Evening star., 1943-11-02
Farley on Coal
Held by |ckes
And Lewis
Miners Under Orders
From President to
Return Tomorrow
BULLETIN.


today asked dealers to make
coal deliveries only to those
customers who have none in
order to alleviate suffering
and at the same time set up a
Solid Fuels Administration
field office here to assist deal
ers and consumers in the
emergency distribution of coal.
Earlier Story on Page BID
BY the Associated Press
President John L. Lewis of the
United Mine Workers conferred
with Fuel Administrator Ickes
for As minutes today as American
flags were raised again over the
Nations strike e-bound coal work.
ings, signaling Government
seizure for the second time this
year.
Neither Mr.. Lewis nor Mr.. Ickes-
the latter is now authorized to enter
into collective bargaining negotia-
tions with the UMW-would talk
Immediately about their parley.
In the far-f1ung fields, where the
latest work stoppage became nearly
100 per cent complete yesterday, the
miners marked time as the pits
went through the transition to Fed
eral control.
President Roosevelt, In ordering
the mine seizure last night, an
nounced the pits would be opened
by the Government tomorrow morn
ing, and that every miner will be
expected TO be at his post of duty"
at that time.
374,000 Miners Walk Out.
Yesterdays general walkout af.
fected an estimated 374 1000 bitumin-
GUS miners. while anthracite workers
were having traditional All Saints
Day holiday. A survey in Pennsvl-
vania today indicated that only
about $50 of that States 10000 hard
coal diggerS were back on duty.
AS the UMW's Policy Committee
reconvened here, there was scant
comment for publication in the coal
areas. In Alabama where this latest
stOppage had its inception over lack
OF working contract, both operator
and union Spokesmen declined TO
speculate on what tomorroW'S devel-
opmentS would be.
In Illinois some operators forecast
a general resumption of work, and
the Progressive Mine Workers of
A y,oa
members joined yesterdays stop
page. announced its membership
would be on the job tomorrow morn
ing.
West Virginia mine officials did
not look for any rapid resumption
of work. In that State. spokes-
man for one worker group said,
This is the showdown, and this
time we want wage increase, We
want our back pay and we want a
contract but another groups
spokesman asserted. I'VE shouldn't
have quit work in the first place.
The war effort should come first"
Some coal being mined at scattered
small workings. some of thcrl non
union, and maintenance crews we're
being generally maintained.
Fortas at Conference.
1t was indicated that Mr.. Ickes
would place the task OF running the
mines with his Solid Fuel Admins
tration. instead of attempting TO Ie-
organize the special setup perfected
for this job with the first seizure
last summer.
Former UnderSecretary of Interior
Abe Forta.S, recently iuducted INTO
the Navy and now on special leave,
participated in today's conference
between Mr., Lewis and M. Ickes.
Moving swiftly at the end of day
which saw the UNIV Policy Com
mlttee making no effort to break I'D
the Walkout, President Roosevelt
last night once more directed that
the industry be taken over.
Coal must be mined" the Presi-
dent said. The enemy does not
wait. The failure to mine coal at
this critical moment is impeding the
prosecution. of the war and endan-
gering the lives of our sons and
brothers. The sons and brothers
OF the miners on the battlefelds.
IckeS Signs Seizure Order.
"The mines will be opened by the
Government on Wednesday morn
ing. Every miner will be expected
to be at his post of duty, ready to
work for his Government"
Mr.. Ickes Immediately signed an
order seizing all coal mines produc-
ing so tons or more daily where a
work stoppage has taken place or is
threatened.
The president of the various coal
companies affected by Mr.. Ickes'
order were designated as operating
managers.
In Pittsburgh, spokesman for
(See COAL, Page A-6)