Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-09-23
Another Failure of Reason.

Despite all the mechanism of adjust
ment to adjudicate wage disputes, set up
by law and by arrangement between the
interested factors, another general strike
has occurred, the 400 900 members of the
United Mine Workers quitting their
tasks this morning. 1t is estimated that
fully two and a half million persons,
including the members of families, are
directly affected by the walkout. In
addition the strike reacts seriously upon
industries which rely upon bituminous
fuel for their power and also upon the
railroads that use that fuel for their
supplies at hand, the extent Of which
is not definitely known. If the strike
should continue for several weeks these
supplies would be dangerously reduced,
perhaps depleted. To a comparatively
slight extent does the curtailment Of
bituminous production incident to a
strike affect domestic users, for that fuel
is little used in individual homes and
only in apartments is it required in large
quantities.
In the Spring OF 1902 a general strike
occurred in the anthracite mines OF
Pennsylvania, that peculiarly restricted
area from which practically all of the
hard COAL supply Of the country comes.
1t was stubborn fight, lasting for very
nearly six months. With the opening
Of October the situation was dangerous.
The cold weather was beginning, the
supply of this vitality essential fuel for
the heating Of homes OF millions of
people was exhausted and no replenish-
ment was in prospect. President Theo-
dore Roosevelt called meeting of repre-
sentatives of the mine owners and the
workers and after protracted sessions he
managed to induce both sides to accept
the proposal of an impartial commission
to effect settlement of the dispute.
That commission was named, went to
work promptly and in short order
though after many delicate complica-
tons had to be adjusted, compromise
was reached on the basis of which the
strike ended and the mines resumed
production, with three-year contract,
"just in the nick of time" as the saying
goes, to prevent great suffering and per-
haps fatal results from lack of fuel.
1t is now suggested that another
President Roosevelt may undertake to
settle the coal strike. He is on his way
back to his office from brief vacation.
He will find this situation sufficiently
difficult and even dangerous to the
public welfare to warrant his under
taking of the role of umpire, personally
or by immediate proxy, to effect a
prompt settlement and the resumption
Of mining. While there is no such
prospect Of keen personal suffering and
possibly danger to life as that which was
presented thirty-two years ago, the case
is highly perilous to the national pros
perity. A protraction of the strike for
a period Of a month would SO deplete
fuel supplies as to cause numerous clos
ings of plants and the loss of employ
ment to many thousands. Moreover, the
calling of coal strike on large scale
is always the signal for disorders which
are difficult of suppression and almost
invariably costly in terms of human
life.
The real tragedy Of the case is that
the mechanism of adjustment, sup
posedly strike-proof, has failed; that
once again the futility of discussion
and arbitration to effect a satisfactory
compromise, which is the almost in
variable basis Of adjustment, has been
demonstrated.