Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1946-11-21
/ Might Be
Wrongful
By
p. G. STROMBERG

of the possible ehcSe oH
armed forces efficiency. we
can't condemn them today on the
same basis. We have found, how
ever, that any semblance OF re-
turn to our peace
Another time economy is
Coal lacking due most
Strike ly to the series
of strikes ex-
tending over the past fifteen
months.
Some of the strikes are being
repeated. Principal among this
group is that of the United Mine
Workers. AS this is written it
cannot be known whether Mr..
John L. Lewis will defy the in
junction secured by the Federal
Government. If he does it will
be a real test of authority. If
he doesn't and the United Mine
! Workers still walk out as indi-
viduals, the interesting question
arises as to whether Mr.. Lewis
will be held responsible. The
public is anxious to see Mr..
Lewis shorn of the tremendous
influence he's been able to exert.
They would feel the same way
regardless of who the individual
might be. This country's future
is too important to US all to
permit SO much authority and in
huence to rest with any man.
The truth of the matter is that
John L. Lewis is a brilliant and
forceful individ-
Lewis ual. Whether we
Forceful like him or not
Individual we must accept
the truth Of this
statement. The best minds we
have in Washington are required
to meet his challenge.
There are few thoughtful peo-
pie who will attempt to argue
publicly the pros and cons of the
issues at stake in any big indus
trial strike. AS a matter of fact
! it is probably true that in most
cases there is public sympathy
for the laboring mans struggle.
But it, is just as true that labor
leaders do not enjoy this public
sy -Apahy. They have ridden
the pendulum in its swing in
their direction SO ruthlessly that
whatever public confidence they
have enjoyed has been sacrificed.
They should recognize that the
November 9Th election results
can easily be interpreted as pub
lie disapproval of their tactics.
They should, and probably do,
realize that many men in the
ranks of labor helped create the
Republican trend. They should
not, if they are
Democracy wise, underesti-
Stands mate public feel
First ing.
There are peo-
pie with whom l have talked
who state that John L. Lewis is
unquestionably one OF the bright
est and most forceful men in our
public life. They even stated
that it is unfortunate that his
efforts could not be in behalf of
the public interest rather than
as a constant challenge to our
constitutional setup. The right
TO strike should never be denied
any man or any group of men.
In iike-manner the right to work
should never be denied any man or
group Of men. Gains made by labor
In recent years should and will be
retained. The prosperity of our
country depends on the prosper
lty of the laboring man, but we
must insist that men who gov
e.n our destinies shall be the
eEceed representatives of our
people and not the powerful and
lii'uential leaders of labor
groups.
we must recognize two points:
% Uat our democracy stands
"e. IN any consideration Of mi
Oii'y groups; and second, that
'ne nations prosperity cannot be
ma at high level unless
the laboring man and his family
can enjoy every possible benefit
of our econamy.
we are in a new era. The de-
preston years and the New Deal
years OF spentiing have taught