The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-05-03
% resume work until tonight.

70 resume work until tonight.
Lewis called a meeting OF the
UAfW's International policy COM
mittee for 4 p. m, EWT. in New
York to discuss resumption OF con-
tract negotiations under the truce.
The truce agreement not only
py-pasSes the labor board for the
time being but may lead to more
money for the miners. A well
informed and relatively impartial
government official said last night
that Lewis was substantially con-
tent with developments.
New contract negotiations are ex-
pected to be resumed tomorrow here
or in New York. But none could
say whether Lewis would deal di-
rectly with Ickes or again face the
mine operators. It seemed establish
ed, however, that Lewis believed he
had freed himself and his union
from Secretary of Labor Frances
Perkins certification of the coal dis
pute to the War Labor Board.
Strike Of Is Days
Lewis called off the strike for IS
days after a Sunday conference
here with Ickes. He announced the
truce last night just 20 minutes
before Mr.. Roosevelt broadcast a
warning appeal to strikers that pro-
duction must continue. The Presi-
dent delivered his address without
significant alteration and a White
House spokesman insisted he had
no previous knowledge of the 15-day
truce nor any official word from
Lewis. The latter, however insisted
tnat the truce was agreed upon in
ms conference with Ickes and that
subsequent terms were discussed
Coal will be mined no matter
what any individual thinks about
It," Mr.. Roosevelt said in his adj
dress which all but named Lewis as
an INSTRUCTOR of the war effort. He
called on patriotic miners to resume
production, promising that they and
tnelr families would be protected by
the Army.
HIS address lost some of its force
70 Lewis brief truce announcement
Lewis called the miners back to the
pits not later than Tuesday. ex-
planning that the days grace was
necessary to assure that all involv-
ca had ample notice.
Neither Lewis statement nor Mr.
HooseVeIt's address specified meth
oos oy which new anthracite and
pltuminous contracts would he me-
gotlated, nor by whom. But it was
revealed that any new terms would
De retroactive to April 1 for soft
coal miners and to May l for those
IN anthracite pits. Meantime. Ickes
VIII operate the mines under terms
OF tne old expired contracts.
The first necessity is the re-
sumption of coal mining" Mr.
roosevelt told the nation, "The
terms of the old contract will be
followed by the Secretary of In
terror. If an adjustment in wages
results from decision of the war
labor board or from any new agree
ment between the operators and
miners, which is approved by the
war labor board, the adjustment
Will be made retroactive to April l."
That language suggested that the
war LABOR BOARD would figure large
ly in reaching any new contract
decision.
But Lewis, announcing the truce
to reporters in New York, put great
emphasis upon the idea that seizure
of the mines had given the min
ers a new employer - the United
States government.
1.-The policy committee of the
United Mine Workers." he said,
agrees by unanimous vote of its
membership to restore all mines to
immediate operation, for a period
of is days beginning Tuesday, this
period to be utilized in cooperation
with the coordinator of the solid
fuels for war Qckes) and the au-
thority of the U. S. government to
work out a new contract"
Davis Ridiculed
Chairman William H. Davis of
the war labor board, who is ridi-
culed by Lewis as predatory, Park