Evening star., 1941-04-03
North-South Break
On Pay Issue Hinted
In Coal PdrIeys
Regional Differences
On Wages Seen Chief
Obstacle to Truce
BY the Associated Press.

NEW YORK, April 3.-Differences
between Northern and Southern
bituminous coal operators were in
dlcated today as the chief obstacle
to an agreement with the United
Mine Workers of America &C. I. o.
and the end of the work stoppage
which closed most of the Nations
soft coal mines two days ago.
While there was no official word
on the situation, it was learned
reliably that the Northern operators
were in a mood to break away and
sign separately on terms agreeable
to the union, unless the operators
find a common meeting ground
within the next IL hours. The dis
agreement among operators centered
around the question of wage differ
entails between Northern and
Southern fields.
Resumption of negotiations was
delayed as DR.. John r. Steelman
chief of the United States Concilia-
ton Service, conferred with oper-
ator groups. After the session, none
of the conferees would comment on
the discussion or its outcome. At
the adjournment of union-operator
negotiations last midnight, Dr.
Steelman still clung to his belief that
some sort of compromise, even If
temporary, would bring resumption
of work.
Some Progress"
The Northern Appalachian fields
produce about so per cent of the Ma
tion's soft coal and it was believed
that If the Northern operators de-
cided to sign, those in certain out
lying districts would follow suit.
With the Northern fields and outly-
ing areas operating. about 10 per
cent of the country's bituminous
coal districts would be in operation
DR.. Steelman reported some prog
ress" when the negotiators finally
recessed last night. There was no
comment from him today.
DR.. Steelman's declaration fol-
lowed an eventful day in the chaotic
bituminous situation: The death
toll in Harlan County (Ky) clashes
rose to five; John L. Lewis, president
of the United Mine Workers, de-
clared the union would not permit
the dispute being taken before the
National Defense Mediation Board
and the Government itself acted to
freeze" bituminous prices at the
March % levels.
Harlan County operators and
union officials agreed respectively tc
cease operating and picketing after
four pickets were shot to death
This truce, made early last night
was to be effective for "a hours.
Lewis Statement.
Mr.. Lewis statement came as he
addressed the anthracite wage con-
ference, which is preparing to nego.
tiate for a new contract to replace
one expiring April 80. The unior
leader declared:
THE formula of the (National)
Mediation Board seems to be to wire
strikers to 60 back to work and ther
mediate on the remnants of the
strike. The United Mine Worker.
do not operate that way. We viii
settle our strike by negotiation"
President Roosevelt Monday urgec
uninterrupted operation" of thu
soft coal industry for reasons o.
national defense.
In Washington, Defense Price
Sterilization Commissioner Leor
Henderson said the Government hat
called for the freezing of soft Goa
prices ito prevent runaway or ex.
cessive prices due to the bituminouI
coal strike"
The miners actually became idl,
at midnight Tuesday after an an
nual mine holiday Monday.