Evening star., 1941-10-28
Capitol Expects
Request Within
Next24Hours
Proposal Would
Supercede BoiIey
Sabotage Bill
By GOULD LINCOLN.

President Roosevelt at his press
conference late today confirmed
earlier reports from the Capitol
that he is considering general
legislation authorizing him to
deal effectively with strikes in
plants engaged in national de-
fense production, including coal
mines.
1t was predicted in congressional
circles that the President would
make a prompt request for neces-
sary legislation probably within the
would be in the form Of message to
Congress or in letters to chairmen
of committees having to do with
such legislation was not known.
The President would not discuss
specific methods. however. Nor
would he indicate what the Govern
ment might do about the strike Of
$4,000 men in captive coal mines
following three fruitless appeals by
the Chief nyecutive to John l..
Lewis. president of the United Mins
Workers, to call off the strike.
Studies General Law.
A reporter inquired whether Mr..
Roosevelt was considering legisla-
ton for compulsory arbitration and
for suspension of the right to strike
on defense jobs.
The President said if the inquiry
were limited TO general legislation
and specific requirements were
omitted. the answer would be yes.
But he said probably there were 10
ideas of specific methods that might
| have to be considered ana not Just
| two.
The Chief Executive said he had
not vet received any reply from
Lewis to his third appeal to end the
mine strike He would not say what
he considered reasonable time for
reply to be forthcoming nor would
he make any general statement on
/ the captive mine situation or de-
mands in Congress for legislative
action.
Mr.. Lewis and Myron C Taylor,
retired chairman of the United
/ States Steel Corp. are TO r'eet TO-
morrow to discuss the coal dispute.
Bailey Offers Bill.
Earlier in the day Senator Bailey,
Democrat, of North Carolina intro
duced an amendment to the pending
armed ship bill which would define
| as sabotage" against national de-
fense any effort on the part of labor
leaders. workers or plckets to cause
stoppage of work. This brought the
issue squarely before Congress.
The temper of the Senate was
such, because of Lewis def.
ance of the President in the cap
tive coal mines strike. that The be-
lief was expressed the amendment
might eashg be adopts if 1t is
brought to a vote.
The opinion was expressed how
ever. that if the President sends a
request for legislation the Bailey
amendment may be dropped and a
separate measure, in line with the
Presidents recommendations be put
forward.
Prefer Separate Bill.
/ Managers in the Senate of the
armed ship bill expressed a prefer
| ence that this latter course be fol-
lowed. They feel it would make IL
possible to get quicker and mora
/ certain action on the armed ship
bill, if it was not complicated with
the labor issue.
With war almost at hand and
shooting already going on. as de.
clared by the President in his Navy
Day address last night, members
of Congress were inclined to act
promptly on legislation dealing with
strikes in defense industries The
Bailey proposal to define as "sabo-
tage" in national defense strikes
was regarded as an effective way
of dealing with the matter.
ODaniel Assails Strikes.
Interrupting the armed ship de-
bate in the Senate late today, Sena-
tor ODaniel, Democrat. of Texas
told the Senate it ought to be di-
recting its attention Ito these radical
wild-eyed labor leaders who are
shutting down the factories at
home"
Senator ODaniel added that he
believed in collective bargaining for
labor, and in the gains which labor
has made But, he said. he believed
also in the freedom of every Ameri-
can working man to work. to pick
up the tools which others laid down
and to carry on the production
needed for the democracies fighting
abroad and for the country's own
national defense.