Evening star., 1939-05-10
BY the Associated Press,

by tne Associated PreSS.
NEW YORK, May 10.-Soft coal
operators and miners, seeking to
comply with President Roosevelt.s
demand that they find by tonight
a way to reopen closed mines in 26
States, today studied a definite for
mula designed to break their long
deadlock.
AS representatives of the two sides
met with Federal conciliators after
yesterdays conference with the Pres
ldent. there was no indication what
the plan was. However, sources close
to both groups said they saw no
immediate possibility of a resump.
ton Of mine operations under a ten.
tative agreement.
DR.. John R. Steelman, director
Of the United States Cancellation
Service, who has participated in the
contract negotiations for several
weeks, remained optimistic that an
agreement of some sort would be
reached.
Il think you can reassure the
country" he said, that some settle
ment here is under way"
Midnight Deadline.
I'm accordance with the Presi-
dents statement to the joint con-
ferees yesterday" DR.. Steelman
added, my position in the confer
ence today is one of imperatively
demanding solution of this situa-
ton with the time limit as set"
DR.. Steelman interpreted Mr..
Roosevelt's demand for a solution
by tonight as midnight deadline
and indicated the conferees would
remain in session almost continu-
ously.
He and James F. Dewey, Federal
conciliator who has been on the
scene almost from the start of negc-
tiations March II, sat in with the
representatives Of the operators and
United Mine Workers &C. I. o. at
a joint session lasting from $50 to
11:30 am. (E. S t., then the two
sides split for individual meetings,
with the conciliators going first to
one and then the other.
Another joint session was to start
at 1:30 pm.
Miners in the eight-State Appa-
lachlan region. producing 10 per
cent of the Nations industrially vi
tai soft coal. racked their picks April
l, when an old contract expired.
Miners in 18 outlying States quit
work last week, when negotiations
for a new agreement were stalled.
Steelman Optimistic.
The 16-man Policy Committee Of
the operators met to hear a report
Of what President Roosevelt told
five operators and five miners at the
Washington conference. Its conclu.
sions. If any, were not disclosed.
Just before entering the confer
ence room one of the conferees
shook his head sadly today and said:
"The President sure put the heat
on us yesterday"
He declined to permit use Of his
name.
Disturbed by progressive curtail-
ment of industrial and public util-
lty OpCA dIlOilo lCouAtnlS 1IOIll tllC
soft coal shortage, Mr.. Roosevelt
told the conferees that public ne
cessity demanded that they work
out method by tonight for re-
opening the mines.
DR.. Steelman was optimistic last
night. Preparing to join the con-
ferees today, he said: After their
trip to Washington think they will
work out some plan in very few
hours"
An open question was whether the
President might take more positive
action to end the coal deadlock if
the conferees could not resolve 1t
themselves, although Mr.. Roosevelt
himself said he was not looking that
far ahead.
Authority Doubtful.
Last week when the President ap-
pealed publicly for a quick settle
ment. observers commented that
possibly there was no legal authority
for active Intervention by the Fed
eral administration.
President Harding ended q six
month shutdown in 1922, but 1t was
(see COAL, Page A-4.)