Evening star., 1943-05-02

SHOWING tIldL 46U, ,1UU men were OUT
in mines normally employing $685.
600. In Pennsylvania the shutdown
was complete, with 117,00O bitumi-
nous miners and 81 900 in the coun-
trys only anthracite shafts idle. =
While the exodus from the pits
had been under way for several
days. it was not until midnight
Friday when the contracts in the
Appalachian bituminous fields and
the anthracite mines expired, that
the shutdown became general,
'No Trespass" Warning.
When the bituminous negotiations
broke down several days ago, Mr..
Lewis warned that the miners would
not "trespass" on the company's
property. Anthracite negotiations
still are under way, and this case
also has been referred to the War
Labor Board, but the men went out,
regardless.
The miners want a $2-a-day in
crease; pay for all time spent un-
derground, and the right to union
1ze supervisory officials. Mr.. Lewis
has refused to recognized the juris-
diction of the WLB and has in
sisted that the miners would not be
bound by the Little Steel" formula
applied by the board in adjusting
wages, inasmuch as that yardstick
would foreclose a wage increase for
his men.
The President again urged sub
mission of the issue to the War
Labor Board, In statement accom-
panying his order. adding that any
wage adjustment made would be re-
troactive to April l, the day after
the contract expired Both miners
and operators agreed to 30-day ex-
tension.
In this statement, which also an
nounced tonight's speech, the Presi-
dent told the miners that "the ma
tlonal interest is in grave peril"
1 now call upon all miners who
may have abandoned their work
TO return Immediately to the mines
and work for their Government. he
said. Their country needs their
services as much as those of the
members of the armed forces. am
confident that they do not wish to
retard the war effort; that thev are
as patriotic as any other Americans
ana that they will promptly answer
thls call to perform this essential
war service"
Repeats Pledge.
Inc statement also repeated the
pledge made by the President In
the Thursday stay-at-work ultima
tuln 10 Mr.. Lewis-that price viola
IONS lions uncovered by the current in
curry In the mine fields by the oPA
would be promptly punished"
AS Inc presidential order was
promulgated Mr.. Ickes launched his
oouole-barreled move to get the
mines back in production and save
1uel by curtailed transportation and
lighting. @'-10
He urged the passenger train re-
str1ctlons in a letter to Mr.. East
man. in which he said he under
stood the ODT was studying a pro-
gram calling for the Is per cent
cut IN mileage. Action by Mr.. East
man is expected today.
Ihe expected recommendation for
Nationwide dimout would be
made to the War Production Roard
1t was understood that Mr.. Ickes
decided to make the request yes
terday and deferred it on learning
that WPB Chairman Donald M
Nelson and Vice Chairman J. A.
krug. director of WPB's Office of
war Utilities, were both out of the
city. Action here also Is expected
today.
In his letter to Mr.. Eastman. the
coal administrator said that pend
ing resumption of normal produc-
ton, limited supplies of coal must
be conserved in every possible way,
lest we soon see the complete stop-
ping of work in many plants
throughout the country now turn
ing out munitions and essential
civilian products"
Ickes Appeals to Public.
Mr.. 1ckes also issued a general
appeal to the public to save every
pound of coal possible.
Earlier yesterday, Mr.. Ickes said
that preliminary figures indicate
the amount of bituminous coal
above ground as of April 1, was
approximately the same as on
March l, when there were 76,627 900
tons, or an average of 43 days
supply. based on the February rate
OF consumption.
An administration spokesman
said that exact figures will be an
nounced tomorrow.
He said no figures were imme-
diately. available concerning the