Evening star., 1946-11-20
U. S. Power. Prestige
AT Stoke in Cool Crisis

SA0NG III NSO0l N6HISlS
Drafting Of Miners Is Last Gard
Government Can Play
BY David Laurence
The power and prestige Of the Gov
ernment Of the United States are at
stake in the coal crisis. The judicial
branch Of the Government has virtually
ordered the mine workers union and its
leaders to persuade the men in good
faith to stay on the job and to en-
courage forthrightly q return Of those
who walked out.
But the law must stop short Of forcing
any individuals to work. The Federal
power extends only to the leaders,
national and local. To proceed against
these becomes the duty Of the Govern
ment lest others disregard its judicial
orders with irnpunity.
As practical matter, it viii be DIM
cult to get evidence that the miners
were encouraged to walk out but 1t will
not be difhcult to tie together the re-
In the statements Of mine leaders and
the resultant strike. Such a statement,
when made while the mines are in Cow
ernment possession, amounts to a de-
lance OF the Smith-C Connally law. It
means that miners could be construed
to have been encouraged to disregard
the law upon some public signal from
the leader.
To prosecute thousands Of miners Is
impractical, but to prosecute leaders is
practical unless. of course, there is q
yielding to the Governments injunc-
ton, in which case it may be assumed
the matter win not be pressed.
Blow to Union Labor.
The damage being done by the miners
union to their own cause may be con-
siderable, but what is being done to
injure union labor as a whole can
scarcely be exaggerated. The country
is being given an exhibition of the
worst kind Of public relations on the
part of both John L. Lewis and the
miners union. Whatever may be the
merits OF the unions demands on
wages or working conditions, these are
secondary now, and the issue is whether
the Government can enforce the injunc-
tions issued by the Judicial branch Of
the Government.
The marshals Of the courts may be
inadequate in number, and this could
mean call to the War Department for
assistance to the judicial branch of the
Government. The whole country un-
derstands the issue. Trade unionism
defies the Government itself. This can
only furnish stimulus to legislation
restricting the power and scope Of
labor unions in America.
In our sister democracy, Great Britain,
in the 20s trade unions went too far and
brought about general strike. Legisla-
don making certain types of strikes illegal
was Immediately passed. 1t had the
effect of preventing any similar out
breaks for nearly 20 years. The legis-
lation has just been repealed by the
new Labor government in Britain on the
theory it Is no longer necessary.
The coal strike In this country would
be in the nature OF general strike.
because lack Of coal ties up steel and
manufacturing generally. So the United
States faces the necessity 6f doing some
thing about strikes In industries which
can affect the safety and health Of the
Nation. Without coal. transportation
can be tied up. without coal, electricity
can be curtailed and refrigeration inn
paired. The country cannot stand an
exhausting coal strike.
Z Conspiracy Seen.
So the Federal Government Is faced
by walkout. whether clandestinely
authorized or brought about by previous
teachings by local leaders on how to
circumyent the Smiths Connally law,
the action amounts to the same thing
conspiracy to violate the laws Of the
United States. This issue would have
to be tried in court, but meanwhile what
remedy is available?
Certainly the only one left Is the
drafting Of the miners. This would re.
quire legislation and a special session
Of Congress would have to be summoned
by President Truman. The Congress
cannot summon itself into session unless
it so provides by law, and it failed to
do this when the last adjournment was
taken.
The administration is making what
ever moves it can at the moment, leav-
ing 1t to an aroused public opinion to
determine the drastic nature of sdb-
sequent steps. John L. Lewis and the
miners union cannot defeat the power
Of the Federal Government. So the
only question Is how some one behind
the scenes may at any moment patch up
. truce and cause the workers to be
ordered back to work. For certainly the
Government has just about played all
its cards SO far as forcing the miners
to work unless the draft idea IS en-
bodied in legislation.
tReprcduction Rights Reserved.