Evening star., 1943-04-30


next.
Bituminous Coal Division figures
for 1941, the latest available, show
that approximately 456,500 miners
in 6,624 mines producing more than
1000 tons annually, turned out ap-
proximately 100000 tons of coal.
Since then production has increased
while the draft has reduced the
number of miners.
A table showing the coal-produc-
ing States, the approximate number
of mines. miners and tonnage in
1941 follows:
been threatening to go out, William
Green, AFL president. telegraphed
Mr.. Roosevelt last night that they
would abide by the mo strike"
pledge. The Progressives claim to
represent $4,000 of the 10000 soft
coal miners in the Illinois fields.
Mr.. Roosevelt had called on the
Progressives also to stay at work.
Lloyd A. Thrush, Progressive
president, told reporters that Mr..
Green's pronouncement was per-
haps a bit premature because the
formal decision to keep on the job
must be made by the Policy Com
mittee meeting in Springfield today.
Il told President Green that 1
would submit this proposal to the
policy conference in the morning" ;"
he explained. 1T is my own feeling
that the union should follow this
course, and it is my hope that the
delegates to the policy meeting will
concur. I am going to do everything
in my power to bring it about"
He said the union had been in
formed late yesterday that the Illi-
nois Coal Producers Association was
ready and willing to sign an extern
sion of the temporary agreement
under which the Progressive Miners
have been working. The 30-day
agreement was scheduled to expire
at midnight tonight.
The Progressives, demanding pay
raises ranging from 50 to SO a day,
had negotiated with the association
previously but failed to reach an
understanding on a new contract.
Green Wires Appeal.
II most fervently and earnestly
appeal to the membership of the
Progressive Mine Workers Union
to respond like heroes to the
call of the Nation to continue at
work producing coal in order to
meet the Nations war needs, pend
ing a settlement of the wage con-
troversy and the consumma ton of
new wage agreement" Mr.. Green
telegraphed to the Progressive Of
ficers.
please do this with the under
standing that such wage adjust
ments as may be made and such in
creases as may be granted either
through collective bargaining or
through an award made by the Ma
tional War Labor Board shall be
retroactive to the date of the ex-
piration of the wage agreement. "*"
Meanwhile, Mr.. Roosevelt was
offered Republican support today
for enactment of any reasonable"
legislation he may suggest to
strengthen his hands in the coal
crisis. Senator Taft, Republican, of
Ohio told reporters he, for one, was
ready to back any Legitimate" pro-
posal Mr.. Roosevelt might make for
additional authority to deal with
the situation.
The President ought to say what.
if any, legislation he wants." said
Senator Taft, VINO opposed imme-
diate consideration yesterday of a
bill by Senator Connally, Democrat,
of Texas authorizing the Govern
ment to seize plants or mines where
production is interrupted by labor
controversies.
Doubts Army Operation.
II don't think the Army is going
to be able to operate these mines,
if they are taken over, and it might
be well to provide for additional
penalties for labor leaders who call
strikes in war industry the
Ohioan continued.
He said he felt confident public
opinion would favor law against
strikes in war industries, with "ap-
propriate enforcement powers
He would be perfectly willing.
Senator Taft said to vote for a
measure which would permit the
Federal Government to go into court
and obtain an injunction to prevent
labor leader from calling a strike,
but did not feel like offering such
an amendment to the Connally bill
until the Presidents attitude was
known.
If we had such a law as that"
Senator Taft said, then any labor
leader who violated it could be put
in jail
The Connally bill, which the Sem
ate decided to consider at its next
session Monday. would authorize
Government seizure of plants or
mines for practically any disturb
ance of production, but Senator
Connally himself said he did not
know Mr.. Roosevelt's attitude to-
ward the legislation. Action on
the measure was held up at the
Presidents request year ago when
the mo strike agreement was ef-
fected between labor and industry.
AS now drafted, the bill would
set up new defense wage board
and Senator Taft objected that this
might play into the hands of Mr..
Lewis, who spurned WLB attempts
to settle the wage dispute between
miners and operators.
Connally Calls Issue Clear Cut.
Senator Connally, urging Senate
consideration of his bill, declared
yesterday that he wanted to make
the Presidents authority clear even
beyond wartime power to take over
the pits.
The time has come for the issue
NAH -