Evening star., 1941-11-18

COnnAuyS Bill DlScusSe0.
Senator Connally, reminding re-
porterS that he has legislation al
ready pending to authorize the Gov
ernment to take over strike e-bound
industries, said there had been full
and thorough discussion of his
measure and of the coal strike. He
declined, however. to say whether
Mr.. Roosevelt had passed any judg-
ment on his bill.
The Texan, who is chairman of
the Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee. said there also had been
discussion this morning Of current
japanese American conversations
and of Government plans for arm
ing and rerouting merchant ships
under the permission given by re-
vision of the neutrality law.
Summoned for the conference on
the railroad dispute were Solicitor
General Charles Fahy, Senator
Mead, Democrat. New York; Chair
man David j. Lewis Of the National
Mediation Board, Chairman Joseph
Eastman of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. President John j. Pei
ley and Vice President r. v. Fletcher
of the Association Of American
Railroads, President George M. Har-
rison of the Railway Clerks and
Mr.. Johnston.
Rail Workers Case.
The 35OO00 workers in the oper-
ating brotherhoods, represented in
today's meeting by Mr.. Johnston,
voted strike after special presi-
Dental Emergency Board had rec
ommended they receive wage in
crease of 7l2 per cent.
The IA non operating unions. for
whom Mr.. Harrison was a spokes-
man. likewise have rejected a rec
ommendation of the Emergency
Board that they receive an average
wage increase of 1872 per cent. They
have not, however, voted strike as
yet.
Meanwhile. the White House gave
mo indication of immediate presi-
dental intervention in the coal
strike. Secretary Stephen T. Early
carefully avoided. answering any
questions about possible mastering
of Federal troops to reopen the steel
owned mines, or to engage in any
speculation on other possible courses
of action by the Government.
Persons in close touch with the
White House said. however, Mr.
Roosevelt was convinced that the
time had come for the Government
to put into effect vigorous policy
toward all strikes which impede
defense production the Associated
Press reported.
The President is losing patience.
one reliable informant declared
He is getting ready to crack down
and hard-on John L. Lewis u. M
WIS PRESIDENT or anybody else who
is holding up defense production"
Sympathy Walkouts.
U. NJ. W.. meanwhile, concentrated
its energies on making the captive
coal mine strike 100 per cent ef-
fective, and already the miners in
some commercial pits were quitting
work in sympathy walkouts to dem
onstrate union solidarity
A general sympathy strike of any
duration in the commercial mine:
would affect not only many fields ol
manufacturing. but railroad opera.
ton as we'll The commercials en-
ploy approximately 100000 miners
) as compared with the captives
$4,000. and all are U. M. w. members
for the C. I. o. contract with ths
commercials provides for unior
shop-the bone of contention in thu
captive mine dispute.
United States Steel. Bethlehem
and Youngstown Sheet & Tube-th.
three major steel companies in
volved in the captive dispute
planned to keep their collierie
working if possible
United States Steel's president
Benjamin Fairless, told reporters il
New York last night that I'VE ar,
going to attempt to operate ou
mines. We hope our employees viii
see fit to do their part and produce
coal for national defense.
Il sincerely hope that develop
ments do not make it necessary fo
the Government to-. operate tn
captive coal mines" ..l,
Mr.. Lewis and his Policy Com
mittee met here again today To con
slider the strike situation as the {
1. o. in annual convention In De
, troit voted an about indorsemen
of President Roosevelt's foreign pol
icy. The c. I. O. voted yesterda
to approve the strike IN captiv
mines.
At the Capitol, the defense strik
problem continued to monopoliz
congressional attention and rile con
Rressional tempers but definite &C
ton awaited q cue from the Whit
House.
Senator Connally said he had higl
, hope that the Chief Executive woul
approve his labor measure IN pr1n