Imperial Valley press., 1943-06-04

The spirit OF America is in deep mourn
ing.
Something of the spirit and morale of
democracy has died. 1t was stabbed not
i'm the back by recognized assassins, but
squarely in the breast and openly by
men who pretend to feel no shame and
openly flaunt Us.
The ebony smear of such open murder
is a coaldust stain which will not wash
off with the end of the coal strike
Many people, trickeG by the public ma
ture of the crime. fail to see its horrible
import Others, shocked by such cir
cumstance, grope Ialteringly for their
senses, unable to understand just what
has happened and comprehendlng only
that sOmeway, somehow, a terrible thing
has occurred.
Indeed. so recent has the deed been
done. that few can claim cool judgment
or any high degree of wise evaluation
They know only that not only has de-
mocracy suffered a long-laSting wound,
but that the damage will extend deep
into the fabric of public morale, the lives
of leaders, and the political records of
parties.
In fact, the occurrence may we'll change
the destiny of the war and the world after
the war
A double crime was committed.
One was by John L. Lewis and our fell
low-Amaricans, his miner-folloWers. Lew
is led a revolution against this country
His men were fellow rebels. He and his
men broke the laws of the land.
The other crime WAS committed by
none other than our chief executive. This
man whom we have tried to follow and
believe in, like Brutus, delivered the most
unkind cut of all.
Since Monday night, our OWL President
has let law and order III the greatest
democracy in the world hang like rag
on fence.
Since Monday night, Mr.. Roosevelt has
permitted the meaning OF the Stars and
Stripes to be dragged in the gutter and
trampled upon because he lacked the
courage to do his duty
1t is fruitless to haggle over details
The big overall conclusions so overshad-
ow technicalities that one hardly dares
touch upon the little things lest we be
guilty of losing sight of the forest be-
cause Of the closeness to a single tree
trunk
Suffice it to say that the mere fact that
the President has ordered the miners
back to work avails little and does not
remove the depth of injury.
The real damage was done in the first
moment Of the Presidents hesitation
when it was evident that the miners
would not return to their tasks.
That the hesitation lasted a day was
beyond belief That it extended over
many DAYS gave the United States the
first instance in its life when govern
ment by law in this country was brought
to a standstil.
The sad spectacle opened American
eyes to many realizations.
Even the most doubling was shown that
government by laws has long ceased to
exist and that we have been ruled by
government Of one man and his clique.
And all this time we thought we had been
fighting AGAINST this sort Of thing,
We were shown how weak and frail
such a government is. We saw this kind
OF control broken asunder by a group of
men, and not single iaw-breaker has
been punished.
We saw our chief executive. with what
we believed to be every power of the
greatest free nation on earth. caught be-
wildered and confused. unprepared-
afraid to lift finger.
America realized a shame of that man.
America realized a shame of itself for
having sold its heritage for a mess of
big talk: traded the most effective most
progressive, most free government on
earth in return for j.. this kind of tissue
OUT OUR WAY