Evening star., 1946-05-12
Lesson of the Truce

AAoi VI WCdhuCSS, UuI DIS dQQl-
tlonal evidence of the absolute power
which this one man holds over the
economic life of the United States
And it follows, therefore, that the
truce increases instead of diminishes
the need for corrective action b,
Congress.
BY his own statement, Mr.. Levi:
has shown himself to be cognizan1
OF the power he holds. In decidine
to order the miners back to work
on temporary basis, he may have
been motivated by a genuine con.
Germ as to the plight of the country
or he may have felt that he hac
overreached himself, or he may have
had some tactical consideration ir
mind. But Mr.. Lewis appreciation
OF the power he exercises. is revealed
IN his own words: The coal to be
mined during this two-week period
can be utilized for: consumption by
essential facilities and the Nations
health and security thus sateguardeo
while efforts to negotiate a contract
continue"
The italics have been supplied for
purposes of emphasis, although that
is hardly necessary, since the words
speak for themselves. What Mr..
Lewis is saying is that he knows
the coal strike has endangered the
health and security of the Nation,
and that for reasons of his own he
is willing to abate this menace for
period of two weeks. But the sig
nif1cant thing is not that Mr.. Lewis
has relented, if that be the case.
What counts is that he-a single
individual-has the unrestrained
power to grant or to withhold a
commodity upon which the life of
the Nation depends.
This is degree of power which
cannot safely be intrusted to any
individual or group of individuals,
and it is this fact which constitutes
the only real issue now confronting
the members of Congress.
1t is a foregone conclusion that
Congress, for political reasons, will
be reluctant to come to grips with
this issue. For years now, with re-
spect to legislation curbing the
power of unions, Congress has been
marching up the hill only to turn
around and march back down again,
The pattern is a familiar one. First.
there is a series of labor abuses.
Then the House will adopt a bill to
restrain the abuses. Then the
measure goes to the Senate, only to
be put aside in some pigeonhole by
administration Senator's. And there
the bill remains until some new out
break Of trouble sets the process in
motion again.
This time, however, different
situation prevails. For the first time
In a decade labor bill is before
the Senate, and, while the measure
IS meaningless in itself, it can be
amended to give the country the
protection that is so badly needed.
Without a doubt, the pro-labor
Senators will seize upon the truce as
an excuse once again to do nothing
dlSpleasing to labor. Indeed. there
has been an indication of this al
ready in the Mcmahon and Gore
resolutions for an investigation of
conditions in the coal mines. In its
proper place, there is need for such
an investigation, and there probably
is need for legislation to remedy the
bad conditions. But that has moth
ing to do with the question now
before the Senate.
That question is simply whether
Mr.. Lewis, or any other man, for
reasons good or bad, should have
the power arbitrarily to deprive the
American people of something that
is essential to their existence. If
there was any doubt as to the ex-
istence of this power, Mr.. Lewis,
availing himself of special privileges
conferred by Congress, has removed
it. The evil has been established
and the need of a remedy clearly
shown. If Congress particu-
larly the Senate-professes to serve
the people rather than the pressure
groups, it will take full advantage
OF the opportunity it now has to
legislate against abuses by labor
unions. This does not call for spite
full measures aimed at Mr.. Lewis.
Nor does it call for any law to de-
prive labor of legitimate rights and
opportunities for self-improvement.
1t does call, however, for legislation
which will balance power with re-
sponsibility and which will reaffirm
and re-establish the principle that
the promotion of the national well
fare is the primary concern of Con-
greSS and that this national welfare
must take precedence over the inter-
ests or whims Of any individual or
minority group. Until this is done
Congress will have failed in its duty
to the people, and if Congress does
not act now, the people should be
alert to bring to account those indi-
vidual members responsible for the
failure to do so.
Picking Stones
There ara certai,, eoaeoool 4o,l~.