Evening star., 1946-05-08
Letters to The Star
Wants Government to Take Over
Coal Industry Control

To the Editor Of The Star:
President Truman's committee has
declared the coal strike a national ca
lamity. It is hardly likely that any one
will dispute the statement. Yet no one
in the Government or out seems to have
realized that, in the nature of things,
there can be only one permanent solu-
ton of the coal problem; only one way
to prevent the national economy from
being in yearly Jeopardy.
1t is admitted that the miners job
is the most hazardous OF all occupa-
tions employing large numbers of men.
1t is admitted that occupational dis
eases are serious, and the life span OF
coal miners is diminished by the ma
ture of their work 1t is admitted that
very many good American citizens who
serve their country in this laborious
work, under dismal and dangerous con-
ditions, traditionally have lived in
novels and still have few if any of the
amenities of American life. Yet even
these factors, important az they are,
become of lesser account when it is
considered that the jobs, pay checks,
homes, health and happiness of mil
lions upon millions of other workers
are threatened, and in many cases al
ready are lost, damaged or diminished
by the coal strike
Unfortunately also, the history of
coal mining in America is one of the
most sordid records of greed and ex-
ploitation of human beings ever de-
veloped
Nevertheless, the settlement of the
present coal strike, even if made on the
basis of acceptance of every condition
laid down by John L. Lewis and his
conferes, will prove merely stopgap.
The losses to commerce and industry
brought about by this industrial war
never will be regained. Another year
will roll around and the threat prob
ably be renewed. Commerce and in
duStry once more will be In jeopardy.
If living costs continue to rise, demands
will be made for yet more wages. Is
1t not time we came to ultimate solu-
tions OF national problem of the first
order, rather than continue to regard
the coal war as private fight?
There appears to be only one such
solution: Namely, for the Government
to take over the coal mines and keep
them! Blanket every bona fide coal
miner, foreman and accessory employe
under civil service. Put the industry
under Federal commission, with in
structlons to correct as nearly as pos
sible and at once miners substandard
housing conditions, provide adequate
medical care and safety measures, and
meet all other just causes of complaint.
OF course, many will shout Social
1sm!" But the Post Office Department
is not socialistic; 1t was set up because
private industry could not handle a
business affecting the whole people in
q manner either economically or other
wise satisfactory to the public. The
coal Industry, owners and miners alike,
now have demonstrated that they can
not or will not work together In the
interests Of the public. I am certain.
II 1t were put to popular vote, the
American people Overwhelmingly would
favor Government ownership and op-
Grafton Of this industry, the quarrels
Of which threaten us with one of the
greatest industrial calamities in history.
RUSSELL EDWARD MITCHELL.
Subsidies for Miners Proposed
To the Editor Of The Star:
On May The Star published a Gov
AYnn1enf
strike on our economy
Part Of the report read: "Manufac-
turing plants are closing down all over
the country as result of the month
old soft coal strike" And yet the Amer
lean people have barely begun to feel
the full impact Of this national dis
aster.
Why can't the Government rescue
our American miners from this ma
tional disaster just as the New Deal
came to the rescue Of our American
farmers in 1888?
Why not give miners more incentives:
Better working conditions, health and
accident insurance and decent houses
for their families to live in? And give
the miners Government bonus checks
for increased production Of coal?
Then other Americans will be able to
satisfy their needs, and produce more,
and the Europeans and Asiatics will get
more food.
In a few years, as the world returns
to normal, the Government can quit all
subsidies. DONALD r. MIDDLETON.
Urges Resistance to Presumption
To the Editor Of The Star:
The demand Of the miners union for
ten cents ton for every ton Of coal
mined is an effort to impose a taxa
function of our organized and State
governments only. The power to tax
is the power to destroy"
This presumption on the part of a
labor organization is, to my mind, an
attack on our form of government and
should be resisted and punished, just
as is done with treason rebellion and
insurrection.
JAMES EMERY BROOKS.
Sharp Question