The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-05-01
Production Stops at Mid.
night; Disputes Cert.
fed to WLB
SHOWDOWN BETWEEN
LEWIS, FDR AT HAND
Miners May Be Asked IL
Return to Pits as Gov,
eminent Employees
BY LYLE C. WILSON


United Press Staff Correspondent
Washington, May 1.-(UP)
- The 10 a. m. deadline in
President Roosevelt's ultima.
tum to John l.. Lewis passed
today with approximately
100000 bituminous and go.
900 hard coal miners defi-
nitely on strike. President
Roosevelt was expected
shortly to exercise his powers
as commander In chief OF the
armed forces ITO prevent further
interference with the successful
prosecution OF the war;"
A presidential order for military
seizure Of the mines appeared prob
able.
His wartime powers were believed
to be ample for that action. Al
most inevitably II would requira
the use OF troops. But troops can
net mine coal.
The question was whether Mr..
Roosevelt can persuade or ccnreo
tho miners TO dig coal II John l.,
Lewis, miners chicftain, refuses to
order them back TO the pits
Soft coal production practically
stopped last midnight with expira-
ton OF the contract covering 450,00L
OF Lewis men. The contract for em-
ploymcnt Of his 10000 anthracite
miners likewise expired. Both dis
putes have been certified 10 the War
Labor Board
Lewis challenged labor board jur~
iSdiction. A long avoided showdown
between the PRESIDENT of the United
States and the president OF the
United Mine Workers Is Mt hand.
Primarily Gt issue Is n $2-a-day
wage increase sought by Lewis for
the miners. But there Is more at
stake, including Lewis future status
in the hierarchy OF organize dlabor
and Mr., Roosevelt's ability to meet
Lewis in q labor dispute-and de-
feat him for once.
Production Demanded
Lewis went 10 bed in New York
last night an hour before the con-
tract expiration. Ee had stated re-
IIatedly that without Il contract the
miners would not trespass on COM
pany property, Mr., Roosevelt replied
that production must continue.
Some $4,000 Luminous coal min
ers were idle this week before the
midnight deadlinc. Prs-dawn re-
ports from the bituminious fields re-.
ported the vital wartime industry
idling TO dead stop today.
Returning from his visit 10 Mexico
Roosevelt went over Lewis head 10
appeal to the miners. He gave Their
until 10 a. m, EWT today to re.
sumo production. And II they fajleC
to meet his deadline, he promised
II shall use the power vested Il
me rs president and commander Il
chief OF the army and navy to pro.
tect the national Interest and I,
prevent further interference with
the successful prosecution OF thi
war.
II Mr.. Roosel o. decides 10 "a
tionallDr the mines, he probably
then will appeal to the miners u
return to work as employees OF The
United States government Thr
viii come the real test between tGS
influence OF Lewis and Mr.. Roo
welt over the mncrG,
First reports Of strike detai
troops came from Birmingham, Ala.
where al undisclosed number rollec
into the city In trucks. The vas
bituminous coal fields lie principal
ly In the Appalachian area.
The pit towns lie In the valley
from the New York Pennsylvani,
border southwark TO central Ala
bama. But there is soft coal In II,
linois and Indiana, too, and som,
production In Kansas, Iowa, Mi
souri,. Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tsxai
and the Rocky mountain states sut
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