The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 37, No. 18, Ed. 1 Friday, February 24, 1950 Page: 3 of 8
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THE THRESHER
Thro*
Long Mine Dispute Nears Climax
Miners, Operators Have Bickered
Over Contract Since Last Jtme
to work understood the unique com-
bination of faith to a union and per-
sonal independence which one finds
in miners. Mining is a job requiring
By Finis Cowan great physical strength, agibity and
In the next few days the nation eleven years old, lived in company disdain for safety or comfort. Min-
should see the culmination of one towns, bought from company stores ers are tougher than any group of
of the most significant and certain- with scrip issued in place of wages, workingmen in the country, includ-
ly one of the longest labor disputes gaw every effort at unionization ing the maritime industry, and their
cracked by the power of their em- personal tenacity combined with
New Lit Societies
(Continued from Page 2)
ing statement: "I believe the plan
is the only workable way to achieve
a more democratic system of social
groups. Many difficulties will arise,
particularly when everything set
in our history. Last June the con-
tract between the mine operators
and John L. Lewis U.M.W. expired. Pl°y®*s> went into debt to the com- their faith in their union will prob- up for four lits must be changed to
Ever since then, the operators have pany, died and were buried in com- ably make any court action fruit-
been plagued with three-day work pany cemeteries. To older miners less.
r^mptofand0 M "tort pllrtiaUy ""Tfv, "itCheU' Wh° ** court <LMisi,m' deeidi"g ?po"
organized the Anthracite miners is whether or not a union may be fined
sacred. In the mining country, for its members spontaneous refus-
Mitchell Day is still a universal hoi- al to obey injunctions will be a land-
iday. mark in American labor law. What
Few of the observers who predict- will be the final outcome is a mys-
ed that the miners would go back tery.
spontaneous walk-out.
During the entire ten month dis-
pute the demands of the U.M.W.
have never, up to the last few days,
been explicit, but, everybody knew
what the patriarchal, seventy-year
old miners' chief wanted. His wor-
ker's welfare fund, initially gained
at the cost of much bitter strife
was in financial trouble.
Eleven million dolars had been
paid out of the fund in a period
when six million had been contri-
buted. The operators kick-in to the
fund was evidently insufficient and
that must be remedied. In addition,
a demand for higher wages is al-
ways in order, so that too is now
among the demands.
The operators have been unyield-
ing. At the beginning of the dispute
they offered to extend last year's
contract but as time passed they
came to demand concessions from
the workers. They demand that the
clause in the contract providing that
miners work when they are "able
and willing" gives leave on illegal
power to violate any existing con-
tract without the sixty day notice
required by the Taft-Hartley Act.
Operators claimed, probably with
complete justice, that any increase
in labor costs would prevent coal
from competing with other fuels,
chiefly oil.
As the nation's coal supply dwind-
led, rapidly approaching a thirty
year low, the situation began to de-
mand action, but Harry Truman's
hands were tied by one of the best
political issues he had, that is, the
demand for repeal of the Tact-
Hartley Act. Six times already Mr.
Truman has been forced to use the
power given him by this much abus-
ed measure. When Mr. Truman was
once more forced to use his power
under this bill which he had con-
demned from one corner of the coun-
try to the next, it seemed that an
issue was dead.
The Presidency has gained a pow-
er, but Mr. Truman's political issue
is gone forever. Republicans, at
least those with oil burners, can
contemplate the entire happening
ws'th a great deal of .serenity. Even
is the injunction doesn't get the
miners back to work Republicans
can claim that such failure -is no
reflection on the adequacy of the
Taft-Hartley law because the Pres-
ident waited too long to invoke the
"measure and that Mr. Truman's
attitude has been an open invita-
tion to defience.
An injunction has been issued,
and as yet the miners are still tak-
ing a holiday despite the orders of
Mr. Lewis to go back to work. The
union's lawyers have been ordered
into court next Monday to show
reason why a fine should not be
levied. Few observers believed that
the miners were determined enough
to defy the court order and the or-
ders of their union President, but
few observers understood the al-
most fanatical faith which the min-
ers have in their union. Few realize
the vast improvements which the
union has brought in miners' wel-
fare.
Less than half a century ago min-
ers went to work as backer boys
accommodate the larger number.
But if we, as members of the pres-
ent groups believe in the worth of
our club system, we surely cannot
object to spreading its worth to a
larged number of girls on the cam-
Dr. Albert Shirkey of St. Paul's
Methodist Church will address
the members of the Methodist
Student Fellowship in the Stu-
dent Lounge, today at 12:10. He
will speak on "How to Exper-
ience God—
Lois Beck, a member of the
B.S.U., will be soloist at the
meeting. All students who are
interested are invited to attend.
pus.
m
Major Sill Reynolds, Oregon
Pilot-Professor. (/.S. Air Force!
Bill was an all-round athlete. He chose
football as his favorite sport, made the
varsity teams at Pomona Junior College
and also at the University of Oregon.
The 1st Observation Squadron, Fort
Riley, Kansas was Lieutenant Reynolds'
first assignment. While there he met the
future Mrs. Reynolds. They married a
year later and now have two fine sons.
A Theta Chi, Bill enjoyed campus social
life. Found that it eased the pressure of
rugged athletics and his heavy study
schedule in Personnel Management.
miiii
mrnA
The Squadron moved to Panama, then
to the Pacific. Bill advanced from pilot
to operations officer to squadron com-
mander. He came home a Major and
qualified for a Regular Commission.
I
Upon graduation, Bill chose a future in
the Air Force. He "fievv" his first Link
trainer as an Aviation Cadet in 1940. By
March, 1941, he had won his pilot wings.
Recently commended for peacetime work
—organizing and improving instruction
techniques—Major Reynolds, a "Pilot-
Professor", looks forward to a long and
gainful career in the U. S. Air Force.
If you are single, between (he ages of 20 and 26Vi,
with at least two years of college, consider the many
career opportunities as a pilot or navigator in the
U. S. Air Force. Procurement Teams are visiting many
colleges and universities to explain these career
opportunities. Watch for them. You may also get full
details at your nearest Air Force Base or U. S. Army
and U. S. Air Force Recruiting Station, or by writing to
the Chief of Staff, U. S. Air Force, Att: Aviation Cadet
Branch, Washington 25, D. C.
U. 5. AIR FORCE
ONLY THE BEST CAN BE AVIATION CADETS!
v-tr'
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The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 37, No. 18, Ed. 1 Friday, February 24, 1950, newspaper, February 24, 1950; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth230832/m1/3/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.