Hard Facts on Hard Coal

At a time when the drive for repeal of the Wagner Act is already well under way, a small section of labor has been so reckless as to draw public condemnation upon the entire industrial organization movement. The first in months to violate labor's anti-strike pledge, the union is no run-of-the-mill union, but rather John L. Lewis' own United Mine Workers. This is not the usual workers vs. management strike; instead it is a rank and file revolt against autocratic union leadership which railroaded through the recent dues increase.

Lewis and the War Labor Board are, for the first time in years, seemingly on the same side in a dispute. While both have asked the dissident miners to return to work, neither has taken positive action. The Board is without power to act in internecine union struggles, although union president Lewis obviously is in a position to do so. He has neglected to bargain, and has refused to confer or compromise with the strikers.

Lewis, however, is saddled not only with the responsibility of winning the strike, but he is in no small measure to blame for the interruption in the anthracite fields. The miners have long been restive under the union chief's iron rule. The recent dues increase forced on union members was widely recognized as the storm signal that might herald an open break.

The embarrassment of the administration, in trying to defend its system of labor legislation in the face of such a serious threat to war production, is painfully obvious. But John L. Lewis still refuses to act. He continues to consider this just another of his many bitter fights with the President.

The lines in Congress are tightly drawn. Last year Republicans refused to join Southern Democrats in a concerted attack on the Wagner Act, but during this session, when the GOP is counting on Southern support in many crucial votes, Republicans may have to reciprocate. Such a coalition may easily carry the day.

To save the structure of New Deal labor legislation, the strikes must avoid further public criticism. They must return to work during arbitration, but also they must be assured of a reasonable hearing for their demands; such a promise can only come from Lewis. This is no time to gamble the interests of labor for the sake of a private fight.