The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-11-21
Roosevelt Expecting
 To Hear From Lewis
(continued from Page D

hSAAk &H@ AS
 covered in the way that 1t is covered In the proposed Legislation"
 Nation Facing Crisis
 The small judiciary committed room was c.owded with spectators and newsreel carneramen as Con- naliy, chairman of the Bubcommit- tee, opened the hearing. He said the nation Is now facing "one of the most critical and dangerous periods in It's history"
 we are facing several frcnts," he said. "Thege Is the Italian front the Japanese front, the Nazl front and the Lewis front"
 "When people are bearing the ia- creased burdens Of taxation, indus try is being hit by prioTities and young men are serving In the army and giving up well-paying jobs, l think labor, as well aB the rest of the nation. ought to be willing to coop. crate in advancing the national inc terest.
 "A few selfish labor leaders want to build up their own purestige, can. not cary their own membership with them. They (the men1bers) stand for national defense"
 Direct ActlOn Expected
 While Mir. Roosevelt was awaiting ofiicial word from the UNIV policy committee, an authoritative admin- istration labor ofiicial reported that the chief executive might take "di- rect action" in the captive coal strike within 48 hou.s. Reports circulated in administration and labor ctrcles that MT. Roosevelt has set Sunday as the deadline for a negotiated set- clement of the strike.
 MT. Roosevelt will have a chance at his regular press conference this morning to discuss UMWA President John l.. Lewis pelSonal rejection ot his latest proposal.
 Lewis will place the proposal-aTi open shop for the duration of the eme. gency or submission of the dis pute 70 arpitration--beiCre his policy committee tomorrow. His personal rejection of the presidents sugges- ton is expected to virtually prCciuoe any other acG4on except rejection by the policy committee.
 President Benjamin Fairless of the U. s. Steel corporation, largest op- orator of captive mines, wired Mr, Roosevelt that either proposal was acceptable to his company.
 F'alrless, Eugene G. Grace of Bethlehem Steel and Frank Purncll of Younes.own Sheet ana 4uDe Tee iected Lewis demands for a union shop in conferences begun @ week ago today at MT. RoosevelL's re- quest.
 TAhe miners strike began tech- nicalIy last Saturday lnlonlght. The joint conferences collapsed Sunday .1he miners did not report when the mines opened MonGay.
 May Appeal to Public
 One o14iciaI suggested the possi- oility that A6r. RoUsCve4t mIgII. nla.le a Sunday night radio appeal to the miners, over Lewis heaa, to retu. n to work.
 That theory-and 1t admittedly is only Q theory-appeared to be sup ported by the assertion of an ad- mintstratlon leaoer in congress that MT. Roosevelt is about through writ ing letters to Lewis and Is getting ready ot acC." That conGl ,ssIlla4i, who withheld the use of his name, said Mr. Roosevelt might appeal soon to the mine workers to return to work unoer Q government guarantee of protection possibly of the army.
 Administration iapor officials diner on whether such an appeal would succeed.
 Anything less than overwhelming acceptance of such an appeal by miners procably would p.eclpitare violence, onicials said.
 There were indtcat.ons that MT. Roosevelt Is playing for time, wait- ing for public rSSe44lnlenG 0A Le n Ls denance to reach such Q pitch that direct acion" would meet strong popular approval.
 Public Opinion Gaining
 "Every day that the mines Aemain CiOSSQ puDl1c OpAl1ou DecOAuSc bt6VAlS@ CT behind Mr. hooseve.t." g lanor official said. "The thing he must do is act decisively before the tioe tu. ms to resentment of official inaction."
 Another psychological factor, ofi- ciais believe, may be a settlement meanwhile of the threatened na- tionwide strike of 1,lo0,UO0 railroad employees. Railroad labor and man. agement of1icials meet here at ?. m. today,
 More directly bearing on the coal dispute, however, whl De an aolnIn- istration move tocay to refute Lewis principal argument against acceptance of the status quo In the captive mines. Chairman William Tqaaaa~ &zsm aamRm.. n~aS0n@kAn~s