Evening star., 1943-05-04

fldent that President Roosevelt fully
supported its jurisdiction, and that
the case will be handled without any
deviation from the normal wartime
procedure. Mr.. Lewis was equally
determined on his stand to by-passe
the WLB.
Next Step Up to Ickes.
The next step, he said in New
York last night, is up to Mr.. Ickes.
Mr.. Lewis said he did not know
whether negotiations with the Gov
ernment would be held here or in
New York.
WLB members. on the other hand,
expressed confidence in their position
after at least one Of them conferred
with Sterilization Director James F..
Byrnes, and several of the public
members fatty implied that they
would resign if they lost control of
the case.
In a statement issued after a meet
ing OF the unions Policy Committee,
Mr.. Lewis repeated recent assertions
that the miners are mo longer bound
by the no-strike pledge" and that,
by adopting the Little Steel wage
formula, the WLB had preached the
understanding" between labor, en-
ployers, the public and the admins
tration regarding wartime strikes.
CThe Little Steel formula limits
wage increases to Is per cent of
rates paid as Of January /, 194l.)
Paid as of January 1, 1s41.
Mr.. Lewis also said the War La
Dor Board must accept the full re-
sponsibility'' for the situation
which he charged to distress in
the ranks of labor r'-apparently re-
plying to Mr.. Roosevelt's Sunday
night speech in which the Chief
Executive blamed the walkout of
nearly half million miners on the
national union officials.
Breaks Silence on Speech.
At the same time he made his
statement on the issues, Mr.. Lewis
broke his silence on Mr.. Roosevelt's
Sunday night speech.
There we're many surprising
things about the Presidents speech"
Mr.. Lewis said. II would not care
to say or amplify in any way on the
statement I have given you here"
A statement by Mr.. Lewis to the
UNIV Policy Committee follows in
part:
1T Is unfortunate for the Nation
that so much confusion has resulted
from varied interpretations stating
and restating the circumstances and
understandings reached by the con-
ferees representing employers, the
public and labor, upon which the
no-strike pledge of labor made to
the President in December, 1941, was
based.
Labor agreed to restrain from
calling strikes and engaging in work
stoppages provided the administra-
ton would set up a wartime labor
tribunal that would judicially re-
view and determine wage contro-
versies and shop practices running
the whole gantlet of industrial re-
lations. 1t was labor's understand
Ing that the review of every case
was to be predicated upon the fac
tual showing made in each case, and
judicial determination based on
such evidence.
Didn't Agree to Set Formula.
Labor representatives did not
agree to accept any set formula nor
arbitrary method upon which mass
production adjudication of labor
controversies could be handled.
Labor representatives did not
agree to suspend or waive labor's
right to pursue and enjoy collective
bargaining.
Labor did not agree to vest power
In a tribunal to usurp and set aside
the statutory labor laws of the Ma
ton and the separate States.
Thus, in the light of these facts,
1t Is plainly evident that the adop-
ton of the Little Steel formula by
the War Labor Board preached the
understanding that labor had with
representatives Of the public, en-
ployers and the administration.
WLB Held Responsible.
The War Labor Board must ac-
cept the full responsibility for dis
tress in the ranks Of labor created
by their contravention of the under
standing and commitments arrived
at in the December, 194l, conference
The time has come when It is
necessary, in the interests of Ameri-
can industrial relations and con-
tinued uninterrupted production,
that truth prevail as regards the
no-strike pledge of labor"
Raise Justified, Randolph Says.
Meanwhile. Representative Ran
dolph, Democrat, of West Virginia
declared In the House yesterday that
there Is Justification for increased
pay for mine labor" but that "the
decision on just what this amount
will be must come about through
orderly settlement and not through
threats or strikes"
Mr.. Randolph inserted in the Con-
gressional Record a statement In
which he declared that Congress
must share the censure for not hay
ing acted with courage in enactment
Of anti-strike legislation" aimed at
restricting mot the large body OF
patriotic men and women, but aimed
at the small minority 80 who. like
. cancerous growth within the body