The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-06-03
Roosevelt, Clio, AFL
Heads In Labor Session

President Roosevelt, meanwhile,
called his combined AFL-CIO Labor
War Board to the White House
presumably to consult with leaders
of the nations two largest labor
organizations about the coal strike.
There were indications that the
White House might take some direct
action in the strike later today or
tomorrow. In the meantime, how
ever, White House press secretary
Stephen T. Early said there was not
"as far as I can tell now, any ex-
pectation of any announcement that
can be given to the press at the
present time"
The WLB has issued an order
forbidding operators and miners to
bargain collectively while the strike
of $4,000 coal miners continues. And
it seemed to have the backing Of
President Roosevelt, who was ex-
pected to take new action to end
the strike.
Conference Alive
I'VE are meeting to keep the con-
ference alive,h" Burke told the
United Press, but we will not dis
cuss any of the issues while the
men are out on strike.
IF there is any insistence on the
part of the miners to discuss the
issues we will have to break up the
conference"
Does that mean that you will
remain mute at this morning S
meeting?" he was asked.
wen be interested in what Mr..
John L. Lewis has to say about get
ting the miners back to work."
Burke replied.
ONeill said that his group would
recognize the War Labor Boards
order as such.
There will not be any discussion
of the issues until the resumption
of them is ordered" ONeill said.
The conferees met at 1920 a. m,
EWT, with leaders of both sides
represented. The meeting was held
in hotel dining room. Prior to the
converting, Lewis sat at the long
conference table and read news
papers.
The board was stalking its survival
on it's success in forcing Lewis to
capitulate. AS the mine strike went
into its third Gay, Lewis struck back
at the board with yelled threat OF
legal action. He charged that it
had violated the National Labor
Relations Act by ordering bitumin-
GUS coal operators to suspend ne
gotiations while the strike was in
progress.
Up to F. ID. II.
The next move was up to the
president. An authoritative source
said he would stand behind the
board and follow the pattern set in
previous strikes by asking the
miners to return to their jobs. He
was expected to act today or tomor-
row.
The source said the president
would warn the strikers they would
receive no wage concessions as long
as they remained on strike but
would assure them "a square DEAL
If they resumed work.
1t was uncertain what steps the
government might take to break the
mine strike, if extreme measures be-
come necessary. 1t has been sug-
gested that military protection
could be offered miners who would
work Or miners might be drafted
and assigned to mine duties.
None of the suggestions seemed
to offer a positive solution, however,
in view Of the union discipline dis
played after the work stoppage
May l. Few of the miners returned
to work in accord with President
Roosevelt's appeal, but all returned
on the day set by Lewis.
The president discussed the strike
late yesterday with War Mobiliza-
ton Director James F. Byrnes, Solid
Fuels Administrator Harold L. Ickes
and WLB members. A few hours
earlier the board had ordered oper-
ators to suspend settlement negotia-
lions with the UNIV on grounds
that the union had violated labor's