The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-29

John L. Lewis has let 1t be
known that he would demand big
increases for both classes Of min
ers, and he plans to do this re.
.gardless Of the War Labor Boards
"little Steel" formal, by which
wage increases are limited to Is
per cent Of what workers In an
industry were paid on Jan. !, 194l.
Compared to various war time
industries, the miners unquestion.
ably deserve more money. Their
wages are low compared with the
booming pay Of shipyards and
munitions plants; also their work
Is hazardous.
However, John L. Lewis has an
other reason for demanding siz-
able wage increases. He has to
build up the prestige he lost dur
ing the anthracite strike, when
several thousands Of his own min
ers defied him and struck partly
against the collection Of larger
union dues.
This Is the first time In the
history Of the United Mine
Workers, which John L. lursed
and built up, that he has been
defied by his own men. So,
to emphasize his usefulness, ne
will now have TO come through
with large wage inCreases-prOb-
ably 81 q day for bitumlno luminous
and ~ Q day for anthracite
miners.
This is sure to cause q dead
lock with the operators. They
will not grant the increases on
the ground that they would vio-
late the war Labor Boards Little
Steev formula. .,. r.. 1885,.
A strike over these new con-
tracts would be hithly disastrous
and might paralyze WEI industry
in many parts Of the country.
However, that Is exactly the way
things are now heading ~ unless
the War Labor Board alters It's
formula and permits more than q
is per cent increase.
TO head off 50 serious a strike,
WLB may yield. II so. 1t Will
open the wage door In hundreds
of other industries.
CAPITAL CHAFF
U. s. Chamber Of Commerce
President Eric Johnston, will run
for the Senate in 1914 on the
Republican ticket against Senator
Homer Bone, Democrat. john
stem Is one of the few politically
minded men ever to sit in the
crusty throne Of the U. s. Cham
Der 4. 4. . Robert STRIPPING, $4,-
S0O-a-year secretary Of the Dies
Committee, which under, the law
now doesn't exist, is still trying
to fasten the communist" label
on government workers, who
Joined some liberal organization IN
their youth :. Spanish pressure
on Paramount will cause some
changes in the movie version OF
Henningway's best seller For
Whom the Bell Tolls. but 1t Will
probably be released to the Amer
lean public In April - despite
Franco {. The WAVES, gradua-
ally taking over more Of the
Nays paper work, are bringing
in some smart officers, among
them Lieut.. Rebecca Gross, for
mer managing editor Of the LOCK
Haven, Penn, Express, ana one
of the few women managing edi-
An,.r 49, thu OasVVafFsU
CHURCH IN NATIONAL PARKf
Secretary Ickes has Just man
aged to settle q delicate queS-
ton which dragged on for nearly
two years as to whether the CATH
Ollie church could build In Ma"
tional Park.
The issue came up when the
church asked Ickes for permis-
sion to build q chapel on the
south rim Of the Grand Canyon
National Park. Ickes replied that
/ Il was contrary to government
policy TO permit any one demon.
nation 10 build on park land, Dut
that some day when funds were
available, he hoped 70 build q
church in Grand Canyon which
could be used BY all dsmonina'
tons,
Iekss thought this ended the
matter; - was surprises e sina
during an absence fFem wash
fnRten that his umaeFe1egelayy,
Sohn :. Dempsey now pgpullg
0sgaFaer q New Mckee, nel
reasoned q, Dempey haG ted
fhs nilhep e Gallup. HeH Mex
&C., tIle &eg NsTnaFd r H3pes
h1s, llai = Gelhel'e eA1rea