Evening star., 1946-05-08
Issues in Coal Strike
Believed Little Known

Believed Little Known
Disaster Awaits Nation Unless
Settlement Comes in 10 DAYS
By David Laurence
There are two sides to every contro-
versy and the coal strike is no exception.
The public hears only about the III
effects of the prolonged work stoppage.
1t knows little about the merits OF the
dispute or the reasons for the complete
collapse of collective bargaining as a
means of settling some OF the major
labor difficulties in America
The coal miners have many a point,
but the public knows little about this.
Now, however, the situation is rapidly
getting to the stage where merits OF
either side don't count and where the
Government must figure out a way to
prevent the Nations economic collapse.
Drastic measures are available. The
mines can be seized. The miners union
facilities can be seized Persons who
attempt to dissuade the miners from
going back to work can be prosecuted.
All this is severe, and the President is
dlslnclined to 60 to such an extreme
unless compelled by public necessity.
Ten-Day Limit Seen.
From elf-preservation point of
view, the Nation cannot afford to 20
more than ten days longer without more
coal being mined
John L. Lewis has accurate statistics
on coal above ground and knows tust
how far he can press his case. He is
represented as believing that the short
age is not as bad as painted, that much
OF the talk OF serious deficiencies is ex-
aggerated and that much pressure is
being put upon the coal miners union
by business and manufacturing interests
anxious to help break the strike.
There is some disposition In ofacial
quarters to believe that maybe more coal
is available than is generally thought to
be the case, but the official word In ar,y
event is that the Nation cannot allow
the strike to 60 as much as ten days
more.
Mr.. Lewis Is patiently waiting for the
very latest moment to accept a COM
promise. The mine operators are watt
ing, too. The President, has been i'm.
patient to seize the mines but has been
advised to wait, on the theory that public
reaction to the strike will make his task
easier when the time comes to take
drastic action.
There have been some complications
behind the scenes. Back pay which has
been In dispute is due to the miners.
Some operators have wanted to pay It
now. Others do not, because they think
it will furnish the wherewithal to
prolong the strike
The American people do not know
what is going on. There is among in
formed persons here sympathy with
the miners demand for welfare fund
but disagreement as to how the fund
shall be collected or administered,
John L. Lewis has declined to discuss
other points at issue until the welfare
question Is settled. His feeling Is that
unless he takes such an extreme posi-
ton he will not get anything TOR the
welfare fund.
Safety Need Conceded.
The need for better safety laws and
a welfare fund Of some kind is conceded
in principle. and If the public had
known about the details from an official
fact-1nd1ng board, as recommended bv
President Truman to Congress, there
would have been less chance for
single union leader to tie up the
Nations economic system or for the
mine owners to refuse practical CON-
promise.
When will Congress cut through all
the politics and the confusion and see
that only an informed public opinion
can prevent or terminate strikes in
democracy? When will Congress insist
that, when a major dispute Is threat
ened, both sides be restrained from In.
juring the economic life Of the country
at least until the merits Of the dis
pute have been unfolded by an impartial
tribunal?
The President made q mistake In
trying during the auto strike to func-
ton through informal fact finding
boards which did not have legislative
sanction and the right OF subpoena. He
made another mistake when he ceased
to press Congress for action. He still
has an opportunity to insist that Con-
gress pass the fact-finding legislation
at once. The country wants something
done about strikes and the Presidents
proposal is the least harmful and yet
could be the most effective of all the
suggestions that have been made with
respect to the prevention or settlement
OF labor disputes. The measure is being
blocked in the Senate by the labor union
lobby Mr.. Truman should tell the
American people about it. even If he
involves the members Of his own
political party. Public opinion, with all
the facts, can prevent or shorten
strikes
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Starving People Do Not Reason