Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-11-04
FAIR
ENOUGH
BY Westbrook
4 PeeIer
THE Presidents executive or

uNt1E- PRESIDENT s executive Oh
l. der in the coal strike u
only another twist in the devil
GUS course of labor relations
under the administration OF
government which has reso-
lutely rejected honesty In all
such dealings.
The order says that by au-
thority of the Constitution and
the law. particularly the War
Labor Disputes Act. the secre-
tary of the interior is directed
TO seize not only the mines but
also all real and personal prop
erty, franchises, rights, facili-
ties, funds and other assets of
private individuals. presumably
law-abiding citizens who are
entirely willing TO do their part
in the production of coal neces-
sary for the war.
II Is perfectly plain TO every
American that no authority eX-
lists or ever can exist under the
Constitution and the law by
which the government may so
proceed against innocent per-
sons. Yet, il has been done
before and because the owners
of property yielded or were
crushed into obedience by the
arbitrary power OF the govern
ment. il is done again without
audible question.
THE order says further that
l. Ickes shall recognize the
right of the workers 10 bar
gain collectively through rep
resentatives of their own choos-
ing,
There again all citizens know
that the government is not
stating matters honestly be-
cause IL has been the govern
ment's fixed practice 10 compel
workers to accept bargaining
representatives force upon
them by the Labor Relations
Board and the War LaboA|
Board. VI
On the other side Of the case.
the Presidents statement ar
-bitrarily says that the grew
ances of the miners have been
fairly dealt with" that the gov
eminent offers the men fair :
contract and that they have no
right in time of war TO refuse
10 accept il.
Here labor gets strong taste
Of the treatment, which hlth-
erto was dealt only 10 those
law-abiding citizens who we're
also employers.
IF LABOR does accept this
i dictum, the conditions which
il creates could be made per-
manent and all labor, hence
forth. could be required 10 work
for wages fixed by the govern
ment in the role Of employer.
In that case, the unions
would become mere social and
political clubs with no bargain
ing power and the wages would
be determined by political con-
siderations rather than eco
nomic Justice.
The 60-day limitation on the
governments possession and
operation Of the mines after The
restoration Of efficient produc-
ton could be stretched 10 SIX
months and renewed endlessly
with equal authority under the
Constitution and law. which Is
TO say none whatever.
In the immediate crisis, per-
haps no other course was open
than 10 flout the Constitution so
that a war for the preservation
of the Constitution could be car
ried on without further impair
ment from this quarter.
DET the crisis need not have
ID developed in the first placA
il the labor policy Of the Ne1
Deal had been honest and fair
10 both sides of the bargaining
table from the beginning.
This and m any other stop
pages. which must sicken 10 the
very souls millions of men fight
ing savage enemies overseas. are
the results of the long campaign
TO build up the power OF ire
sponsible adventures and reVo-
lutionarieS over the lives and
property of all the people.
John l.. Lewis has been de-
nounced by many of his old coll
leagues, notably Philip Murray.
the president OF the Go, as an
absolute dictator and-a- tlrant-
in his management Of the men
who can produce or refuse TO
produce the coal necessary to
fight the war.
But the fault Is not Lewis.
He merely accepted the power
that was thrust into his hands
by the New Deal early in the
game when he and President
Roosevelt were friends.
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