Evening star., 1946-11-17
Another Holdup

faced with the imminent threat Of
another coal strike, will be little
concerned with the technical ques-
ton Of whether John L. Lewis, as a
matter of law, has right to abro-
gate his contract with the Govern
ment. That is something for the
lawyers to argue about, and possibly
for the courts to decide. The thing
which will concern most people is
the ugly spectacle OF Mr.. Lewis once
again arrogantly undertaking to
hold up his. Government and his
country as step in the enforcement
Of his demands.
The Government, acting through
Interior Secretary Krug, has made
every effort to deal reasonably with
Mr.. Lewis. But the latter will not
deal on any terms but his own. He
has not been willing to arbitrate
differences of Interpretation arising
under the existing contract, and he
has refused to attempt to negotiate
a new contract with the owners of
the mines. Mr.. Lewis says that he
will deal only with the Government,
and he has made demands upon the
Government which would materially
alter the existing agreement. The
Government, having already made
concessions to Mr.. Lewis which have
prejudiced the return OF the mines
to their owners, Is unwilling to con-
cede more, quite reasonably fearing
that to do SO would operate as a
permanent bar to the return of the
mines to private operation.
So the result Is an impasse. The
Government is reported as being
determined not to yield to Mr.. Lewis
again. And Mr.. Lewis has served
notice that he will treat the exist
ing contract as having expired next
Wednesday, which in turn means
that his 100000 miners will not dig
coal after that time.
Thus there Is raised the prospect of
another economic trial of strength
not between Mr.. Lewis and the mine
owners; not between Mr.. Lewis and
the Government, but between Mr..
Lewis and the people of this country.
It is conceivable that the Govern
ment may take some action. Mr..
Lewis and his official associates
might be prosecuted under the
Smith Connally Act. But the legal
basis for such prosecution is none
too strong, and, even If Mr.. Lewis
shosf1d be convicted and sent to Jail,
there is scant assurance that that
would persuade the miners to return
to the pits. Another possibility is
that Congress might be called into
special session to deal with the
emergency. But it would have to be
the Seventy ninth Congress, already
repudiated by the people, and thus,
at best, a dubious source of relief.
The more realistic course is to
assume, that Mr.. Lewis means what
he says-that he will seek, as he has
done before, to deprive this Nation
OF coal until a point is reached. at
which the people, through their
Government, will capitulate to him.
But appeasing Mr.. Lewis has not
worked in the past and will not work
now. The time has come to stand
out against him. If he is determined
upon a test of strength, it seems
clears that the Government must
choose between capitulation and an
all-out effort to break the strike.
The latter choice would result In
suffering and hardship for the in
dividual miners, and there are those
who cry out against such tactics in
any strike. But in this instance it
is Mr.. Lewis who is forcing the trial
OF strength. He will not hesitate at
the prospect of cold homes and
hungry people throughout the coun-
try. These are the weapons thathe
is deliberately choosing, and he, at
least, should not be heard to COM
plain if they are turned against him
and his miners.