Evening star., 1941-07-08

miners union Dafio Lawrence.
won 90 per cent of all his demands.
The demands he waived were
minor in nature.
Sticking to his point throughout
and knowing that the adminlStra-
ton would not dare challenge his
prowess, Mr.. Lewis forced the
Southern coal operators to the wall,
inch by inch, over a period of three
months of protracted negotiation.
Even when II Southern operators
had conceded complete defeat and
were ready to sign a contract
agreeing to everything Mr.. Lewis
wanted, the latter did not bulge
and threatened strike unless the
18th district-Harlan County-came
into the agreement.
Closed Shop Throughout.
Today the United Mine Workers
Union has closed shop throughout
the entire coal industry involving
about 100000 miners. In Harlan
County, where many mines had
never been unionized, the employers
will have to compel their en-
ployes TO Join the c. I. o. or
dismiss them. This was Mr. Lewis
price, and the Southern coal oper-
ators, fearing criticism if they did
not yield, and knowing that the
National Defense Mediation Board
wanted them to do so, agreed to
the Lewis program.
The price of a job in the coal in
dustry today is fee to the United
Mine Workers Union and obedience
TO its discipline The union can call
a general strike any time it wishes
to enforce its demands on any par
ticular unit or group of employers.
More economic power is lodged in
this union than ever before in any
union in the entire history of labor.
From an economic standpoint the
Southern coal operators find them
selves up against extraordinary
costs. Fully so per cent of their
coal, though mined in the South,
competes with Northern mined coal
In Northern States. There is still
freight rate differential of 46 cents
ton on the average imposed
against Southern coal in competing
with the North, and while there |
have been vague promises by the
administration of an adjustment,
this may take several years.
Sees Threat of Bankruptcy.
Meanwhile, if the war emergency
comes to an end in the next year
or so, the Southern coal operators
will face bankruptcy in many in
stances. The $1,000 100000 invested
IN the mines will have to be re-
capitalized and much of it wiped
out.
What comes next? Even the
". P. A. has had a differential of
II per cent as between Northern
phib o'ulliClIA Ndsc ldttS. LIE coal
Industry has had a differential of
about per cent. If Mr.. Lewis can
wipe out an per cent differential
by organizing his forces in coal, he
can do so in other industries now.
and build up huge membership
list In other industries in the South.
The coal situation furnishes a prec- |
edent and an incentive for union |
ization of the entire South on a
closed shop basis.
The administration did nothing
to help the Southern operators. Lots
OF sympathy was extended but no
assistance. Even the Southern |
members of Congress held meetings
and did protest to the White House
but the moment the C. I. o. started
backf1re in those Southern con-
gresSlonal districts, the Southern
Congressman dropped the fight and
the opposition collapsed overnight,
There are, of Course, interests In
the North which will rejoice over
what has happened. For it will aid
them in their competitive oper-
stions in the long run. 1t will be re-