Evening star., 1941-10-28
Defense Strikes
Made Crime in
New Senate Bill
Boi|ey Asks l0-Yeor
Terms in Sequel
To Lewis Defiance
fRooseDelt. Le,Ufs and Byrd
Terts on Page Az
By G. GOULD LINCOLN.

welt by John l.. Lewis over the cap
tive coal mine strike took surpris-
ing turn this afternoon when SEN
ator Bailey. Democrat. of North
Carolina introduced a proposal to
make any one who shall direct or
encourage stoppage of work in de-
fense industries guilty of the crime
OF sabotage.
Penalties on leaders and partici-
pants in strikes for violation Of the
proposed law are fixed at $4,000 fine
or imprisonment for not more than
10 years or both in the proposal
which was offered as an amendment
to the Neutrality Act revision bill.
Senator Bailey's action came as
President Roosevelt confronted Mr..
Lewis with a virtual ultimatum for
a speedy end of the mine strike
which is periline the vital steel in
dustry and creating other demands
in Congress for a determined effort
to deal with recurrent defense labor
stoppages.
Byrd Denounces Lewis.
The last word in the exchange
between the President and Mr..
Lewis was the Presidents as he de-
parted from the prepared text Of
his Navy Day address here last
night to declare that Our Nation
will and must speak from every
assembly lne-yes, from every coal
mine-in our vast industrial ma
chine.
Mr.. Lewis had rejected the Presi-
dents three appeals to stop the
strike.
Immediately before Senator Bailey
offered his amendment, Senator
Byrd. Democrat, Of Virginia, took
the floor to denounce Mr.. Lewis for
declining to halt the mine strike
and also to criticize the President
for not dealing firmly with the de-
fense labor situation.
TO me it Is disgraceful,' said Sem
ator Byrd. that such letter OF
declination should be sent to the
President of the United States by
this arrogant labor leader. To me II
is humiliatine that the President
should write three humble letters to
that labor leader asking that the
strike be called of"
President Criticized.
The administration is respine the
results of its policy toward organ
Ized labor. in this emergency. The
President has failed TO deal firmly
Senator Byrd told the Senate that
with the extent of the control which
the President exercises over Con-
gress, it was evident that nothing
could be done to deal with the strike
situation without the Presidents
approval He said that .or the Gov
ernment TO take over plants engaged
in defense product N IS no solu-
ton. He pointed out that .esisla-
ton dealing with the strike situa-
ton is pending in both Houses" ard
that 1T can only be given ife by
the approval of the President
Nothing can be don't until the
President is willing 70 meet this IS
sue in firm way"
Wants Defense Strikes Barred.
Senator Byrd placed in the record
copy of the statement he issued
last night attacking Mr.. Lewis, and
declaring that he will not support
any measure taking this country one
step closer to war so long as sound
and constructive measures are not
adopted stopping at once all defense
industry strikes and removing bar
riers of incompetencv and inefi-
cheney now permeating the defense
program"
The amendment offered by Sem
ator Bailey followed closely the Vir-
ginia Senator's demand for action.
My amendment brings an issue"
Senator Bailey said. The respon-
sibility is not on the President of
the United States. The RESPONSE
bility is on Congress. I am willing
to take my share OF the response
bility. l feel sure the country will
give a great deal of attention to
this matter at this time"
Senator Connally, Democrat, OF
Texas had declared even before to-
days session that we're busy with
the Neutrality bill right at this mo-
ment. but when we get that out OF
Sac Coal Dooe A12l