Imperial Valley press., 1941-11-21
CI0COndemns Draft
Chiefs Acting as
Strike Breakers
IContinued from Page Onel


breaking be immediately stopped.
Approval OF the measure was OBJ
tanned III the face OF reports that
federal forces may be directed &c
intervene in the CIO miners work
stoppagc AT captive coal fields.
President Roosevelt indicated he
viii withhold further action III the
captive coal mine strike until after
John l. Lewis. president OF the
Go United Mine Workers union
meets with the UNIV policy COM
mlttee here tomorrow.
HOPES FOR AGREEMENT
The President told press con-
ference he expected to hear tOmOr-
row from Lewis and the policy COM
mittee on his request for settlement
OF the strike by freezing open shop
conditions in the captive pits for
the duration Of the emergency or
by submitting this issue to arbitra-
ton. agreeing IN advance 10 accept
the arbitration decision as final.
Other than this brief comment,
the President said there was no
news from him on the coal Sltua-
ton. or on the general subject OF
labor legislation which has been
suggested to curb strikes that in
terfere with defense production.
Meantime. Undersecretary of War
Robert P. Patterson gave full ap-
prOval TO legislation that WOulG
authorize the government TO seize
and operate strike bound defense
plants and to freeze union Condi-
lions in those plants for duration
Of the emergency.
BILL ENDORSED
At hearing before a senate Judic-
iary subcommittee, Patterson ap-
proved a measure by Sen Tom Con-
nally. D. Tex Besides authorizing
seizure of plants and facilities. Con-
nally's bill would set up wage
beard TO determine compensation
for the workers during the emer-
gency.
The enactment of this measure
will be in furtherance of the ma
tional defense program and conse-
QuentI" in the national interest"
Patterson testified. 1T seems to be
a sensible and rational way of deal
ing with the evil with which we are
now faced-stoppages in plants vital
~ needed for the national defense
program"
Lewis will inform his 200-man
UNIV policy committee tomorrow
of the Presidents latest request for
settlement of the strike. which the
union leader already has rejected
personally in letter to Mr. ROose-
yelt. The committee then will vote
on the suggestions.
STEEL ACCEPTS
Benjamin Fairless, president OF
L. S. Steel and one of the central
figures in negotiation of the dis
pute between the UNIV and the
captive mines owned by the steel
companies, already has agreed to
accept either of Mr.. Roosevelt'a
proposals
The senate Judiciary subcommittee
hearings on the Connally bill mark
ed the first action in the upper
chamber towards the possible enact
ment of defense strike curbS.
The house, given a green light b.
MI. Roosevelt for consideration Of
an administration labor program
may take up a week from next Mon
day a two-point bill recr2ating the
National Defense Mediation Board
giving it authority to enforce 30
day cooling Off periods before
strikes may be called, and prohibit
ing strikes which are not approved
in a secret ballot of union men,
berS.
The program is being evolved by
the house labor committee. which
will hear proponents of more dras-
tic strike curbs at hearings starting
on Monday.