The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-04-28

TiIa threats also extended 20 the
smaller anthracite industry, which
M IA the midst Of new contract me-
ROTATIONS. For The flrst time the
1atd coal contract and the extended
H|lamlnous agreement expire the
same time.
Thomas Kennedy secreatry-
treasurer Of the UNIV, said there
would be Q strike at midnight FRI
day unless . new contract is nego-
tlntrd By then or hard coal opera
InEB and miners agree on an extern
H'on Of the present contract cover
ne 5000 men.
These developments came on The
eve q the first scheduled hearing
On tae dispute BY a three-man
WEIB panel. Taylor said the panel
would 10 ahead with or without the
assistance Of the UNIV, but limited
that II current scattered strikes
continue 10 spread that the board
would suspend all consideration.
Lewis has refused 10 say whether
he viii call q general strike, but
after q meeting with his policy COM
mittee IN New York yesterday, he
said:
TITS still safe TO assume that the
mine workers viii not trespass on
mine property"
He referred to the fact that the
months extension Of the old miners
contract expires at midnight Friday
land that coal miners do not work
without O contract.
Should Lewis issue o strike call,
however, It would be unusual pro-
codure for In past contract con-
troversies there seldom has been q
formal strike call, the miners sim
ply refusing TO work the pits when
not covered by q contract. The sit
Nation this time Is somewhat diff
forent, however, In that the former
Go leader already has detled the
administration by refusing TO CO.
operate In WLB attempts TO settle
the dispute.
Lewis yesterday called upon Sec
Tetory Of Labor Frances Perkins TO
instruct bltuminous operators 10
resume negotiations for q new con-
AAAGt ksSHOtkhWAOHb oVOppVd WttVH
Madame Perkins certified the case
I'd the WLB last week, and only the
WLB could turn II back TO her.
Lewis Adamant
Taylor said the WLB has given
no consideration to Lewis demand
that the government order O re-
sumption Of negotiations In New
York. Representatives Of the oper.
ators have agreed 10 appear here,
but Lewis reiterated his determine.
ton not TO acquiesce to WLB de-
knands.
II the War Labor Board decides
20 turn the case over 10 the Presi-
dent, Mr.. Roosevelt first Is expected
10 appeal personally TO the miners
70 continue work and, as a last re-
sort, TO order troops TO the mines.
m the case Of complete deflnance by
the miners, the government has sew.
erA1 possible moves, although the
nsajur obstacle In that event is the
fnct that soldiers cannot mine coal
With bayonets.
The government can, however, Is.
cue o ''work or fight" edict with re-
MAUH4A&AS@bAOAA Ava uthAAbtkJ SSAVAGV
tho alternative II the miners fail
10 continue digging coal. But that
fails short Of the immediate OBJ
ioctive uninterrupted production Of
coal FOR war industries.
gtill another possibility Is nation
niization Of the mines-governmen
seizure and operation. Under such u
plan, miners would work for the
government.
Most government sources were OPP
4imistiC that the dispute never could
reach such stage. They were con-
fldent that Q direct appeal to the
miners by the president will bring
about q resumption Of full produc.
ton.
12,OOO Out In Alabama
Birmingham, Ala, April a.
fUp)--TWo thousand miners struck
today ct three OF the four mines Of
Tennessee coal, iron and railroad
company, largest captive mine op.
orators In the state, raising the to-
tai Of Alabama miners now on strike
10 around $4,000.
Yves Virginia Hit
Charleston, w. Va, April "a
(UP)-The wave Of Jump the-gun"
coal mine strikes spread today to
West Virginia, the nations largest
bltuminous coal producing state,
when 1900 miners Of II United Mine
workers locals In Monongalia
county refused 10 sater the pits
until q wage contract wss signed.
The action was the firss large.
scale move on the part Of the states
10000 miners to follow earlier
strjkes in three other coal pro-
dtbing states.
Truce Ends Friday
# Pittsburgh, April 2e.-tUP)-
strikes In the soft coal fields Of
western Pennsylvania neared the
general walkout stage today.
Increasing in strength with every
shift change, the strikes already in
volved approximately one-fifth Of
the districts $4,000 miners. United
Mine workers leaders predicted all
mines would be down when the so.
day truce with operators expires
Friday midnight.
Effect Of the waikouts was ex-
pccted 70 be felt shortly by district
steel mills dependent upon the
mines for coal and coke to maintain
operations near the 100 per cent
marx.
Fifty-five mines. employing H.
oOc men, already were down in the
western Pennsylvania fields. In
dications were that more miners
would Join the walkouts today.
Steel company operators Of cap
tive mines. whose output goes di-
rectly to the mills, also were hard
hit.
N THIS Bus
II "EXEcUToR A