Congress and Strikes
President Roosevelt is faced with a difficult decision. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have passed the Anti- Strike and Labour Control Bill, a measure designed to remain in force until six months after the war, giving the Administration ex- tensive powers against strikers, and providing the penalty of a heavy fine and a year's imprisonment for "incitation." Mr. John Lewis, the arrogant head of the United Mine Workers, is the obvious target of this clause. The Bill awaits the President's assent or veto. Undoubtedly Congress has promptly responded to very strong public feeling aroused by the action of an ambitious trade union leader who has threatened to call upon a body of key-workers to down tools at a time when millions of men have been conscribed for the Forces and industry is required to go full steam ahead in making munitions. Strikes'when nations are engaged in total war are not to be tolerated in any community. None the less, it is possible that Mr. Roosevelt may not feel that the best way to meet a threat of force is to muster overwhelming counter-force to crush it, especially if he is confident of mastering the situation by other means. For so many years a champion of labour interests, he will not desire, if he can avoid it, to antagonise American organised labour, whose support has been of great value in the conduct of the war. Congress has put in his hands a weapon which could be used against agitators like John Lewis. It is for him to judge whether he can do without it.
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