Evening star., 1941-11-19
President, in New Peace Effort,
Asks Operators to Tell Miners
They Are Free to Join Union
Also Suggests
CLOSED Shop Be
Left in Status Quo
(Tert OF Presidents Letter on
Page A-5J
By JOHN c. HENRY.

BY JOHN c. HENRY.
In new effort to bring re-
opening of the strike bound cap
tive coal mines, President Roose-
welt today asked the steel COM
pany operators to notify nom
union employees Of their freedom
to Join the United Mine Workers,
and further suggested that the
CLOSED shop issue be left in
status quo or submitted to arbi-
tration.
At the same time, Mr.. Roosevelt
disclosed that he was asking all coal
operators who have signed a closed
shop agreement to continue opera
tions.
The Defense Mediation Board rec
commended before negotiations broke
down that the non-union workers
in the captive mines voluntarily join
the U. M. w.
Mr.. Roosevelt's appeal today was
contained in a letter addressed to
John L. Lewis. u NJ. w. president.
and the three steel company Of
ficials who participated in the un-
successful weekend negotiations.
These were Benjamin Fairless of
United States Steel Eugene G.
Grace of Bethlehem and Frank Pur-
nell Of Youngstown Sheet e. Tube.
In concluding his letter. the Presi-
dent asked these men as patriotic
Americans 10 accept one or other
of the following alternatives:
ga, Allow the matter of the
closed shop in the captive mines to
remain in status quo for the period
Of the national emergency. all other
parts of the Appalachian agreement
applying. or,
."tb) Sumblt this point to arbltra-
tion. agreeing in advance to accept
the decision so made for the period
Of the national emergency without
prejudice to your rights in the fu-
ture.
For the common good. for the
maintenance Of defense production.
1t is imperative that one of these
two alternatives be chosen and
faithfully performed
Seeks to End Sympathy Strikes
Apparently in an attempt to fore
stall spread of sympathy strikes
in the commercial coal mines, Mr..
Roosevelt specified that he is asking
all those coal operators who have
signed an agreement with the
closed shop provision and the nom
strike penalty clause that they will
be expected in the interest of ma
tional defense to continue to op-
crate under those agreements with
out change
His request that the steel COM
panies make publicly clear the right
OF their workers to join the U.
M. w. was disclosed in the follow
Ing words:
Il am asking all the operators Of
the captive mines TO reafflrm their
assurances by notice to each of their
employees that they are not Op-
posed to union organiza ton or col
lective bargaining and that they do
not wish to discourage or stand in
the way of any employe who chooses
to join the United Mine Workers of
America.
But work in the captive mines
must recOmmence"
Denies Lewis Claim.
As he did in his press conference
yesterday. the President denied va
lidity of Mr.. Lewis contention that
provisions of the Appalachian agree
ment prevent signing of an OPEN
shop contract. The protective wage
clause OF that agreement. Mr.. Roose-
welt said, has no bearing on the
present controversy, and signing of
an open-shop contract would not
deprive any worker of benefits now
enjoyed under the Appalachian
agreement.
Cites Mediation Board.
In making his request that miners
be advised of their privilege of join
ing the union. Mr.. Roosevelt re-
called that the Defense Mediation
Board already had recommended
voluntary enlistment of non-union
workers in the U. M w.
The operators also have given
to the Mediation Board" the Presi-
dent went on. the assurance in
most positive terms that they are
not now opposed to, and do not in
tend to oppose, the voluntary growth
Of union membership at their mines
THE issue in dispute, however
strong the feeling about it may be
does not justify the stoppage of
work in A grave national crisis
$4,000 Troops Ready.
At the time the President directed
his new appeal in the dispute the
Associated Press reported that $4,000
troops were being held in readiness
to take over the captive mines in the
event the deadlock continues ano
the President decides that use of the
Army is necessary to fulfill his in
Gisputable obligation the restDra-
ton of coal production.
Preparations for the use OF the
troops were said to be complete down
CONTINUED on Page A-1s, Column g.