The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-11-14

omimendatlons.
 aNeyertheless," it continued, newspapers and public men are at- tempting to conovey to the public mind that 6 refusal by the union now Co accept the open shop dec- laratlon proposed by the board Is tantamount to rejection of media ton. Nothing could be farther from the truth"
 Whatever the outcome, new anNl- strike machinery appeared likely. informed ofiicials said 1t would have teeth capable of making It's find- ings compulsory on labor and inc dustrty, A sizeabie and growing congressional bloc was demanding anti-strlke legislation.
 The Lewis Roosevelt meeting Is scheduled for some time today, at the White House. Others invited by the President were CIO presi- dent Philip Murray and UMWA sec- retary-treaSure Thomas Kennedy, both of whom resigned along with all other CIO members from the defense mediation board after it re- jected Lewis union shop demand: {: Eugene c. Grace of Bethlehem Steel Corporation; Benjamin Fairless of U. s. Steel Corporation, and Frank purnell of Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company.
 The mines affected by the dispute are owned by the major steel cofi- panieg. All other soft coal mines have union shop contracts,
 Serious Test Case
 But this now has become & test case and the outcome may affect many other industries, especially the steel companies who do not have 6 union shop.
 If 6 strike is called 1t will affect defense production, although not immediately. Federal Coal Coordi- nator Harold L. Ickes says coal stocks at steel mills generally are enough to last 3i days. Some mills would be plrched sooner.
 Mir. Roosevelt on the eve of the momentous conference told Con- gress that "this coal must be mined" and that "the government proposes to see this thing through"
 Lewis has made no statement on the mediation boards vote, 9 to 9, Monday against his union shop dc. mand for b3000 captive" miners, 05 per cent of whom labor department officials admit to be UMWA mem. bers.
 But Lewis called his 2O0-maa policy board to meet here today to consider Q strike call. That board meets before the White House cone ference. It will stay in session while Lewis Is conferring with the President.
 Mir. Roosevelt has made no d!- rect comment on the mediation boards decision either, but after CIO mediation board members balt- cd he Issued the call for today's conference.
 Expects No Back Down
 Informed administration labor of- ficials do not expect either MT. Roosevelt or Lewis to back down These officials suggest the possibil- ity of compromise with both Mir. Roosevelt and Lewis maintaining their positions.
 one suggestion advanced in offl- cial quarters was the appointment by President Roosevelt of q special commission to investigate the mi- ners' demands and make recom- mendatlons to him. A finding for the union shop might be accepted by the steel mills If approved by MT. Roosevelt.
 Lewis, these sources said, would be expected to agree to another truce pending the report. He called of a three-day strike late last month at the insistence of Mir. Roosevelt. He set next Saturday as the expiration date of the truce pending mediation board consideration.
 Mir. Roosevelt entered the meet ing cheered by house approval of neutrality amendment legislation. His pledge to deal firmly with labor was believed to have swung some support to his side in that fight.
 He linked the two in 6 surprise