The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-04-27

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operators have been as resistant TO
any settlement as any rock trace
that blunted a miners pick. The
government attitude has been I'M
yielding, too, perhaps rightly so, II
freeze orders are to mean what they
say and imitation is to be prevented.
But indications pile up that this
coal crisis could have been prevent
ed. the wage question settled and
the threatened coal strike-if 1t
comes-entirely avoided but for the
clash OF temperaments, the foolish
stubbornness Of the admittedly strong
and willful men who are leaders In
all factions.
The real story of the negotiations
since April /, when 30-day extern
sion OF the old agreement was
granted so that negotiations might
continue, Is that they have not been
negotiations at all. They have been
nothing but stubborn, formal meet
ings of labor and management.
morning and afternoon, at which
the only word TO any and all pro-
posals has been mol" A thousand
times, mol"
LEWIS ASKS
FOR AN OFFER
John Lewis's original demands for
SO a day Increase have been what
all such initial demands from Or
ganized labor really are a starting
point for bargaining. Lewis has re-
peatedly told the operators to make
him an offer, after restating his Or
iginal demands and receiving the
expected MOP The inference Is that
Lewis would take less than his Or
iginal offer.
But the operators have made no
counter-proposals and have even re-
fused to discuss other points In the
proposed new agreement - points
having nothing at all TO do with the
wage question. mo" has been the
stubborn watchword and the catch
word all the way through April con-
tinuation Of the so-called negotia-
tons.
The apparent reasons for the
operators refusal TO say anything
but mo" Is that it Is their advantage
10 get the case before the National
War Labor Board where, perhaps,
they believe they can get better
bargain than in direct negotiations
with Lewis himself. Lewis, In turn,
does not want the case to get before
the WLB because he has stated
openly that he cannot get what he
considers q fair settlement there,
More stubborness.
OPERATORS QUOTE
TIE PRESIDENT
Lewis and WLB Chairman VIII
liam H. Davis have no love for each
other and that goes back TO the
captive mine dispute OF two years
ago. Davis has taken the position
that Lewis should be treated the
same as anyone else In labor dis
pute. But the government, through
the Presidents March 22nd telegram
TO Lewis and the operators has pro-
ceeded to treat Lewis differently,
and the operators have used the
Presidents telegram as their excuse
to refuse to negotiate with Lewis.
An important factor In the nego-
tiations this year Is the presence OF
U. s. Steel representatives in the
negotiations. Charles l.. ONeill Is
spokesman for the northern opera
tors but U. s. Steel men. represent
ing their captive mine interests In
these general negotiations. have stiff
fened the opposition OF the opera
tors against making any settlement
with Lewis. This Is an old feud, too.
Lewis has blasted at U. s. Steel
war profits and has won concessions
for his union from the operators OF
Big Steers Captive mines. This adds
10 the stubhornness and interiors
with any possible settlement.
The question Is can the public in
terest In wartime. put up with the
threat OF a coal tie-up, Just because
the principals In this three-sided
labor ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS dis
pute are all strong and willful men
VINO persist In their stubborness.
The coal crisis can be settled-but
not by everyone's merely saying
mo" to oil others proposals.