Evening star., 1941-11-18
BY GOULD LINCOLN.


BY GOULD LINCOLN.
John L. Lewis, head of the
United Mine Workers OF America,
has forced a showdown on the
closed shop" issue in industries
essential to national defense. He
has brought to q head the in
creasingly difilcult problem Of
stoppages of work in mines and
plants producing materials which
this country must have in the
face of the war threat hanging
over 1t. 1t remains now for the
United States Government to
show what its policy is to be
not on the foreign front-but on
the labor front In this country.
The President has said that the
Government will not undertake to
force closed shop in the captive
coal mines where the miners are
now on strike. He has said also
that the mines must and will be
operated.
Mr.. Lewis Interpretation of the
situation is different. He holds
it is the owners of the captive
coal mines, represented by the
heads Of the big steel companies,
who have brought about the
strike by refusing to agree to a
closed shop in the mines. His
contention is that the fight OF the
United Mine Workers is with
these steel company heads, not
with the Government.
This is specious argument on
the part Of Mr.. Lewis. 1t does not
hold water. In the first place, the
strike now tying up the coal
mines which supply the steel
companies with fuel was not
called by the steel companies
heads. 1t would not continue for
a day if Mr.. Lewis and his union
were not insisting that the status
Of the captive mines. so far as the
closed shop is concerned, be
changed forthwith.
Steel "on My Terms"
Secondly. the Government Of
the United States vitally needs
the steel which the owners Of
the captive coal mines are pro-
ducing. Mr.. Lewis, by halting
the production of coal in these
mines, is saying to the Govern
ment, you shall not have this
steel except on my terms OBJ
viously, the contest is against the
interests of the Government.
That is the Interpretation which
millions of Americans are placing
upon the fight which Mr.. Lewis is
waging.
If Mr.. Lewis had his way. every
mine and factory in the country
would be closed shop" shop
in which no man or woman could
work unless he was a member Of
a union-and paid union dues.
No man could work to produce
arms and munitions for the de-
fense Of the Nation without first
becoming a member OF a union.
Well, that is not new As a mat
ter Of fact, many men have been
compelled to join unions before
they were allowed to work on
the construction Of camps for the
new Army Of the United States.
Exorbitant fees were charged,
scandalous conditions existed and
nothing was done about 1t.
Mr.. Lewis, however, has brought
to q head the issue which was
allowed to slide in work for the
Government. He has done 1t by
the simple expedient OF forcing
a strike, q stoppage of produc-
zion. 1t is something that the
Government cannot side-step.
whether it wishes to or not. This
contest with the Government OF
the United States is something
that both Mr.. Lewis and the
rank and file Of the Mine Work.
ers' Union cannot now side-step
by asserting that their contest is
alone with the steel companies
which own the coal mines.
Not Ordinary Times.
In ordinary times, this coal
strike would be allowed to run
on indehnitely-as other coal
strikes have done In the past
until one<side or the other gave
in. But these are not ordinary
times. The safety Of the Nation
demands steel and more steel.
A Government which did not act
in these circumstances would be