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Finger Points to Levis N NY strike is inexcusable today. But there isn’t a shred of plausible reason, lest it be outright sabotage of the war, for the atrike of a half milifor} coal miners. Lahor must hold John L.~Lewis respon- gible for the walkout, regardless of the evident provocations from some of the op- erators. The government, through fits custodian of mines, Harold L. Ickes, advanced a pro- posa] that would guarantee the minera a substantial temporary wage raise pending final settlement. The War Labor Board hid already provided for other improve- ments for the miners in its decision. wyge changes are retroactive. It was no longer a question of whether the miners are entitled to an improvement. It was only a matter of bargaining over the margin of difference and HOW MUCH the improve- | mente was to be. To cal! a strike under - such conditions shows a desire not to serve the interests of the workers but complete indifferélice and even sabotage of the war. ewis, as the Communist Party's state- yesterday said in point blank words, “ig “rying to assume veto power over U.S. participation in the war. He sets himself above the labor movement and above the government. tween their country and John L. Lewis. cee ee et ee Va All : ir a he miners must retain to "work ‘immodi- ately.” oon It is urgent that all labor leaders speak out and assure the President their support for decisive action. - The no-strike pledge “and the entire con- ception that this is Labor’s war means ' nothing if Lewis is permitted to defiantly ' carry out hie treasonous program. As , fulius Emspak, secretary-treasurer of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Work- ers tald the President in a wire, labor ex- pects him to take “decisive action” to stop Lewis and the “tremendous majority” of the trade union movement will back him. Moreover, Mr. Emspak sees the issues as far beyond those directly affecting the _tnine dispute, : i | } “We rtgard a shutdown on the right of Lewit to organize disruption of the war _ effort as something thal must come re gardless of the particular settlement of the dispute.” Of one thing we are ceriain. Neither Lewis nor that small group of “powerful operators,” as Ickes called them, havejthe slightest interest in the country’s safety. The President is duty bound to act in- sure that our war effort does not falter, The miners must choose be-__|-get «ll loyal Americans will be behind him | al | A SE S-4 \F# RECORDiD i) NOV. 2 1948 This is a clipping from ——- a page of the LY WORKER Date 2 Clippef at the Geat of | " Government O27