Evening star., 1941-11-14
Says u. 5. Wont
Compel Miners
To Join Union
Labor Chiefs Told
To Report Monday
On Progress
Bv JOHN c. HENRY.

steel and coal mine union exec
utiveS to resume negotiations for
contracts in the captive coal
mines and let him have by Mon
day a report of an agreement or
progress, the White House an
nounced this afternoon.
At the same time, in a formal
statement, the President prom
iSed that the Government will
never compel the minority non-
union miners to join the union.
The White House statement was
released about two hours after 30
minute conference had been held BY
the President with three leaders Of
the United Mine Workers and three
officials of the steel industry, owners
Of the captive coal mines.
AS the conferees emerged they
told reporters that any statement on
the consultation must come from the
White House.
President Makes 2 Suggestions.
The President extended two sug-
gestlons for resumption of collective
bargaining. as follows
The first is that you continue me-
gotiations, with the hope that you
can arrive at a conclusion and that
II you do not arrive at a conclusion,
you will submit the point, or points
at issue, to an arbiter or arbiters, or
anybody else with any other name,
and that in the meantime coal pro-
duction continue.
The second is that you consider
other methods relating to employ
ment AS understand it. the wage
question and the checkof are not
involved in this at all"
Concluding his statement. Mr..
Roosevelt requested that a report
be submitted to him by Monday. "a
report Of agreement or at the least,
a report that you are making
progress"
No Threat Made.
Twice in the formal statement re.
leased by the White House, the
President emphasized that ne vas
not threatening either side in tbs
deadlocked negotiations. He re-
marked pointedly, however, that to
obtain essential continued produc-
ton. 1t is the indisputable obliga-
ton of the President to see that
lnterferences are overcome. adding
that the Congress unquestionably
will pass legislation if such is nec-
eSSary.
The statement. it was explained
by the White House. is the one
made by Mr. Roosevelt to the union
officials and operators during their
meeting with him.
In reminding the conferees that
pressure for new legislative con-
trolls over labor has been constant
and heavy upon him in the past
couple of months. the President de-
clared confidently that neither the
Government nor the Congress will
place its authority behind any or
der for "so-called closed shop"
Continuing to point out that the
United Mine Workers already have,
as a result Of the legal collective
bargaining 95 per cent of the en-.
ployes in the captive mines, Mr..
Roosevelt added:
The Government will never com.
pei this 5 per cent TO join the union
by Government decree. That
would be too much like the Hitler
methods toward labor"
Stresses Negotiations.
In asking resumption of negotia.
tlons. the President suggested that
representatives of both sides meet
today. and If necessary. tomorrow
and Sunday. in order to be able TO
report to him as requested on Mon.
day.
At U. NJ w headquarters, later,
1t was said that John L. Lewis,
president of the union, planned to
meet the steel executives this after
noon. The place and time were not
specified.
Earlier the policy committee of
the U. NJ w. voted to continue the
fight for a union shop in the coal
mines which supply the big steel
mills.
The committee directed the
unions executive officers to con-
tinue their efforts to secure a settle
ment' in the controversy to con-
form to the provisions of the Ap-
palachian agreement.
Under this agreement, all COM
mercial soft coal mines have
granted union shop to the C. I. o.
union. The Defense Mediation
Board recently rejected the U. NJ. w.
demand for a union shop in the
steel companies coal mines.
The committee adopted resolu-
ton commencing and approving the
action of Philip Murray, c. I. o.
president, and Thomas Kennedy,