Evening star., 1943-04-09


tive If humanity is to survive.
Strange Moneuverinqs
A very strange state of affairs is
presented by the announcement that
DR.. John R. steelman, director OF the
United States Cancellation Service
and the Presidents personal repre-
sentative at the bituminous wage
negotiations, has declined to approve
the request Of the coal operators for
reference of their case to the War
Labor Board.
In announcing his position, DR..
steelman said: AT the risk of per-
sonal criticism I would be reluctant
to make this recommendation for
reference to the WLB) at this time,
which might lead to unfortunate cir
cumstances." It Is understood that
Dr. steelman, in this somewhat cryp-
tic statement, had reference to the
possibility of strike action by John L.
Lewis and his United Mine Workers II
direct negotiations should be aban-
doned before the end OF this month.
Without expressing any personal
criticism of DR.. Steelman, it may be
said that the position which he has
taken raises certain highly disturbing
questions.
It Is obvious that there has been
considerable behind -the-scenes ac-
tivty at these wage negotiations.
Much that has been happening has
not been spread upon the record. But
there are certain points which have
been made entirely clear.
First, the coal operators have said
that 1t is futile to continue negotia-
tions, because the miners have made
wage demands which they cannot
and will not meet.
Second, Mr.. Lewis has said with
characteristic bluntness that his de-
mand is for a wage increase Of 81
a day-that on this point he will
accept neither more nor less.
Third. he has unequivocally COM
mitted himself to the proposition
that the miners case will never be
submitted to the War Labor Board
with his consent.
Finally, it Is evident that this will
be the test case OF labor's demands
for wage increases in excess Of the
little steel formula which has been
promulgated by WLB and which the
President and his Director of Eco
nomic Sterilization, Mr.. Byrnes, have
said must be maintained In these
circumstances, what is to be gained
by continuing the so-called collective
bargaining negotiations which have
so obviously broken down?
Does Mr.. Steelman think that
by continuing fruitless discussions
throughout the rest OF the month
Mr.. Lewis would be less insistent on
his wage demands or more willing to
submit to the jurisdiction of the
Labor Board? If there is any hope of
that, why is the mine leader so stren-
uously opposed to such a step now?
The one other possibility Can ex-
tremely remote one) is that an agree
ment might be reached between the
operators and the miners, but 1t is
idle to suppose that Mr. Lewis would
accept any plan which did not give
him at least substantial part OF the
wage increase he demands. Any such
agreement would breach the little
steel formula, however, and would
have to be passed upon by the board.
But by that time the agency would
be in the difficult position of having
to choose between the destruction of
It's own formula or rejection of the
wage increase after 1t had been ac-
cepted by the miners and the opera
tors under the approving sponsorship
of the Governments conciliator. It
is not hard to picture what Mr.. Lewis
would say-and do-were the latter
alternative to be adopted.
Unless an exception is to be made
which by-passes the WLB, 1t seems
apparent that the operators are right
in saying that the "only place where
this dispute can be disposed of is
before the War Labor Board" And,
If that be the case, the sooner 1t is