Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-03-07
The Political Mill
The Political Mill
Congress May Create
Coal Probe Commission
But No Move for New Lows
Before Elections Is Expected
By Gould Lincoln

The coal strike of 1949-5O has been
settled and moves now as an issue into
the coming congressional campaign.
Those who suffered losses and hardship
because of lack of coal; those whose
children were kept out of school and
whose places of business were closed be-
cause of lack of heat, and those who lost
wages because of the shutdown will look
askance at the Truman administration
and its party candidates. 1t may cost
them some votes. It should, for more
palpable case of mismanagement-or re-
fusal to acts rarely found in high
Office A desire to beat down the Taft
Hartley labor law and to show it Of no
effect almost seemed to weigh more than
any desire to save the country from the
troubles and losses it suffered because of
this work stoppage.
On the other hand, the Trumanites
will point with pride to the fact that in
the final hour-when it looked as though
the coal strike would shut the country
down tighter than drum-Mr. Truman
moved in. He asked for legislation
authorizing him to take over the coal
mines and run them until the miners
and the operators could reach some
agreement, along lines recommended by
him-a pleasant way to make sure OF
the mine vote. Also the country heaved
a sigh of relief, knowing that coal was
to be mined and the crisis was over-at
least for another two years, unless Mr..
Lewis kicks over the traces.
Nothing has been done, or presumably
will be done. before the coming elections
to enact new laws to minimize the danger
- ,l,o 10 hrp1,ohf ohnlIt nv
strikes. Both the House and Senate
Labor Committees. as soon as 1t was
announced agreement had been reached
on new contract, quit cold. 1t Will take
another major labor tie-up In an essen
tial industry, presumably, to get them to
move.
Congress may, however, put through
resolution creating a commission to In
quire thoroughly into the coal problem,
from every angle. Senator Humphrey,
Democrat, of Minnesota. and several
other Senators have sponsored such
resolution and companion piece has
been introduced in the House. President
Truman has told Congress he favors sucn
a commission and inquiry.
John L. Lewis, United Mine Workers
president, has chalked up another vic
tory. He got the major part OF his de-
mands for the miners-and the people
get an increase in the cost per ton they
pay for coal. The operators gave IN
when they found that the Federal court
was not going to crack down on the strik-
ing miners. They had realized before
that the Executive branch of the Govern
ment was hostile: that it had no use for
the provisions of the Taft-Hartley Act
and that Mr.. Truman did not relish
hearing Republicans say, as they have IN
the past-"he had to use the Taft-Hart-
ley Act to get us out of coal strike
JAM" They did not like the idea OF
having their mines taken over by the
Government, with every prospect thai
the miners would eventually be giver
what they demanded. They reached an
agreement with Mr.. Lewis, perhaps fig
. uring it was, a better agreement than
they might have expected if the mines
had been taken over. s,-.
Senator Taft, Republican. Of Ohio
says he does not believe that the Govern
ment prosecuted its case before the court
against the striking miners-after pro-
visions of the Taft Hartley Act had beer
invoked in the eleventh hour-as vigor'
ously or as thoroughly as it should have
He will discuss this matter in the Senat
and probably in his campaign for re
election but he does not plan to ask
congressional investigation.