Evening star., 1935-06-30
WaIkout Orders, Already
Prepared, Are Halted
Pending New Attempts at
Agreement.
SECRETARY PERKINS
BRINGS FOES TOGETHER
Kennedy, Appalachian Operators
Spokesman, Disclaims Author
ity to Bind Them, but Predicts
Acceptance of Third Extension
in Recent Months.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
John L. Lewis, president Of the
United Mine Workers. last night called
off the soft coal strike set for tonight.
He acted at the request Of President
Roosevelt.
Lewis agreed with Duncan Kennedy
Of Charleston, w. Va, spokesman for
Appalachian producers, to continue
the mines in operation at present
wages and hours through July 81 if
the operators accepted. Kennedy had
no power to bind the operators to any
agreement, but he predicted they
would accept it.
Secretary Perkins announced the
new truce shortly after pm. She
had been in a long conference with
Lewis and Kennedy.
Strike Orders Prepared.
Less than nine hours before, Lewis
ennounced he was sending out strike
orders to 5000 locals embracing, he
said, about 430, 900 miners. The strike
order followed collapse of wage and
hour negotiations. The operators Of
fered a 35-hour week and present
wages until April /. next year The
miners demanded 30-hour week and
10 per cent pay increase.
Miss Perkins told reporters:
Mr. Lewis and Mr. Kennedy. who
represents the operators in the con-
ference, have been talking things
over with me this afternoon and
again this evening.
I'VE have come to some understand
ing that thought ought to be made
clear. I have consulted the President
and we believe it is appropriate and
wise for the United Mine Workers to
postpone a strike call for at least 30
days with efforts in the meantime to
reach a reasonable agreement in the
public interest.
We believe this can be done"
At this point. the Labor Department
chief turned to Lewis and asked him
if he accepted. Lewis said:
The mine workers will acquiesce in
the wish of the President as expressed
by the Secretary of Labor and notify
our membership to remain at work for
80 days under wages and conditions
heretofore existing, providing Of course,
that the operators will acquiesce.
We are doing this for the President
and not for the operators.
We are conceding again in the
public interest. We appreciate the tre-
mendous responsibility devolving upon
the President and the Secretary of
Labor to preserve economic stability
and to help rehabilitate industry.
The mine workers desire to do their
part. They are not responsible for the
failure of the industry to negotiate
and conclude a new wage agreement.
That responsibility is due to the break
down of the price structure and the
ensuing Generalization of marketing
practices and the constant conflict in
the ranks of the operators.
The mine workers are the residual
sufferers"
Workers Stress Their Action.
The announcement was made in
Miss Perkins Labor Department Office
Lewis went on to say the present
wages and hours twice before had been
extended at Mr.. Roosevelt's request.
He added:
The mine workers think they are
doing their part and that their con-
tribution should be appreciated by the
country at large and by Congress, to
whom they are appealing to rehabili-
tate a debauched and stricken industry
through enactment of the Guffey
coal stabilization bilD.
''Telegrams will be sent tonight to
our membership advising them of this
(See STRIKE, Page D.