Evening star., 1941-10-27
Contends Fight Is
Between Labor and
Ruthless Company
Earlier Story on Page A-1.)

By the Associated Press.
John L. Lewis rejected late to-
day for the second time a request
by President Roosevelt to order
$1,000 miners back to work in the
captive coal mines.
In a letter to the President, re-
plying 10 Mr.. Rooseyelts request
that the strikers go back to work IN
the interest of national defense, Mr..
Lewis said that defense output in
the mines was not impaired and
would not be impaired for an indef-
mite period.
This fight" said the United
Mine Workers president is only
between labor union and a ruth
less corporation-the United States
Steel Corp.
To Meet Taylor Wednesday.
Mr.. Lewis told a press conference
at which he read his reply to the
President that he would meet We'd
nesday with Myron c. Taylor, former
chairman of the board of United
States Steel, in an attempt to reach
a final agreement on issues which
led to the strike.
Until that time, he said, there
would be no change in the present
status. The miners did not report
for work this morning at Mr.. Lewis
order.
In connection with his statement
that the fight was between the mine
workers and "a ruthless corpora
ton Mr Lewis offered to meet
with President Roosevelt and j. P.
Morgan, a member of the board Of
directors of United States Steel,
for a fortnight discussion of rhe
equities of this problem"
Sees Quick Solution.
Mr.. Lewis wrote the President
that if Mr.. Morgan would permit
Mr.. Taylor to accept the Appa-
lachian agreement like all other coal
operators, then the business can Be
disposed of in 10 minutes and coal
production resumed on Thursday"
NO impairment of defense pro-
duction will have taken place Mr..
Lewis said, but if the country needs
additional coal by reason of such
brief stoppage, I will recommend TO
the mine workers that they make
up the lost production by working
additional days each week until the
lost production is regained.'
Mr.. Lewis said the issue was
whether Morgan would accept the
same agreement" that had been
signed by other mine operators un-
der union shop, under which all
workers would have to join the
U. M. w.
The captive mine operators, most
of them steel companies, have re-
fused to accept the union shop.
White House Gets Letter.
The White House announced at
Alb pm. that the President has
Just received another letter from
John L. Lewis and has taken it un-
der advisement'
That was the only reaction at the
White House Immediately to Mr..
Lewis rejection for a second time Of
the Chief Executives request that
the strike be called or.
Mr.. Lewis contended that "there
is yet no question OF patriotism e.
national security involved in this
dispute" He told the President:
If you would use the power of
the state to restrain me, as an agent
of labor. then, sir. I submit that
you should Use that same power 10
restrain my adversary in this issue,
who is an agent of capital. My ad-
versarv is a rich man named Nor
gan. who lives in New York"
Says Taylor Refused Offer.
Mr.. Lewis wrote that Mr.. Roose-
welt was aware that he had talked
on the telephone with Mr.. Taylor
Saturday and that Il urged that
he meet me on Sunday, so that the
mines could work Monday" Mr..
Lewis added that Mr.. Taylor re-
fused to meet him on Sunday, Mon
day or Tuesday. and suggested
Wednesday because the Board of
Directors of United States Steel
would meet Tuesday in New York.
This board, Mr.. Lewis told the
President, would determine whether
or not Mr.. Taylor, in behalf of the
corporation, would accept or reject
the Appalachian agreement.