Imperial Valley press., 1943-05-04
Editorials and Comment

three. Obviously it is Lewis strategy
At least that cat Is out of the bag His
statement Sunday night Just ahead of
the Presidents speech contained the
strongly stressed words
The mine workers recognize that they have
new employer who has not vet had time to ap-
praise the immediate problems facing the indus
try
Certainly here is evidence that either
II Lewis had some unknown upperhand
SO strong that II could force this turn
of events and thus provide victory over
Roosevelt, or t2) there is eonnvance
somewhere behind the scenes among the
political mateh-mabers.
Round 4-Scene l. odor No
As was anticipated. the government
took over the mines. But rs WAS NOT
anticipated by the public at large, Harold
lckes tof all people) was made Car of
the mines, 10 boss them operate them,
and of course hr pure coincidenee-to
make the new negotiations with Lewis
W. say coincidence because every
body knows that lckes is Just about the
most biased fellow in the administration
insofar As fayoring the very things the
miners want. Is old history that he
hates the operators, is crimson colored
to the core, and Just the man Lewis would
want
Any conference between him and Lewis
would be all agreement and love and
kisses without any argument There
would be no more negotiation and barter
between those two follows than between
Damon and Pythias
If Lewis claimed the War Labor Board
was preiudiced against the miners, GER
tanly the 131.470,000 other people in the
United States can claim with much more
solid foundation that Gar lckes is biased
the other way.
Round 5-act 5 Stink No. )
A half hour before the President went
OH the. air Sunday night, Mr.. Lewis
doubtless chortling up his sleeve where
he keeps his willy cards. made the most
farclcal, ironlc statement that We have
ever read.
The policy committee has inst agreed by
unanimous vote of the membership To restore all
mines to immediate operation for period of Is
DAYS beginning Tuesday
Well. wasn't that sweet And for Is
full days, too
How come they take it upon themselves
to tell the United States of America that,
if we don't do what they want within
ID days we can go to blazes?
This period is to be utilized in cooperation
with the Co-ordinator to work out new
contract :"
1He HeW tOulfdCI Is tlteduA WOfkeu
out according to Monday news dispatch
es,
we hopeful that this act will be accepted
BY government and the citizens of the nation
act of wholesome good faith and
for the mine workers at last that consideration
fer their wage proposals which THEY believe to
be due
Good faith if they get the oonsidera-
ton and wage proposals they demand,
II salute you coal miners your record of
patriotism never be challenged"
Does Mr.. Lewis think the public will
swallow that stuff?
MYSTFRy-AND CONCLUSION
4 mystery injects itself into the plot
by the quality of the radio speech of MIR.
Roosevelt.
Carefully studied the talk indicates
only straightforward frankneSs, Taken
at its face value, It builds case of vii
lainly around Lewis and LOO per cent sin
cere effort by the President.
As to what all this means, we can only
wait and see. But with the privilege of
everyone trying to solve a mystery be
fore the last flicker, we are forced to
conclude that either Lewis will win an
outstanding victory IN spite Of all the
President can do -. or Lewis will win
an outstanding victory with the aid of
all the President doesn't do
POSTSCRIPT
Either Of these eycntualities would
spell catastrophe
Both must be avoided And they can
be avoided ONLY if the people and the
nation rise up and demand that no pref
.af Ill