Evening star., 1941-10-27
Lewis to Reply This Afternoon
To New Roosevelt Strike Plea;
WoIkout HoIts n Ships Repairs
U. M. w. Reports
Most of $1,000
Miners Are Idle
b. the Associated ereSs.

b. the Associated Press.
With United Mine workers Of
ficialS claiming that practically
all of the $4,000 workers in the
Nations captive coal mines were
on strike. it was announced to-
day that John L. Lewis, president
OF the u NJ w, would reply this
afternoon to President Roose-
velts second appeal to call of the
strike in the interest of national
defense,
K G. Adams, U. M w press off,
cial. said all captive mines were
shut down. and that a stack" of
telegrams from local unions indorsed
MI. Lewis rejection of the Presi-
dents first request that miners re-
main at work pending further ne
gotiatlons
At least one U. NJ. w. local. No.
GAIL. at the Rosedale mine of the
Bethlehem Steel Co. in JohnStown,
Pa. defed Mr.. Lewis strike call by
voting 243 to % TO continue at work.
An authoritative source said IS per
cent Of the day crew of ATS entered
the pit Although pickets appeared,
police reported there was no dis
order.
The q. NJ. w. claimed it had about
p5 per cent of the miners in the
captive mines ORGANIZED. with nearly
100 per cent strength IN some mines.
Captive mines are so-called because
they are owned by steel and other
corporations which use practically
all their output
Union Shop Chief Issue.
Principal issue At stake was the
union demand for union shop,
under which all miners must be-
come union members after serving
proba tionary period of employ
ment. The mines involved are in
Pennsylvania, West Virginia. Ken
lucky ana Alabama
U. NJ w. officials at Pittsburgh
said 5000 miners at the Jones e.
Laughlln and AlleQhanv Ludlum
mines, which already have granted
the union shop. were at work. but
that $4,000 others were idle There
was no piCketing at the Western
PENNSYLVANIA mines. A few miners
showed up for work at Southwest
ern PENNSYLVANIA mines. but they
were closed
In Southern West Virginia mines
we're plCketed and 1000 to 10000
miners were idle. while in the north
ern part Of the State there was no
picketing, but 1900 we're idle.
At Lynch, Ky, there were 43OO
miners out at the U. S. Coal & Coke
Co.. subsidiary of United States
Steel Corp. In Alabama 5000 were
idle.
Began Saturday Midnight.
The strike began Saturday mid
night after Mr.. Lewis had rejected
President Rooscvelts first Sugges-
ton that it be deferred while the
U, M. w, leader and Myron c.
Taylor, former chairman of the
board of United States Steel Corp,
tried to work out solution.
Mr.. Lewis said then he understood
Mr.. Taylor was unwilling to par
tlclpate IN such conference be-
cause he felt that if he did so anv
decision reached might be consid-
cred binding on the entire industry.
However, he said he was ready to
meet with Mr.. Taylor
President Roosevelt in his letter
TO Mr Lewis last night said that
Mr. Taylor would meet Mr. Lewis
Wednesday.
In this crisis Of our national life"
Mr.. Roosevelt wrote. there must be
uninterrupted production of coal for
making steel. that basic material of
our national defense"
Mr.. Lewis press representative
SAID last night that Mr.. Lewis had
no comment to make on the Presi-
dents letter-"none whatever"
Presidents of locals in U. M. w.
district recommended Yesterday
that Mr. Lewis call out the 400 900
workers in other soft coal mines if
settlement in the captive mine
dispute we're not forthcoming
quickly. There was no comment bv
Mr.. Lewis on this development.
either.
Support Pledge TO Lewis.
Meeting At UniontoWn, Pa. in the
heart Of the rich coal and coke
fields, about IS local presidents
voted to send letters to Mr.. Lewis
and to President Roosevelt pledgine
100 per cent support for Mr.. Lewis.
William Hynes, district president,
In an address to the U. M. w. local
heads, pointed out the union had
sought union shop in captive mines
Tor the last eight years and declared:
The public should not criticize the
union alone for this situation. I do
not think it will take long one way
or the other. We're in this for a
showdown in the shortest possible
time
Nobody can throw bricks at the
fSee MINERS, Page Abb
CkL