Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-31
Lewis AIMING
At Job Bigger
Than clio
UNIV Chief Would Run
3 Industries .MaIIon
BY PAUL MALLON

apparently minor advantage OF
gaining a closed shop in big
Steers few coal mines is no
mystery to labor politicians sit
ting on the rim in the inner
circle.
The apparently minor point OF
the strike was in reality the last
niche into which Lewis needed
10 get his fingers in order to
control completely steel, coal
and autos. the nations three
largest industries. If he could
win that point, he knew that he
would be bigger than Go.
The closed shop in those few
mines would give him a strangle-
hold on big steers source Of fuel.
The union-not the worker
owns the jobs under a closed
shop. and in perpetuity.
Able to cut off the fuel supply
of big steel he could exert great
personal power toward a closed
shop upon the whole industry.
(He was bought out of this de-
mand before with a large wage
increase from the companies
Through>his hold on steel and
his personal control over the
United Mine Workers, he could
thus individually draw into his
sphere Of influence the auto in
dustry, largest consumers Of
steel.
1t was "a gamble worth daring
the wrath of the world.
NOTE-The fact that Lewis
was trying to accumulate
all this personal power. apart
from the Go, furnished some
weight to talk, long heard here.
that he was preparing TO walk
out of the next CIO convention
if the atmosphere became warm
and carry most of it with him.
BITTERNESS between Roose-
- welt and Lewis is real and
deep. FDR first agreed to de-
liver a radio speech before the
AFL convention until he hap
'pened to think he would have
to do the same for the Go,
and thereupon Cancelled it.
THE Senate fight on repeal of
L the Neutrality Act - the
final step toward naval war
was the mildest yet. An air of
resignation, among even the
most antagonistic senator's, was
ill-concealed. Apparently they
thought the country shared. at
last, their supposition that the
march of war was inevitable.
Senator Taft's ringing opposi-
ton speech drew not more than
20 letters the following day. No
more than IS senator's were
present TO hear Senator Nye's
keynote of warning about the
course. The Democratic leaders
were so confident, they left only
three or four of their number
on guard during most of the de-
bate.
The peace women who annoyed
proponents of the administration
policy, when comparatively
minor previous similar steps to-
wards war were under discussion.
were not in evidence.
ONLY aftermath of Mr.. Ickes'
~ gas scare campaign is in
creased prices.
The government has made no
announcement to that effect. but
you can ascertain at the bureau
of labor statistics that the re-
tail cost Of straight gas has
jumped in every eastern city
except Pitts burgh between
March Is and September Is.
New York up al cents, Bos-
ton 81, Philadelphia 3.3. Balti-
more 1.3. Washington 2.5, Sa-
vannah ID. Jacksonville 81.
Scranton &c, Portland 3.5 and
Atlanta go
In all except Baltimore,
Scranton and Washington this
represents an increase above
what price fixer Leon Hender-
son said would be fair.
Bulk or these boosts came in
anticipation of the program just
before lckes started. The in
crease afterward averaged under
a cent.
Distributed by King Features synd.. Inc.
Reproduction in whole or in part
strictly prohibited.
For no who FIGHTS and rims oxt,au