Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-10-26
Miners Strike;
Lewis Lashes
.MediationBoard
Presidents Request
To Hold OffWuIkout
Is Turned Down
BY the Associated Press.


Miners in captive collieries sup
plying fuel for the Nations steel
mills were called on strike at mid
night as John L. Lewis turned down
a request by President Roosevelt to
hold off the walkout pending fur
ther negotiations.
The work stoppage began promptly
at the stroke of u as miners who
began shifts at pm. yesterday
came out of the mines to knock OF
work. AS miners customarily do not
work, Sundays. the first effect on
coal production will be felt Monday
morning when the day shifts fail
to report.
Mr.. Lewis, president of the c. I.
O.-United Mine Workers, said in a
letter to Mr.. Roosevelt that. the 40
DAYS of negotia lions before the De-
Tense Mediation Board had proved
a fantastic" procedure.
The attitude Of the board towards
this problem has been casual and
lackadaisical to the point of in
difference" the U. M. w. chief
wrote.
"Sorry Mess"
He described the boards report to
Mr.. Roosevelt of failure to attain
an agreement as devoid OF conclu-
sions as to merit, evasive as to the
responsibilities of the board which
he said dumps its own sorry mess
into the already overburdened lap
of the Chief Executive"
Mr.. Lewis declared Sidney Hill
man, co-director of the Once OF
Production Management, of course
is responsible for the fantastic pro-
cedure which has been followed"
Mr.. Lewis asserted that Mr.. Hill
man had adopted an attitude OF
vengeful and malignant opposition
to the U. M. W. and that 1T is I'M
fortunate that he is able to use his
great powers to intimidate govern
mental agencies to point where
they deprive legitimate organlza-
tons of labor of the right of a jul
dicial determination of their grew
ances under the law
Ready to See Myron Taylor.
The U. M. w. president asserted
that over protests of the union the
board called before it only in
ferior executives of the corpora
tons involved" AS an example. ne
told a press conference, Harry M.
Moses. superintendent of U. S. Steel
Co. mines, represented the United
States Steel Corp and readily ad-
mitted he was bound by the policy OF
U. S. Steel"
Mr.. Lewis said he would hold
himself lin momentary readiness"
for conferences with Myron c. Tay-
lor. former chairman of the board
of United States Steel. The Presi-
dent had suggested, in requesting
I that the strike be held in allegiance.
that Mr.. Taylor serve in negotla-
ton efforts. Mr. Lewis said. how
ever, he understood Mr.. Taylor had
declined to serve. feeling he could
represent his own company but not
( the entire industry.
/ A demand of the U. M. w for
union shop contract under which
/ any miner employed in steel COM
/ pany mine would be required to
| join the union was the only issue
I in the controversy.
The strike call went to $4,000
miners in Pennsylvania, West Vir-
ginia, Kentucky and Alabama work.
! ing in colleries owned by steel-pro-
ducing concerns. The mines are
called captive" because the steel
Z
/ their output.
Other Labor Disputes.
| Other labor developments In.
/ Guided
! An official of the c, I. O.-United
Automobile Workers wired the Medi-
alton Board that workers at the
two Buffalo, N. Y, plants of Bell
Aircraft Corp. were becoming very
restless" The union members
recently voted to strike, but held
up a walkout when the case was
referred to the Mediation Board
for negotiation. The board scheduled
a hearing for November S.
The two plants have contracts for
100000 of American and Brit
ish fighter planes. The union seeks
an increase in the minimum pay
from so to rs cents an hour,
union shop and a dues checkoff
! system.
Vanadium Recommendations.
The Mediation Board issued a
recommendation after an eight
month investigation of a strike
early this year at the Bridgeville,
Pa, plant of the Vanadium Corp.
The board said it condemned with.
out reservation" the officers of a
c. I. o. local for violating a con-
tract with the company.
About 225 workers at the plant
walked out February 10 in protest
against the hiring of six company
guards. The board took over the
case March q and the men returned
(See MINERS, Page A-40
III nj V>,,lk