Imperial Valley press., 1943-04-30
THE SHOWDOWN BETWEEN
ROOSEVELT AND LEWIS

President Roosevelt's edict to John L.
Lewis and his United Mine Workers
marks the crisis not only in the long feud
between the president and the mop-head-
ed unionist, but of far greater import,
ii comprises the showdown between gov
ernment and labor under wartime duress.
Roosevelt's dctum that the miners go
back to work was compulsory. He had no
other way out of the dilemma which the
nation watches .ntently. If Roosevelt
backs down, then his whole initiation
front crumbles to dust. If he is not vie
torious, then this whole country can be
faced with wild wage increases and an
upset economy which would spell chaos
and unlimited confusion.
Strange it is, indeed that this crisis
is brought about by a man whom the
president has nurtured and pett2d into
an unruly child, and the group with
Lewis. whom Roosevelt has favored and
refused to restrict by intelligent labor
laws and fair and equitable controls and
countar-balances Surely, if sins Of faith
ers are visited upon their offspring, this
is case long heralded and long-forecast,
Of sins OF omission of past years, return,
ing to bear fruit in this time of crucial
test
When the New Deal refused to enact
a fair and equitable labor program but
chose instead a op-sided labor law which
gave labor organization the power of
virtual mob-rule and the dangers that
such a mob-rule might hold over the body
economic, right at that time did they lay
the ground work for just what Is now
happening.
Wild horses, long untamed and un-
broke to the ways of civilization. now
run rampant Arroganlly they flaunt
the needs of patriotism, the rules made
for the best interests of the national
health, and the cohesive unity of the war
production effort.
Wild horses, led by bushy-headed
centaur who looks like man but reveals
the base and selfish seif-interest of
beast.
These wild horses must be stopped
Mutiny and rebellion cannot be har-
bored here and now.
If the medicine is bitter to the Presi-
dent. it must be recalled that it is of his
own making.
THE DISTRICT POWER
Announcement by the Imperial lrrlga-
ton District that it is working out ways
and means for purchase of the power
system of the California-Electric Power
company deserves the biggest headlines
IN the newspapers.
Not only is this true because Of the
importance Ol SUCH d puiIIdSe " 1ilN
eventual full success of the big ALL
American canal program and the means
Of payment therefor. 1t is important
because here before the eyes of every
valleyita. we see the biggest organization
in the county moving forward on its own
program, war to the contrary notwlth-
standing.
Chambers of commerce may rest upon
their oars feeling that all we must con-
Germ ourselves with now is the war. Most
of us feel that any community better
ment can wait until the war is won. But
not many other communities and not our
own district organization here at home.
Pressing forward on a plan to reduce
the bonded debt, and upon another plan
to keep the power program expanding
despite war restrictions, the district
moves forward.
Foresight and forward planning and
steady progress over and above the war
is the theme of the wise and every lmpe-
rial county town should see and read and
follow the example.
| wonder what gruelling experience
it will be to realize the objective of peace,
security and freedom, and | wonder
whether it will not require more of the
IF oh kind c9nabIp