Evening star., 1943-06-04

President Roosevelt today held
out threat of induction to strik-
ing coal miners who have been
given occupational deferment
from military service, but at the
same time expressed the hope
that the mine workers would
heed his order and go back to the
pits Monday.
Discussing the strike situation
which was climaxed last night by his
mandate to the coal diggers, the
President said at his press confer
ence that if any one receives a de-
ferment because he is in an occups-
ton essential to the war, that nor
mally this exemption from military
service would continue. AS soon,
however, as the individual stops that
work, the President continued, he is
liable to induction, and this. he en-
phasized, applies not only to the
coal miners. but to those in any
other category of war work
Mr.. Roosevelt brushed aside
be called out to protect minors who
might be willing to go over the head
of John l.. Lewis, United Mine
Workers leader. and return to work.
saying that that was an 'iffy' propo-
sltlon. He then expressed his hope
that the four -dav-old strike which
, has threatened the war effort would
be terminated.
The President also said alien
miners who might be on strike would
be treated just as any one else.
! There have been reports that the
President contemplated invoking
certain alien laws against the non
citizen strikers, but Mr.. Roosevelt
said he did not understand what was
meant by that.
Orders IckeS to Act.
AS "Commander in Chief and
President Mr. Roosevelt late yes
terday issued 222-Word statement
announcing that he had "instruct-
ed Fuel Administrator Ickes 'to
proceed to reopen the mines" and
telling the 100000 strikers that
they are working for the Govern
ment on essential war work and it
is their duty no less than that of
their sons and brothers in the
armed forces to fulfill their duties"
| The Presidents statement con-
tanned no hint of the next step that
might be taken if the miners f1out
the back-to-Work order. but it was
recalled that when the Government
/ seized the mines on May l, the Pres
ldent told Mr.. Ickes that he could
call on the War Department for help
II this was necessary to get out coal.
There was no indication. mean
while, of any weakening on the part
of the workers who are going along
with the mandate of Mr.. Lewis, mo
contract, no work.
Mr.. Lewis said mo comment"
when advised of the order
Only TWO OF so miners in the Pitts
burgh section, interviewed by the
Associated Press, indicated they
would go back without orders from
Mr.. Lewis. One local president
bellgerently warned that any men
brought IN 70 work the mines had
better watch out
Hugh White, vice president of the
UNIV IN Illinois asserted Il don't
believe the order means a thing
The miners are. if anything, more
bitter now than at the time of Presi-
ident ROO5evelt's last back work
order because negotiations for their
new contract have Jagged"
Doubt Back to- Work Success.
West Virginia mine union sources
said they believed the men in the
Charleston area would refuse to 90
back merely on the strength of the
presidential dictum. An operator
spokesman at Huntington sided with
this view, declaring it looked "ex-
ceedingly doubtful that a back-to
work movement was in sight.
A Kentucky district president. re-
fusing use of his name, said he
doubted the presidential order would
have much effect by itself. West
Kentucky miners said they had to
hear from their district leader be-
fore they pick up their tools
William largest, secretary
urer of UNIV District 5 at Pitts
burgh. said. My first guess is that
they won't go back to work unless
ordered to do SO by some arrange
ment through our policy committee"
Mr.. Roosevelt backed the War
Labor Boards authority to act on
the miners $2-a-day wage increase
demands. Mr.. Lewis, declaring the
WLB was "prejudiced," has ignored
this highest agency for handling
wartime disputes.
Mr.. Roosevelt specifically said that
when the miners go back to their
war duties" the controversy will
be taken up under the Jurisdiction
OF the War Labor Board
Some Concessions Made.
He held out some concessions of
immediate benefit to the men, how
ever. In addition to terms of the old
contract. Mr. Roosevelt said, the men
will operate under conditions ap-
proved by the WLB May Is. These
provide for the producers to bear
cost of certain equipment, such as
cap lamps, which saves the miners
from 7 to IS cents day. In addi-
tion, vacation pay is increased from
$40 to $50
Industry already was feeling the
pinch from the three-day-old ces-
sation of mining A blast furnace
shut down at Birmingham. Ala, for
lack of soft coal. Other steel men
said production would go down even
If mining resumed Monday because
OF the fast-vanishing supplies
A mere trickle of coal came out of
a few scattered mines. There were
$4,000 men still at their posts in
Kentucky, 10000 in Illinois and
scattered handfuls in other areas.
mostly non-union workers or Pro-
gressive Miners. AFL. Some of the
latter joined the UNIV, however, in
sympathy walkouts.
The crisis yielded fresh wrangling
! (See COAL, Page A-l6.)