Evening star., 1933-10-07
Expected to Appeal to Pa
: tri0tism of Steel Leaders
in Union Controversy.
"CHECK-OFF" REGARDED
AS ONLY BAR TO ACCORD
President May Use Authority
Under Law in Event Steel Men
Refuse to Accede.
BULLETIN.


After two hours and a half of
discussion, the White House soft
coal strike conference broke I'D to-
day with steel manufacturers oper-
ating coal mines in Western Penn
sylvania refusing to say whether an
agreement had been reached with
President Roosevelt. They will re-
turn later today for another meet
ing with the President, indicating
no accord was reached.
By the Associated Press.
office was invoked today to its fullest
extent in the effort to restore peace to
the coal fields of Central and Western
Pennsylvania.
At conference with leaders of the
steel industry today. President Roose-
velt was expected to inform them 1t
was their patriotic duty to conquer fears
Of union influence in their operations
and to grant to the miners Of their
bituminous coal shafts the check
off," or deduction of union dues from
their pay envelopes.
Present at the conference were
Eugene G. Grace, president of Bethle-
hem Steel, who came in place of
Charles NJ Schwab. chairman Of the
board; Myron c. Taylor, chairman OF
the board, United States Steel; Nathan
L. Miller, American iron and Steel In
stitute; Ernest T. Weir, chairman Of
the board. Weirton Steel. and George
Laughlin, jr.. chairman of the board
Jones s. Laughlin Steel.
The check-off alone. officials said
stood in the way of accord The Presf-
dent had to step in, it was established
autho-itative!y, because Hugh S. john
son, N. r. A. head, had exhausted his
own persuasive resources.
May Use Authority.
There we're strong intimatlons that II
the steel men did not accede, the Presi-
dent would use his authority under the
law to modify the coal code, or impose
separate code upon the steel-owned
mines to require that union dues be SO
deducted. This was reserve power.
however, which he was not expected to
use, Though its suggestion was regarded
as indication of the determination of
the Executive to carry the point.
Whatever solution is found, if any,
must be worked out of situation now
complicated with varying opinions and
demands
The strike started at Steel Corpora
ticn mines with the miners demanding
that the companies sign the code"
Gradually the strike cry changed to
recognize the union," with the miners
insisting that the teel subsidiaries
make labor contracts with the United
Mine Workers Of America similar to
those the union negotiated with COM
mercial coal operators in the area.
Union Not Recognized.
agreement with the President to pay
the same wages and use the same hours
as those provided by the code and union
contracts.
The President, the recovery admin
istrator and union officials understood
the agreement was practical union
recognition without SO saying in as
many words They understood that
even deduction of union dues from
miners pay was included.
The steel men felt differently. The
miners we're informed dues deduction
the "check-off not included.
Thursday night johnson disclosed that
Donald Richberg, administration gen.
eral counsel, had advised the steel men
the agreement with the President did
not include the check-off. johnson
yesterday said. however. there is not
any split or hard feelings between hip>
self and Richberg over the latter's IL
depreciation.
He regards the incident as slip"
on the part of Richberg and insists 1t
was due to his anxiety to get the
agreement and restoration Of peace IN
the coal fields consummated quickly.
This view was made known to allay
suggestions that a definite rift had
opened up which might result in Rich
bergs resignation.
Richberg today attributed the mlsun-
derstanding to his own misconception Of
union contracts with commercial mines.