Evening star., 1946-05-10
Public Seen Indifferent
As Yet to Coal Crisis
Congress Still to Feel Effect of
An Aroused Citizenry
By David Lazprence

Six years ago today the world awoke
to find that Hitler had ordered the in
vasion of Belgium and Holland-and
the war which had been called "phony"
suddenly became total war. That day
transformed the whole world situation
and caused the United States quickly
to begin armament building on an un-
precedented scale.
Today the consequences of the sud-
den and arbitrary act whereby one man
could plunge whole world into total
war are by no means ended. They are
just beginning. The economic disturb
ance caused by the war is not confined
to the war-torn countries. Nearly
every nation is feeling the effects of
the war
The biggest single effect is famine.
Food Is short and peoples are suffering,
not only in former enemy countries but
in liberated areas as well. The world
cries out for more food. Countries like
the United States are being asked to
conserve and to help their brethren
across the seas. But the necessary aid
has not been forthcoming
On top of the difficulties of getting
food without rationing are the complex
tiles due to transportation difficulties
growing out Of the coal strike.
What Of Gratitude?
Millions of persons in this world
didn't feel the impact of bombs and
heard no shots fired They were the
lucky ones. To what extent are they
today expressing their gratitude to
Divine Providence by sharing their food
supply with the other peoples of the
world who were not so fortunate?
The figures show that the United
States must give the biggest share from
ended soon if food is to be carried to
the seaports for shipment
The mood of the people in America
toward these disturbances here and
abroad seems strangely indifferent. If
there were an aroused public opinion,
it would be felt in Congress.
Some members of the House and Sem
ate are vocal but they are in the minor
ity. The Congress has not been told by
the people that there must be greater
attention given to the economic prob
lens resulting from war and that 1t is
the business of the legislators to tackle
rather than to avoid these questions
One major problem is the reconver-
sion from wartime to civilian produc-
ton. In this, there have been inter-
jected labor controversies. The Nation
has no constructive labor policy The
politicians know the country wants JUS
tice done to the workers and fair re-
turn on capital for management, and
the average man feels that somehow
this is something Congress should work
out.
Under system of representative
government the people are not the ones
to figure out solutions. They hold this
to be the task of their chosen delegates
in the Congress. If the member fails
then there is little else to do but
change representatives at the polls.
The present Congress has an enur
nous responsibility, and it shares with
the President the blame for the failure
to achieve for the country an orderly
reconversion.
Not First on the List.
The coal strike is not the first one
on the list. Damaging strikes have
caused staggering losses in the automo-
tive industry and in the electrical busi-
ness, to say nothing of dozens of other
related categories of production.
The people do not want any ones
rights taken away but, on the other
hand, they don't want to see the public
. interest damaged by any group. The
present picture in the coal strike should
occasion no surprise. For several weeks
the creeping paralysis now prevalent
in the whole economic system was fore
seen. Pressure on the operators as we'll
as upon the union for a projection of
the issues should have been exerted by
Government The policy seems to have
been to allow the public to suffer and
then use the dilemma to compel a
compromise. This is not the way to set
tie labor disputes or to bring about the
production of necessary articles. The
transportation facilities of the Nation
rest on coal In the midst of world
wide famine freight embargoes have had
to be imposed.
Where was the craftsmanship to
prevent this from happening, and
where is the sense of responsibility for
the public welfare? The people turn to
their Government to demand that lead
ership. But if they are disturbed. Con-
gress hasn't felt it as yet. Maybe next
week will see an avalanche of protests.
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