Evening star., 1941-11-23
Underlying Issues to Remain
When Mine Controversy Ends
Governmental Attitude Toward Labor In Light
OF Its Results to Date, Called
Fundamental Problem
By Fell. Morley.

II WOulO De QlnCult 10 eXdegerate the
magnitude of the industrial problem
brought to the fore by the strike in coal
mines owned and operated by three great
steel corporations. For the maladjust-
ment now forced on public attention is
deep-rooted. Prompt termination of this
dispute, with little tangible injury to de-
fense production, would still leave the
underlying issues ready at any time to
plague the Nation further
The scope of the problem was force
fully indicated by Senator Tydings when
he opposed repeal of the Neutrality Act
with the argument that the general do
mestic picture makes such action 'trea
son TO the men who wear the uniforms
Of our country The cold facts about
confusion presented in this notable
speech by the Maryland Senator undoubt
edly helped to roll up the very strong
vote which the House cast against repeal.
A alority of 18 in vote of 406 is
slim balance on which to 60 to war.
Without the Presidents eleventh-hour
pledge that defense strikes will be elimi-
mated, without his statement that the
Government proposes to see this thing
through" 1t is exceedingly doubtful that
the House would have given administra-
tion foreign policy even this narrow
margin of support. Yet, after this pledge
uas given. the strike in captive coal
mines was called and was widely sup
ported by sympathy strikes in the COM
merclal mines.
1T is obvious" said Mr. Roosevelt in
the letter which Speaker Rayburn read
to the House Just before the vote on No
vember 13, that this coal must be mined
In order to keep the essential steel mills
at work" But Just as obvious is the
necessity of well-planned governmental
action to insure that similar crises shall
not in future arise.
Lewis the More Consistent.
TIE problem. however, is very much
more complicated than is generally pic
tured. 1t cannot be helpfully conSid-
cred, let alone solved, without eXamrna-
ton of much broader picture than that
provided by the present dramatic strug-
gle between John L. Lewis and Franklin
D. Roosevelt.
The fight between these two men, and
1t is bitter, is conflict of strong person.
alities. 1t will never be understood if it
Is regarded as a struggle over principles
between union leader on one side and
the Chief Executive Of the United States
on the other. Unquestionably. so far as
consistency counts, MI. Lewis has the
better of the argument. That is the fact
which lessons the apparently enormous
superiority of strength in the Presidents
hands.
For nearly nine years now the whole
labor policy of Mr.. Roosevelts admin
!stration has been to favor that basic
contention Of compulsory unioniZation
for which Mr.. Lewis is now vaging the
most epic struggle of his long and re-
markab Bile career.
The Wagner Act encouraged the pres
ent ambition of Mr. Lewis: so did the
composition and administrative policy
Of the National Labor Relations Board;
20 did the extraordinary tolerance ex-
hibited by the administration to the rev.
olutionarv device of the sit-doWn strike.
Every one who has followed the labor pol
Icy Of the New Deal realizes that 1t has
sought, consistently. energetically and
often ruthlessly, to produce 100 per cent
unionism And In so doing the admins
tration has time and again demonstrated
preference for the compact industrial
unonism of the c. L o. over and against
the less inclusive trade unionism of the
A. F. of L.
Has Had Agencies Support.
1t is that background which gives great
force to the contention of Mr. Lewis that
men employed by the captive mines must
b unionized, as are all other miners un-
der the Appalachian agreement, now in
force throughout 80 per cent of the in
dustry and previously Endorsed by the
Government"
Mr.. Roosevelt says now that the closed
shop in commercial mines would not be
weakened by maintaining the principle
OF the open shop in captive mines. But
heretofore, under the New Deal, govern
mental agencies dealing with labor prob
lens have uniformly tended TO support
the position on which Mr.. Lewis takes
his present stand.
From the STANDPOINT of strategy there