Evening star., 1941-10-29
Lewiiis-Tay|or
Talks Recess
After ) Hours
Mine Workers Chief
In Good Humor at
Lunch Intermission

The meeting between John L.
Lewis. president of the C. I. o.
United Mine Workers. and Myron C.
Taylor. former chairman Of the
board of United States Steel Corp,
vas recessed for lunch early this aft
ernoOn without settlement of the
strike in the captive mines which
supply coal 10 the steel industry, But
MI. Lewis was in good humor at the
maal-time intermission.
Emerging at pm. from the ninth
floor apartment of the Mayflower
Hotel where he had been closetcd
with Mr.. Taylor since 10 am, Mr.
Lewis smilingly told newsmen that
they could 60 to lunch.
Il know it has been tedious
wait" he said. I'VE are sending out
for lunch"
A newsman asked If there would
be anything by 230 o'clock and Mr..
Lewis said no.
There was nothing more to indi-
cate the turn the conversation had
taken as the two men met in an ef-
fort to end the strike brought about
by the mine workers demand for a
union shop. Mr.. Lewis. however.
appeared in good humor. He and
Mr.. Taylor willingly posed together
for photographers
So far AS was known. Mr.. Lewis
and Mr.. Taylor met alone for the
talks.
Began in Air of Secrecy.
The meeting started in an air of
secrecy, callers at the mine workers
headquarters being told that the
meeting place was not knoWn there
The meeting had last-chance
quality about it, for President RooSe-
welt was considering action and
Congress, angry and impatient.
seemed ready to take drastic steps
of its own to eliminate time -consum-
ing industrial walkouts
Arriving in town last night. Mr.
Taylor conferred shortly afterward
with President Roosevelt and
Chairman William H Davis of the
Defense Mediation Board at the
White House.
The bare announcement Of this
meeting was made this morning
by Mr.. Early. who explained that
Mr.. Taylor had requested tho con-
sultation in telephone call to the
President after his arrival. Mr..
Roosevelt invited Chairman Davis
to Join them, MI. Early said.
Pressure for Action Increases.
In congressional eyes the captive
mine dispute was rapidly becoming
a symbol of the whole problem of
work stoppages affecting defense,
and the pressure for action increased
with the overnight threat Of a gen.
eral strike of airplane factory
workers in five Eastern States.
The sole issue in the captive mines
dispute was the United Mine
Workers demand for a union shop in
the coal shafts which the steel COM
panies operate to obtain fuel for
their blast furnaces Under union
shop provision, each employe would
have to become a member of the
union after period of probation.
The dispute directly affects $4,000
miners. claimed to be 95 per cent
organized by the U. M. w. whose
strike became effective Monday in
captive mines in PENNSYLVANIA, West
Virginia. Kentucky and Alabama.
The U. S. Steel Corp. told the
Mediation Board yesterday it was
willing to accept the boards recent
offer to decide the dispute-an offer
which contained the proviso that
both parties to the dispute must
agree in advance to accept the
boards decision as final.
The Youngstown Sheet and Tube
Co. today telegraphed it also was
willing for the board to decide the
dispute. If the other interested prin-
cipals agreed and if the procedure
set no precedent.
The Weirton Steel Co. and the
Wheeling Steel Corp, whose inter-
ests likewise are affected. notified
the board that they preferred an
Other alternative-that the dispute
be settled by joint board made up
OF miners and operators.
Mr. Lewis already has assailed the
Mediation Boards handling of the
captive mine controversy, and it
seemed unlikely that he would con-
sent to intrust the dispute to the
board again for a decision which
would be binding on the union and
management.
Lewis May Reply Today.
The c. I. o. chIeftain. who thrice
has disregarded requests from Presi-
dent Roosevelt to send the miners
back to work. was expected to issue
a formal answer to Mr.. Roosevelt s
final appeal after his discussions
with Mr.. Taylor. An aide said that
Mr.. Lewis would have no reply for
the White House until he finished
the conference.
President Roosevelt let his press
conference know yesterday that he
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