Evening star., 1941-11-23
Mine Workers End Coal Strike,
Agree to Binding Arbitration;
Railroad Negotiations Resumed
President Appoints
Board to Settle
U. N. W. Dispute
fTert OF Rooserelt-Le1Dis Letters
on Page A-5J
By JOHN c. HENRY.


United Mine Workers uneXpect-
edly ended their strike in the
Nations captive coal mines yes
terday, and submitted the union
shop issue to binding arbitration,
after a new, urgent appeal by
President Roosevelt.
Railroad labor and manage
ment, meanwhile, returned to di-
rect negotiation Of their wage
controversy in an effort to avert
a strike called for December 7.
These two developments came
within few hours of each other
and after repeated personal inter-
vention by the President.
OF more immediate Importance
was the termination of the coal
strike and agreement by both the
steel company mine owners and the
L. M. w. to submit the sole issue,
the union shop, to binding arbitra-
ton. Approximately $4,000 workers
in the captive mines and an esti-
mated 10000 additional men who
had been on sympathy strike In
various commercial mines began
their return to work last night and
we're expected to be back in full
force by tomorrow.
Immediate Arbitration.
With defense essential production
resumed. the task of arbitrating the
dispute will be undertaken imme-
diatelv by a three-man board COM
posed of DR.. John r. Steelman, head
of the Labor Department Concilia-
ton Service: Benjamin FairleSs,
president of the United States Steel
Corp, and John L. Lewis, president
of the U. M. w. DR.. Steelman will
serve as representative of the public,
Mr.. Fairless as spokesman of the
industry. and Mr.. Lewis for labor.
The President requested an i'm
mediate start and continuous ses-
sion until the task is completed"
DR.. Steelman said he would get in
touch with Mr.. Lewis and Mr.. Fair
less as soon as possible. probably to-
day, and arrange for the arbitration
meeting.
Secretary of Labor Perkins i'm
mediately relieved DR.. Steelman
from all other duties in the Labor
Department so that he might devote
full time to the arbitration. In the
light of past negotiations and ex-
pressions of position by Mr.. Lewis
and Mr.. Fairless. it is probable that
the ultimate decision on this case
will be devised by DR.. Steelman
alone.
Acceptance of the arbitration
plan. first proposed by Mr.. Roose-
welt last Wednesday and agreed to
bv the steel companies that same
afternoon, came unexpectedly from
the National Policy Committee OF
the U. M. w. early yesterday after
noon.
Appeal by President.
Before this 200-man group. meet
Ing at U. M w, headquarters. was
placed previously unannounced
appeal from President Roosevelt, dl-
rected to the committee by letter
Yesterday morning, that they MAKE
immediate reply and acceptance
of the arbitration suggestion. On
the basis of acceptance from the
steel companies, the President wrote
he was naming the three-man group
to attempt the settlement task.
OF the three selected, he SAID:
"Dr. Steelman possesses the quail
fications essential to the task OF
public representative and is OF un-
questioned integrity. Messrs. FAIR
less and Lewis rate as experts IN
their fields and are competent to
represent their respective view
points of this controversy.
Declaring the vote OF his policy
committee to be unanimous IN &C
ceptance of the arbitration plan,
Mr.. Lewis wrote in reply:
In consideration OF this arrange
ment. which we accept in the public
interest. the National Policy Com
mittee Is recommending an imme-
diate return to work Of all mine
workers employed in the captive
and commercial mines, wherever
situated
Lewis Hits Mediation Board.
The union chieftain held a press
conference yesterday afternoon at
which he emphasized willingness
of the U. NJ. w. to accept and abide
by the settlement eventually reached
by the board selected. He took
occasion, however. to criticize again
the Defense Mediation Board and
Chairman w. H. Davis for their g.
to-2 vote against recommending the
union shop in the captive mines.
The U. M. w. and its member
ship are happy he said, ito make
this contribution in the public in
terest With all other citizens we
regret the unhappy blunder Of Mr..
w. H. Davis and certain others as
Sociated with him. These stupid
blunders are responsible for throw
ing the country into its recent con-
(See LABOR. Page A-5)