Evening star., 1943-06-01
Nearly 100% of Coal Miners
Reported Idle in New Stoppoge,
Although Negotiations Go On
Maintenance Workers
Stoy on Hand to
Keep Shafts Ready
BY the Associated Press.

Virtually every one OF John L.
Lewis United Mine Workers
stayed away from the Govern
ment-operated pits today, de-
spite continuing negotiations to
reach contract.
There are some half million men,
bers of Mr.. Lewis union in the ap-
proXimately $3.50 soft coal and $50
hard coal mines now under Federal
control, though reports indicate that
maintenance men are remaining at
work to keep the shafts ready for
a speedy return to production.
Although not strike in the view
OF the UNIV chieftain, who said his
men simply would refuse to trespass
on mine property. at the expiration
of a twice extended contract, the
stoppage nonetheless halted the flow
of vital fuel to the Nations war
busy industrial plants.
Virtually 100 Per Cent Effective.
The walkout appeared by late
morning to be virtually 100 per cent
effective in all f elds operating with
UNIV personnel, though a number
OF mines continued in production
They are manned. however, either
by non-union workers, those affli-
ated with the AFL Progressive Mine
Workers Union or with independent
unions.
At least one exception was noted.
however. Mines in the Pittsburg.
Kans., field, in UNIV District Is,
reported all men at work except for
10-man crew of shovel leaders.
The number working was not imme-
diately available.
Soft coal operators resumed their
negotiations with Mr. Lewis on por-
tal-to-portal pay-chief stumbling
block in the contract talks-at ll:15
am Neither side had any COM
ment. The session recessed at 1910
pm. to reconvene at 2 pm.
White House Silent.
The White House was silent. al
though Mr. Roosevelt in a radio
address to the miners and to the
Nation May "a day after he
directed Secretary of the Interior
1ckes to take over operation of the
pits during the coal crisis-said the
war effort must not be hampered
by any one individual or by the
leaders of any one group. here back
home
The Chief Executive spoke at that
time shortly after Mr.. Lewis had an
nounced the second extension of the
coal truce. under which the mines
had been operating since April Ian
extension that expired last midnight.
That expiration brought no word
from Mr. Lewis to his men. but none
was needed. He had made clear pre-
viouSly that the miners would not
"trespass' when the contract ran out.
The four public members of the
War Labor Board. meanwhile, met
with the new stabilization director,
Fred M. Vinson. though it was point
ed out that the appointment was
made day or two ago.
WLB Meeting Called.
The full membership of the WLB
scheduled a meeting for 2:30 pm,
but there was no announcement as
to what would be discussed.
The Harlan UNIV office reported
1t had checked the Tennessee area
in its district, embracing 1000 men,
hers, and heard of no mines working.
UNIV District 81, comprising the
Oklahoma Arkansas fields. reported
5000 men idle, the same number
out in Indiana. Six thousand were
out in Iowa.
Although $500 UNIV members
were working at Pittsburg, Kans.,
reports indicated they would be out
bv nightfall to Join the 1000 Mis-
souri, miners in District IA. all idle
except for 100 still at work at Wind
sor
Reports from the Rocky Mountain
region with some l8,600 UNIV mem
hers indicated the stoppage was vir-
tually complete there. although no
word had been heard from some
areas by midday.
Production Takes Quick Drop.
Production of coal. needed for
many phases of the war program,
took a quick drop For example, the
U. S. Steel Corp, the nations larg
est steel firm, reported the output
of it's 25 mines in Pennsylvania. West
Virginia. Kentucky and Illinois, nor
mally 10000 tons daily, shrank to
1000 tons today.
Reports from the coal fields
bore out earlier predictions that pro-
duction OF both soft and hard coal
by Mr. Lewis half million miners
would halt at midnight
More than three-tifths of that
number were idle in two States
alone. Most of Pennsylvania 100.-
OO0-odd soft coal miners and an ad-
ditional 10000 anthracite diggers ig-
nored the whistles intended to sum-
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