Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-04-28
WLb Submits
Coal Mine Row
To Roosevelt
Own Orders Ignored
By UNIV; So, 900
Miners Idle
BULLETIN.


CHICAGO P1.-The Illinois
Coal Operators Association
today requested the Illinois
district of the United Mine
Workers of America to meet
the group Immediately, indie
pendent of Appalachian nego-
tiations under way in the East,
to work out a new contract
and keep the States mines
operating after the deadline
Friday midnight.
eythe Associated Press.
Int War Labor Board an
nounced today it is referring the
soft coal wage controversy, which
already has $4,000 men idle, to
the President because it's own Or
ders and appeals have been
ignored by the United Mine
Workers.
The board said this is "in &C
cordance with its established prac-
tice." and added:
The NWLB unanimously and
deeply believes that the people on
the home front in the United States
are filled with a calm but grim de-
termination to exert their very ut
most efforts for maximum produc-
ton of those war materials which
are necessary to conserve the lives
and to crown with success the war
efforts of their sons and brothers
who are at the fighting front.
Procedure Established.
For the peaceful determination
of labor disputes without Interrupt
ton of production, a procedure has
been established by the lawfully con-
stituted agencies of the Government
under the executive orders of the
President of the United States and
Commander in Chief.
The board firmly believes that to
maintain those procedures against
attack from any source : essential
to the winning of the war; list this
particular dispute can and must -
handled like any other dispute I'M
der these established procedures. 1t,
is the unanimous conviction of the
board that any departure from these
procedures in this particular case
would destroy the entire plan for the
peaceful settlement of labor disputes
during the war"
Use of Troops Talked.
Talk of the possible use of troops
as guards to protect those who
might want to work was heard as
mines began closing down one after
another in Pennsylvania, Kentucky.
Alabama and West Virginia.
John L. Lewis promised that his
United Mine Workers would not
work after midnight Friday unless
their demands were met.
The WLB panel had received in
structionS from the board to begin
hearings and proceed until further
orders before the UNIV president
announced in New York yesterday
that the miners would not work
without contract after Friday mid
night when a 30-day temporary
continuance expires.
Mr.. Lewis raised the strike threat
after the UNIV Policy Committee
In a letter to Secretary of Labor
Perkins, demanded withdrawal of
the dispute from the WLB, charging
the board with malignant preju-
dice. He told newsmen that as
matters now stand there will be no
contract April 30 and the mine
workers will not trespass on mine
property in the absence of a con-
tract"
AS his threat was suddenly Sec
onded by spokesman of Illinois
$4,000 Progressive Mine Workers. af-
fillated with the American Fedora
ton of Labor, and the sporadic
walkouts continued to spread. specu-
latlon arose as to what the Govern
ment will do if the strike develops.
Swift action was expected. with
the decision up to President Roose-
welt, and some sources said the Gov
eminent probably would nave in
with military protection for any
miners who chose to work. It was
pointed out that actual Federal
operation of the mines is step
taken when the operators raise the
shutdown issue and not when the
miners walk out.
That such a strike would quickly
affect war production was unques-
toned. Steel industry sources esti-
mated their reserves would last only
two weeks to a month, since full
blast operation has prevented build
ing them up. In addition, soft coal
provides the primary fuel for many
war vital power plants, as we'll as
(See MINERS, Page A-6)