Evening star., 1943-05-13
|ckes Declines
To Act Further
In Coal Dispute
Fuel Chief Won't Ask
Extension of Truce
Which Ends Tuesday

Solid Fuels Administrator
1ckes said today he had done all
he could in connection with the
dispute between the coal opera
tors and the United Mine Work.
ers and that the next step is
up to the Government"
He did not elaborate on what he
meant by the Government but he
made it clear that the labor issues
involved were out of his Jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, Lloyd Thrush. presi-
dent of the AFL-Progressive Mine
Workers, announced that the Gov
eminent had agreed to release from
its control all mines in Illinois hav-
ing contracts with his union.
Mr.. Ickes, who was given author
lty to operate the mines for the
Government, said he does not in
tend to ask for further extension
of time after the present 15-day
truce expires at midnight Tuesday.
Won't Ask Truce Extension.
ut was very decent of him CUMW
Chleftaln John l.. Lewis to grant
Is days" the Secretary said, and
am not going to ask for more"
Mr.. Ickes said he has "prayerful
hope that a resumption of the
strike in the coal mines can be
aVerted before the truce expires but
that he has no definite plans in the
event the miners again stay away
from work
L can't believe the miners. what
ever their grievances may be. would
do such a disservice to their coun-
| try" he added.
| Although Mr.. Lewis was rumored
to be in Washington, Mr.. Ickes said
ne had not seen him and had re-
! celVed no request for an interview.
He also reported that he had had
no contact with the War Labor
Board since May 3.
Mr.. Thrush said Fuels Admins
traitor Ickes had informed him that
orders for the release of the Illinois
mines, first to be granted since the
/ Government took over the mines
| May /, would 60 out this afternoon
! or tomorrow. This was later con-
| flrmed by Mr.. Ickes.
Released, Mr.. Thrush said, will be
l5O mines in Illinois employing l5,0 600
members of the union.
Mr.. Thrush said he and AFT,
President William Green had agreed
there would be no work stoppage
at these mines, and that the
Progressive Mine Workers would
make no attempt to raid the mem
bership of the United Mine Workers
Contract Is Extended.
Mr.. Thrush and w. C. Gill. presi-
dent OF the Coal Producers Associa-
ton of Illinois, conferred with Mr.
1ckes' deputies today on final ar
rangements for the release.
Later they said they had signed
an agreement extending the unions
contract for 80 days from April 80
Any wage adjustments agreed on
Will be retroactive to the expiration
OF the old contract, they added.
Mr.. Thrush's union also has ap-
proXimately 5000 members in
Western Kentucky mines, but these,
he said, were not affected by the
agreement for release of the Illinois
mines.
The telegram which was sent to
the mine executives asking them
to attend todays conference said
the discussion would center on
prices charged in company stores
as they affect the cost of living and
the nature of action which should
be taken Immediately to minimize
this cost
The cost of living has been one
OF the chief issues in the present
controversy and miners have COM
planned Of price ceiling violations in
company stores.
Stores Lower Prices.
Mr.. Ickes said he had received
a telegram from Robert l.. Hold
secretary y-treasurer of district 10 of
the UNIV, in which the union OFF,
clal charged that prices had been
greatly reduced in company stores
as soon as the OPA announced its
intention of investigating food prices
tsee COAL, Page Az
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