
few possess. If among that few the
government is one, and if the gov
eminent has also a courage which it
has not yet exhibited, the situation
will be quite easily handled.
Whatever may be the significance
of the present so-called strike, there
is always the problem of coal-mining.
The economic problem is one thing
and the human problem is another.
If mine owners were less greedy and
coal We're sold to the public for the
reasonable sum which could so easily
be fixed under a public-spirited pol
icy, here would still remain the man
ner in which men are compelled to
mine coal by the present methods;
that is to say, the human problem,
to which the public's attention is
hardly ever called, would still re-
main.
It is not primarily a question Of
hours and wages, it is a question Of
method. Mining is practically the
only great modern industry where
machinery has not come to the aid
of men. The man and the mule and
the pickax are still the ma 1stays Of
the trade, q trade which N time be-
comes so distasteful to a man Of
spirit it is with difficulty that it is
kept sufficiently manned.
This in turn has led to cruel de-
vices to hold men in bondage 10 the
mine. Through company tenements
and company stores with their law
less system of charges, through a
sufficient number of lock-outs and
strikes in the course of a year, the
men are kept in d~ebt-bondage, unable
to abandon a thankless trade A pri-
vate police force, more like a pri-
vate standing army, has more than
once usurped a sovereignty that be-
longs only to the government of the
United States, and, altgether, the
mining history Of u country is one
Of its blacklist spots.
That is the real problem. The
present strike is related to it much
or little, but the real problem is in
the whole condition and method Of
the industry.
There is a large stock Of coal in
the country, and if the President fails
to prevent the very obvious intention
to profteer, he will be confirming a
feeling of futility and helplessness
which ought not to be encouraged
in this country at this time-Dear-
born Independent (Henry Ford's pa
PERI
- "a p -
Sincere congratulations to the
Wolf Point high school girls who
have joined a gingham club with the
platform: "Cotton dresses, cotton
hose, clean teeth, clean shoes and no
paint" Beauty and charm spring
from many things besides artificial
adornment, such as, fresh air, work,
thoughtfulness, cheerfulness.
n "a
Those who dare to take issue with
the farm bloc get well and justly
thumped, in the West, these days.
Even the service editorial writers who
usually hug the middle of the road,
are slamming them.
rs - p
Candidates of several varieties are
sending in lengthy sketches Of their
careers with assurance Of apprecia-
ton, etc, but they neglect to send
their picture. We decline to pass
Judgment or commit ourselves until
we know how their pictures will look
in the Washington papers.
% VI
Link Marsh says that rodent con-
troll and grasshopper control are
alright but just now he wants the
Farm Bureau to use a little moisture
control.
"a "a - "a
Edison says it will not be long
before we can listen to the ants talk.
The poor little Mr. Ants will probab-
ly be thankful for the help.
"a r. "a
METHODIST WOMEN HONOR
MRS. BEHNER