Evening star., 1941-10-28
Coal
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the way. then we'll deal with the
fourth member of the Axis"
In the House there were repercus-
sions also. Representative Cox,
Democrat, of Georgia declared the
"do-nothing policy" adopted by the
Government made it "co-conspi-
ratOr with the racketeerS in the
setting up of a labor despotism in
this country" He asserted that Mr..
Lewis again had become the strong
man OF the Nation, though not so
uSuable, SO sinister and SO dangerous
as Sidney Hillman associate di-
rector Of o. P M, who seems to
have been anointed as the fair
haired boy of the administration
Two Mississippi Democrats, Repre-
sentatives Colmer and McGehee,
Joined Mr.. Cox in the Lewis attack
President Roosevelt gave no hint
of the action he would take if Mr.
Lewis ignored his latest manifesto,
but everything pointed to a show
down.
Steel Mills CurtaiI Operations.
The United States Steel Corp,
owner of a number of the mines
tied up by the walkout of $1,000
c. I. o. members, announced an I'M
mediate curtailment of operations
at most of its steel mills, which 6e-
pend for their coal on the captive
collieries
For the second day, miners at
the Rosedale mine of the Bethlehem
Steel Corp. in Johnstown, Pa, de-
fled the strike order and went to
work. More than 100 pickets pa
trolled the approaches to the pit in
JohnstoWn's fourteenth ward, but
made no attempt TO restrain the
workers. variously estimated at 100
to $50 of day crew of ATS.
A number Of labor leaders private
" voiced uneasiness over the situa-
ton growing out of the United Mine
Workers demand for a union shop.
They feared that there might be
legislation-or possibly an executive
order-forbidding compulsory men,
bership in labor union as a condi-
ton of employment on work con-
nected in any way with the defense
program, or otherwise sharply cir
cumscribing union activity.
The U. NJ VS. demand for q
union shop was the sole issue in the
strike which took practical effect
Yesterday morning In steel company
operated coal mines in Pennsylvania,
West Virginia, Kentucky and Ala
bama. With the union shop in ef-
feet, each employe would have to be-
come member of the union after
a probationary period.
]. P. Morgan Disputes Lewis.
When Mr.. Lewis replied yesterday
to Mr.. Roosevelts second back-to-
work request, issued Sunday, ne told
the President that this fight is be-
tween labor union and a ruthless
orporation-the United States Steel
Corp" He added that J. P. Morgan.
a director of United States Steel.
was responsible for continuance of
the dispute.
What utter rubbish" Mr.. Morgan
exclaimed in New York.
Mr.. Lewis said he would confer
tomorrow with Myron C. Taylor. for
mer board chairman of United
States Steel, although he added.
Mr.. Morgan will decide what Mr..
Taylor will do"
The bushy-browed mine chieftain
contended in his letter to Mr.. Roose-
welt that the strike could go on for
an indefinite period without impair
ing defense production.
President Roosevelt, making an
almost immediate reply to Mr..
Lewis letter yesterday, declared:
For the third time. your Govern
ment. through me. asks you and the
officers of the United Mine Work
ers to authorize an immediate re-
sumption of mining" He added:
Whatever may be the issues between
you and Mr. Taylor or you and Mr.
Morgan, the large question of ade-
quate fuel supply is of greater in
terest and import to the national
welfare"