Salt Lake Telegram | 1943-05-01 | Page 3 | Lewis Faces Problem Similar to One Lost 23 Years Ago

lewis Faces Problem Similar To One Lost 23 Years Ago PITTSBURGH May 1 UP UPA UP- UP RA A little more than 23 years ago John L. L Lewis then acting president of t the e United Mine MineWorkers MineWorkers Workers faced a somewhat similar problem with the government government gov gay that he does today today- today and th then than n he yielded to President President Fresi- Fresi dent Woodrow Wilson It was in December 1919 13 months after the end of World War I I. I The miners had struck on 01 November 1 in support of demands for tor a 50 per cent wage increase and a six hour work workday workday day instead of eight hours On December 1 Fuel Administrator Administrator Adminis Adminis- tr tor Garfield invoked Invoiced drastic coal regulations that had been in effect during the war because of the c coal al shortage Later in n Washington the cabinet cabinet cab cab- inet met recommended recommend d a 14 per cent increase be granted grante l the miners and d President Wilson directed the union to order them back to work on that basis while a commission studied complaints of the high cost of living and substandard wages Wilson warned that unless work was resumed he would Invoke the penalties of the Lever act an emergency powers law which permitted use of federal troops Lewis and other leaders also faced contempt of court proceedings for violating a te federal federal fed fed- leral l- l eral injunction Recommending to the miners' miners policy committee in Indianapolis that they direct the men to return re re- re turn which turn which the committee did Lewis said The strike has passed l from froma a a. m mere re controversy between miners and operators over a question of wages wages wages-to to an issue between the supremacy of f law lawand lawand lawand and the ability of the government government government govern govern- ment to enforce mandates and decrees In Ia other words it is no longer longera a controversy between employer and but ut instead l a test between the strength of a group gro of workingmen and the government government government govern govern- ment itself