The Wilmington morning star., 1946-12-11
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FROM PAGE ONE

FROM PAGE ONE
the court, Mr.. Lewis made a state
ment to the press which read:
1--WE will comply with the mandate
Of the court. We do it under pro-
test. We are Americans. We can.
not fight our government. That
is all"
Compare his conduct then with
his conduct now. This time the
strike order is not cancelled and
withdrawn" 1t is suspended until
IL o'clock midnight. March 81.
l947." Nor is it suspended 'in
obedience to the mandate Of the
court" This time Mr.. Lewis not
only ignored the court by announc-
ing his decision solely to the press,
but he insulted the court by de-
scribing its order as "the Admins
tration's yellow dog injunction"
Then Mr.. Lewis went on to ex-
plain. why he had decided to sus-
pend the strike until II o'clock
midnight, March 81. l947.. 1t is
because the Supreme Courtxat the
United States should be free from
public pressure superinduced by
the hysteria and frenzy Of an eeo-
nomic crisis"
This would be bad enough if it
meant only that in Mr.. Lewis
opinio nthe Supreme Court cannot
be trusted to administer the law
and will render opinions under
outside pressure. But the calendar
Of events which Immediately pre-
coded these remarks on the Su-
preme Court have to be taken into
account.
On Wednesday the District Court
fined Mr.. Lewis personally and also
the Union. On Thursday Mr.. Lewis
and the Union filed an appeal in
the Circuit Court. On Friday the
COVE rnment moved to. carry the
case directly to the Supreme Court,
and the Chief Justice had a con-
ference with the government at
torneys and Mr.. Lewis attorneys.
On Saturday. Immediately fol.
this conference, Mr.. Lewis
suspended the strike until the end
OF March. giving as his reason that
the Supreme Court should not be
under pressure "of the hysteria
and frenzy of an economic crisis"
in order that it might be 1.-The
protector of American liberties and
the rightful privileges of individual
citizens"
This carries with it the sugges-
ton that Mr.. Lewis attorneys
came back from the conference
with the Chief Justice and advised
Lewis that if he. suspended the
strike, he would get a different
judgement from the Court than if
he continued the strike. Let us
hope that was only the gratuitious
belief of Mr.. Lewis attorneys, and
that he does not think, and was
not intending to have. anyone else
think, that he had negotiated a
compromise with the Chief Justice.
The net result up to date is that
Mr.. Lewis has granted the country
a repreive Of not quite four
months.
But in granting the reprieve. Mr..
Lewis has ignored and insulted the
District Court, has cast aspersion
upon the judicial integrity of the
Supreme Court. has paid no atten-
ton to the Act of Congress under
which the government is in possess
sion Of the mines, has paid no at
tention to his contract with the
government.
This is not the behavior of a law
abiding citizen. 1t is the behavior
of an Independent potentate who
may yield, when compelled, to SUI
perior power but does SO not be-
cause he respects the law.
The demonstration is complete
Mf
Lewis and the United Mine Work
ers have too much power, and that
the reduction of their power Is
essential il respect for law is to be
restored and the public interest
upheld.
'Copywrisht. 1916. New York Tribune Inc.
The longest waves in the ocean
generally ri found in the SCUM