Evening star., 1943-05-16
Lewis Jeopardizes
UNIV Pay Demands,
Clio Board Charges
WLB Urged to Grant
Equitable Adjustments
To Coal Miners
Sythe Associated Press,

To Coal Miners
Blythe Associated Press.
CLEVELAND, May 15.-The C1O
Executive Board today urged "equi-
table wage adjustments for the
United Mine Workers, and then as
serted their president, John L.
Lewis, jeopardized their "just de-
mands" by exploiting the injustices
in the mining industry in further
ance of his personal and political
vendetta against the President of
the United States, our Commander
in Chief"
The actions were contained in two
resolutions adopted unanimously at
closing sessions Of the boards spe-
cial wartime policy meeting.
THE C1O must condemn the ac-
tions of John L. Lewis and any
others who reject established pro-
cedure for equitable adjustments Of
labor's true grievances" the C1O
leaders declared.
Attacks on WLB Assailed.
This man has consistently
schemed to undermine duly estab-
ished wartime agencies which have
sought in this emergency to substi-
tute conciliation for strikes and
lockouts. This is particularly true
in his attacks on the War Labor
Board which was established through
the unanimous consent of labor, in
cluding Mr.. Lewis. He has done
this in public utterances and more
viciously through his personally di-
rected publication which has car
ried repeated and wholly unwar-
ranted attacks on spokesmen for the
CIO who are Loyalty supporting
both our Government and our La
Dor movement.
fHe has jeopardized the just de-
mands of the United Mine Workers
Of America by exploiting the in
justices in the mining industry in
f,ftherance of his personal and
political vendetta against the Presi-
daat of the United States, our
Commander in Chief. He persists in
these activities although he must
know that they endanger the very
existence of our Nation and the
lives of the millions of Americans on
the front, including many thousands
in the armed service from the coal
mines ."
Eisenhower Congratulated.
The attack on the former CIO
president came a few hours after
the board asked the National War
Labor Board to grant equitable
wage adjustment" to the miners.
The Executive Board concluded
Its. special policy meeting after ap-
proving letter from Go President
Philip Murray to Gen. Dwight D.
Eisenhower. expressing congratu-
lations on the African victory and
approving a telegram sent Thurs
day by CIO officials asking Congress
to defeat the pending Connally anti
strike bill.
Nr. Murray told press confer
ence "it was the considered judg-
ment of these conferees that the
mine workers are entitled to better
treatment than has been accorded
them. We don't think the leader
ship of John L. Lewis has helped
their case.
I'VE express the hope and belief
that If the mine workers case is
taken up through the proper chan
nels as provided by the Government,
sthat concessions of a substantial
nature can be won."
Hopes Pinned on Byrnes Order.
, Mr.. Murray said board members
and approximately 200 delegates
from State and city councils gave
all their attention yesterday to the
April directive of President Roose-
welt, which has come to be re-
garded as freezing of inequalities"
He added:
However. the alternative order
of Justice Byrnes (Stabilization Di-
rector James M. Byrnes> we hope
will pave the way for clarifcation
of inequities and make possible in
creaseS where needed, reclassifica-
tions, correction of standards,
etc."
A statement of policy re-adopted
by the board yesterday was de-
scribed by Mr.. Murray as providing
the machinery through which in
ternational unions, State and city
industrial union council and local
unions can prosecute the roll-back
in prices to September Is, l942,
levels, and other stabilizing meas
ures."
The policy statement reiterated
the CLOS no-strike pledge, and de-
manded price roll-back to the date
wage stabilization became effective,
and also asked a $25,000 salary limi-
ia tion, defeat of the Ruml income
tax plan and enactment of "equit-
able and just tax measures, and sub
stitution of joint labor
committees for the war manpower
commissions job-freezing directive.
In the resolution asking wage ad-
tustments for coal miners, the CIO
executives declared the WLB must
not repeat its unfortunate errors
Of packinghouse workers and the
West Coast airplane workers cases
where inst and eollitah1e claims foY.