Evening star., 1941-11-17

WAltlnG IOT some one 10 say 10 Lncm
that they should settle. It has been
obvious for some time that they
were prepared to settle with the U.
M. w. if the National Defense Me-
diation Board had had the strength
Of character to render just deci-
sion in this case" Mr.. Lewis con-
tinued.
But because the board stultified
itself in this decision, it left the
companies without chance to save
face and sign this contract"
Sees Union Shop Eventually.
Mr.. Lewis declared that some day,
inevitably, the union shop requiring
all miners to become union men,
bers) would be achieved but said this
would not come until industrialists
and members Of Congress under
stand that the Army is not going to
shoot our people and the soldiers are
not going to mine coal"
The unions letter to the President
follows:
"Sir:
Conforming to your wishes. our
representatives conferred with the
steel executives. Conversations ex-
tended over a three-day period, We
offered the Appalachian agreement
now in force throughout 80 per cent
of the industry and previously in
dorsed by the Government. The
steel executives refused acceptance
They offered an open shop agree
ment. We refused.
Reasons for our refusal were:
"A Acceptance of the steel eX-
ecutiveS' terms would invalidate the
Appalachian agreement and the col
lateral agreements based thereon
throughout the. industry, by reason
of it's protective wage clause, which
reads as follows: If the United Mine
Workers of America make a wage
agreement during said period COW
ering wages or working conditions
with any person. association, or dis
trict within the Appalachian area,
on a basis more favorable than
above. then this agreement shall be
modified so that all parties to the
Appalachian agreement shall re-
ceive all the benefits of such more
favorable wage agreement. The In
ternational Union, United Mine
Workers Of America, reserves the
right to call and maintain strikes
throughout the entire Appalachian
area when necessary to preserve and
maintain the integrity and compet-
tive parity of this agreement. Such
strikes shall not be deemed vio-
lation Of this agreement. The In
ternational Union will give reason
able notice to AL parties OF any such
action
"B. OfIicers and representative OF
the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea are without any grant Of au-
thority from its membership to exc
cute an open shop agreement
thereby destroying the assets OF the
membership represented by exist
ing collective bargaining agree
ments.
Respectfully yours. Policy Com
mittee, United Mine Workers oi
America, by John L. Lewis, presi-
dent"
Early Action Foreseen.
There was widespread belief that
the President was ready to order the
Army to take over the captive mines
His week lend conference with Secre-
tary of War Stimson and stan ON.
GERS were looked on as indication.
of this intention. but the War De.
partment refused to discuss the mat.
ter.
The union determined to force &C.
ceptance Of its demands for q unior
shop, ordered its members to stoI
work in the captive mines at mid.
night Saturday Most mirers do no
work Sundays, however, and the full
impact Of the walkout came today
The mines involved are in fiv'
States and unofncial estimates plac,
the number of workers at 54,852
Under . union ship all Of thes
would be required to join the U. N
w., which already claims 95 per cen
| OF tnem as members.
The last hope Of avoiding the worl
stoppage was shattered yesterda,
when union and management repre-
sentatives broke OH negotiation
after three days OF special confer
ences suggested by the President.
Arbitration Not Discussed.
President Roosevelt had suggeste,
that both sides agree to arbitration
II necessary, but Mr. Lewis said ther
had been no discussion Of that.
That the President was prepare,
for drastic action seemed a fore
gone conclusion in view of passag
in q letter he wrote last week t
majority leaders In the House.
"It is obvious" the letter said
that this coal must be mined il
order to keep the essential steel mill
at work"
A further expression Of his de
termination to get the coal out wa
in his statement Friday to the uniol
and management negotiators that
legislation should become neces
sary, "the Congress of the Unite'
States will without any question pas
such legislation"
Despite the impatient mood o