Evening star., 1943-06-22
WLB.Ca||s On
President 10
End Coal Crisis
Roosevelt Urged
To Use Power to
Enforce Edict
Earlier Story on Page AID
B. ]. A. FOX.

The coal problem was dropped
back on the White House door
step this afternoon when the
War Labor Board called on the
President to use whatever power
is necessary to enforce the
boards order to miners and op-
orators to sign an agreement on
the basis of the old contract
which expired in April. Labor
members of the board joined in
the recommendation.
The move by the WLB had been
forecast after the breakdown in
wage negotiations brought about
the third strike in seven weeks. Sum-
day night A letter from Chairman
William H. Davis told the President
that the operators are willing to re-
negotiate the old contract, but that
no word had been received from
John l.. Lewis United Mine Workers.
Text of WLB Letter.
The text of the letter made public
at the White House follows:
ON June Is the National War
Labor Board issued its order in the
bituminous coal case directing the
parties to enter into agreements
based on the old Appalachian agree
ments with certain special wage ad-
justmentS within the stabilization
program.
We have received from the op-
orator groups telegram of June
l9 in which they accept the order
of the board and offer to put it
into effect. We have also received
from them a second telegram in
which they say they have met with
the United Mine Workers on June
1920, but have not been able to
reach any conclusion, due to the
fact that the United Mine Workers
of America are unwilling to make
a contract until their claim for pay
for portal-to-portal travel time is
satisfied We have not received any
communication from the United
Mine Workers.
AS you know, the refusal of the
mine workers to accept the order
of the board was followed on Mon
day by interruption of production in
the coal mines, which in accordance
with your executive order of May l,
i943, are now in the possession of
the Secretary of the Interior for
operation.
Although the War Labor Board
was not unanimous in voting for the
directive order of June 18. it is
unanimous in advising you that in
It's opinion the directive order should
re enforced and that all the powers
of the Government necessary for its
enforcement should be exercised"
No Indication of Course.
The WLB's action brings the coal
problem back to Mr.. Roosevelt for
solution for the second time since
the controversy started seven weeks
ago over the miners demand for a
81 day increase.
The President met the situation
the first time by taking over the
mines. There has been nothing to
indicate what steps or course might
be pursued now.
At the time oil four-day walkout
IN June the President held out an
implied threat of draft deferment
cancellation for striking miners, but
there has been no word from the
White House on this latest tie-up
Under the original order author
izing Secretary Ickes to take over
the mines Mr.. Roosevelt made pro-
vision for the use of troops if this
was necessary to insure operation.
The idea was that the troops would
be used to protect property and any
miners who might want to work in
defiance of Mr.. Lewis The UNIV
had called off the strike, however.
ut that time when the Government
|ook over the mines