Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-04-27

the all-impor- David Lawrence.
tant production of coal has been in
terTupted in the midst of war. but
nobody will be penalized for such
. step. The term rebellion" is even
used by the mine workers spokes-
man, and the Roosevelt administra-
ton has, Of course. said nothing
about it.
If an employer had ventured to
Use similar tactics he would have
been denounced with invectives of
the bitterest sort and his property
would have been seized. But the
administration isn't afraid of en-
pioyers. 1t is only afraid of pow
erful labor leaders. Here, for in
stance, is the amazing statement
carried by the United Press as COM
Ing from K. c. Adams, spokesman
Tor the miners union:
"The union is taking no strike
vote and is making no strike prep
arations. The man in the coal fields
and the citizens of the mining COM
munities, however. are in open re-
bellion against the little steel
formula, the failure Of the OPA to
enforce prices. and the cost of liv-
ing, which is moving upward by
leaps and bounds. Whatever work
stoppage occurs will be the result
of the dissatisfaction and recent
ment Of the mining communities
over the administrators attempt
to enforce the status quo"
Tactics Tried Before.
Here is an open confession Of a
work interruption, but 1t is designed
TO carry out the theory that such
Interruptions are spontaneous and
not the result Of union action. These
same tactics were tried in the weeks
just before Pearl Harbor in 1941,
when miners in the commercial coal
mines, who had no grievance at
all, walked out in sympathy with
the strikers in the captive mines.
Although the union disclaimed
any ordering of the strike, neverthe-
less several weeks later. when it
came to testimony on unemployment
compensat ton and on the applica-
ton Of the penalty clause on ac-
count Of the absence of the men
81 hA o,
Laushlin plant-a plain violation,
of the contract-the union resisted
the application of that clause.
Today the administration is be-
Ing handed the same kind OF tao
tics and apparently the. union
l.>Aers know they can try these
so-called spontaneous walkouts and
suffer no penalty.
But what would the Pre- ident do
If Mr.. Lewis and his lieutenants en-
couraged bigger strike. though out
wardly processing not to be order
ing one? The Government has
power to take over properties where
strikes occur. Plants have been
seized under those powers and new
managements have been installed.
Maybe the President can try the
same thing with labor union.
The property of labor union
consists of membership lists and
dues payments. The Government
has as much right to seize the files
and due OF union as it has to
seize . plant. The labor unions
affairs could be kept intact until
after the issues are settled, but
management Of the union could be
put In the hands Of a custodian or
administrator.
Other Leaders Could Serve.
There are doubtless many labor
union leaders who could be found
willing to serve their Government
as temporary administrators Of seized
labor unions. 1t might even be
found desirable to call in the head
Of the Progressive Miners Union Of
Illinois, one Of the rivals of the
United Mine Workers. The Illinois
labor leaders might be glad of a
chance to administer the United
Mine Workers.
Certainly, when the property of
an employer is seized, the Govern.
ment doesn't hesitate to put any,
body 1t pleases in charge, and on
one occasion it considered seriously
leasing a shipbuilding property to
anybody who was willing to make
the proper financial arrangements.
Mr.. Lewis proves among labor
union politicians is rising. He alone
seems to be able to bring about an
interruption Of work, for certainly
these miners do not leave their
Jobs without some authoritative
word from union officers. If they do
operate In this manner, then the
so-called discipline about which
responsible. unions boast doesn't
exist. The fact is Mr.. Lewis has
aequiesced in work stoppase that
Is, the equivalent Of q strike, and
he is doubtless sure that nothing
will be done about 1t.
(Neproduction Rirhts Rss.rv.a,