Evening star., 1943-06-06
Lewis Attitude
Spurs Move for
Anti-Strike Bill
June 20 Time Limit
On Miners Truce
Irks U. S. Officials
BY the Associated Press.

cs tiie AooOSldtSu fItSS.
John L. Lewis disclosed yester-
terday that the coal miners
back-to-work order holds good
for only two weeks. and there
were reports the White House
had thrown its influence behind
legislation which would allow i'm
prisonment of persons instigat-
ing strikes.
The explosive expires in-two-
weeks Housekeeping the threat
of wartime stoppage in coal pro-
duction hanging over the Nation
was made known when the United
Mine Workers announced the text
OF a telegram ordering the 100000
strikers back to their jobs.
This said the UNIV Policy Com
mittee had approved "a return to
work on Monday, June 7, up to and
including June 20"
Raises Two Questions.
The development, making clear
that Mr.. Lewis had not surrendered
in his battle with the Government
and its agencies, Immediately posed
the questions:
l. Whether President Roosevelt
would recognize such limited order
as compliance with his directive that
the miners end their strike and "ful-
f11 NOV I,,tioc
2. Whether the War Labor Board,
in view of the deadline, would agree
to a resumption of negotiations be-
tween the union and the mine
owners even after coal production
is restored.
Meanwhile, vital steel production
felt the effects of the coal strike
yesterday as the Carnegie-Illinois
Steel Corp, Pittsburgh, reported
II of it's blast furnaces had been
closed down because of a lack of
hive coke-the source of which
was closed by the miners walkout.
This shutdown brought to 13 the
number of blast furnaces forced out
of production. One also was closed
by the Republic Steel Corp. at Birm-
ingham. Ala, and another by the
Shenango Furnace Co. at Sharps-
vile, Pa.
Want Anti Strike Law.
The reports that the White House
is backing anti-strike legislation,
coming from authoritative, but un-
quotable sources, said War Mo-
bilization Director James F. Byrnes
had urged Congressional leaders to
speed final passage of the Connally-
Smith bill, which has passed both
the House and Senate in different
forms.
Mr.. Byrnes was represented as
indicating that several major pro-
visions of the bill as 1t passed the
House Friday would be acceptable
to the administration. His interest
in obtaining quick enactment was
said to stem from a desire TO clothe
the War Labor Board with addi-
tional authority to deal with the
coal wage dispute.
AS approved by the House, the
measure would give the board stat
utory power to decide this dispute.
In the course of its deliberations it
could force the attendance of Mr..
Lewis and other union leaders by
subpoena. Throughout the coal
dispute, Mr.. Lewis has refused to
acknowledge the boards jurisdic-
tion..
Severe Penalties Provided.
The bill also would make it un-
lawful to induce any person to strike
or aid in a strike which interrupts
production of a Government-oper
ated mine or plant, with penalties
for violation of up to $4,000 fine and
years imprisonment. The coal
mines were taken over by the Gov
ernment May l.
Although ne said he had received
no word of the Administra tons at
titude toward the bill which the
House passed, Chairman Connally
Of Senate conferees, who met with
the House group yesterday, said he
had no doubt that speedy action can
be obtained on the measure.
THE general objectives of the
House and Senate are the same, and
I am sure the conferees will agree
lSee COAL. Page A-lQl