The Wilmington morning star., 1943-12-28
Strike Wave Spreads

| Because the admin; strat-on has INDUCED in
compromising attitude toward labor in the
war emergency the nation now faces a new
threat Of strike in key Industry. One hun
dred thousand steel workers are already out
and if immediate steps are not taken to halt
the movement no steel plant in the United
States will be in operation possibly bv the
end of this week.
The alleged cause is failure to make new
contract with the unions on a new and in
creased pay basis. But there is more deep
seated reason. 1t stems from the govern
ment's compromise with coal miners, which
John L. Lewis engineered If miners can en-
force their will upon the government, the steel
workers seem to believe, why cart we? And
if the question must be answered, it must
be-there is no reason why they should not
This, too, seems to have led rail workers
to declare their intention t. walk off the lob
the end of this week unless their wage de-
mands are granted. 1t is notable and sig
nificant fact that the railway urotherhoods and
unions, after requesting increas-
ed wages some time ago, withheld their strike
II
1t was not until Jcnn L. Lewis had achieved
his signal victory over the administration that
the strike wave gained its present alarming
dimensions. And in view Of that first COM
promise it is difficult to condemn men in
other employment for adopting similar means
to gain similar ends. They cannot be expected
to be content with thinner pay envelopes while
other workers are getting fatter ones Ger
tainly they cannot be blamed for failing to
realize that they are promoting initiation
through which they will eventually be the
worst sufferers.
The steel workers, Just as the rail workers,
naturally feel that if miners can get even
a fraction of what they demanded they may
hope to do as well. The final responsibility
cannot be placed upon them exclusively, how
ever grave an effect their action may have
upon the nations war program. The major
rests Upon the government which
to John L. Lewis and the labor
board which temporzed With TIE miners and
their chief at time WHEN 1t most needed
to stiffen its back under assault.
1>OW, lSSull VI lllc lllIStldllC1IllS VI llle
mine strike the nation faces the strong pos
sibility of a railroad and stee' tieup at the
very moment our armed forces are ready
to deliver the knockout to thu enemy Nor
is the victory alone in jeopardy. Uncontrolled
and destructive initiation wild sweep the coun-
try, if these strikes gain full impetus
President Roosevelt. however handled the
rail strike threat the sans way he did the
coal dispute-by ordering government seizure
of the railroads. thus repeating President
Wilson's action during the last war when
the transportation system was taken over
The President has not fourd the remedy
by announcing that if the steel men continue
on the job any wage increase they may be
awarded will be adjudged retroactive to the
day their old contract expired The accunu-
lating earnings they will then receive would
serve as spur to imitation. And there is no
precedent upon which to base a belief that
they would be denied higher pay
If there is any cure for situation the
government itself mas created it is to be
found in cutback of all wages in war and
essential industries to the prewar level and
draft workers therein as men are drafted for
the armed forces