Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-11-23
Defying Government
Unpopular in U. S.
People Not Inclined to Turn
Selves Over to Labor Union

People Not Inclined to Turn
Selves Over to Labor Union
By Gould Lincoln
Bucking the United States Govern
ment has never been popular with the
American people. After all, the Gov
eminent Is the peoples affair-set UP
by them. Take it away and what do
the people have to look to? Up to
date they have shown no inclination
to turn themselves over to a labor
union and its leader-even though 1t
be John L. Lewis.
The case Of the United Mine Workers
is not case against the coal operators
lit Is case against the Government
Of the United States, which has posses
sion Of the coal mines. Further, the
case is not good. For long time the
demands which Mr.. Lewis was making
in his controversy with the Govern
ment were not disclosed. However, as
learned from Secretary of the Interior
Krug, who is in charge Of the coal
mines. and others, the demands of Mr..
Lewis appear fantastic for example,
the same pay for 40-hour week as is
received for 54-hour week, and a
doubling of the welfare-fund contribu-
lions, bringing that sum UP to $685.
600 900 annually.
Under their present wage scale miners
can make approximately $76 a week
and they have averaged more than $62.
There may have been method in with
holding these demands from the gen.
eral public. They are not inclined to
arouse sympathy with the people, espe-
cially a people which is threatened
with a general shutdown of industry
because of coal shortage no
jobs and no money in the coming holi-
day season. Not to mention no heat
and light.
Byrd Statement Hailed.
Senator Byrd Of Virginia, in strongly
worded statement, message to Presi-
dent Truman, called for no further
appeasement of John L. Lewis by the
Government, and proposed that the
President Immediately call Congress
into special session to deal with the
situation. The message had been pub
licized only a few hours when tele-
grams began to roll into the Byrd Office,
praising the stand taken by the Vir-
ginia Senator
Continued defiance Of the Govern
ment by Mr. Lewis-and of the interest
of the whole peoples not going to
| help the miners and their union, nor
Mr. Lewis. Should Mr.. Lewis elect to
go to jail. in contempt of a court of
the United States, he will not likely be
considered a martyr by many Ameri-
cans-not In the light of the facts in
| the case.
/ Last summer two of the railroad
brotherhoods decided to strike, threat
ening to tie up the transportation sys-
tenn OF the country with disastrous re-
suits to the people. President Truman
went TO Congress with a. drastic pro-
posal to draft the workers into the
military service and compel them to
work. Even while the President was
beginning his address the leaders In
that case called of the strike. They
wisely decided not to go against the
whole strength of the Government and
the overwhelming sentiment OF the
people. MIR. Lewis and his union leaders
have an opportunity to end the strike
| OF the coal miners IL they wish, and
order the men back to work.
General Strike Unpopular.
It has been suggested in some quar-
tiers that the coal strike. II persisted in,
and the falling of Mr.. Lewis and the
Selling of union funds, may precipitate
| general strike-since President Green
| OF the AFL and President Murray of
the CIO have protested against the use
of an injunction against the coal miners
| and their leader.
A general strike In the United States.
| il attempted, would be about as popular
as bubonic plague. If the leaders of
organized labor wish to arouse the
country against the whole labor move
ment and bring about not only the
breaking Of such strike, but also dras-
| tic and punitive labor legislation by
Congress, they could take no more eff
tective way of bringing such results
than by attempting a general strike
II the Government believes it now
has law enough to deal with Mr. Lewis
and the miners-and apparently it does
so believe-httle could be accomplished
by calling special session of Congress,
| After ali, the great squeeze of public
opinion. If successfully directed by the
Government to the point at issue, Is
the most powerful instrument that can
be brought to bear. Mr.. Lewis has asked
for showdown in this case, and he is
likely to get it. If the country Is to be
run by labor leader and labor
Union, or by several labor leaders
none of whom have been elected to
public office by the people-it,s time the
American people got acquainted with
! the fact.