Evening star., 1943-04-29

NCOIlJllUtu rIOlll TllSG dSC)
of War Stimson said "I have no
comment" when asked whether the
Army had any plans for moving
soldiers into the mine fields.
Connally Bill to Come Up.
Meanwhile, the Senate voted to
consider Monday bill by Senator
Connally, Democrat, of Texas au-
thorizing Government seizure of
struck mines or industrial plants
after the measures author said
Congress faces the question whether
"a dictator" in the person of UNIV
President Lewis should be permitted
to override the constitutional au-
thority of government"
The Senate acted on voice vote,
and there was a chorus OF nos,
chiefly from the Republican side,
when the motion was put. However,
Vice President wallace ruled that
the motion to make the measure
the Senates unfinished business had
been adopted.
Senator Connally previously had
sought immediate consideration OF
the bill but agreed to a delay until
Monday at the suggestion of Minor
ity Leader McNary.
Measure Left to Die Last Year.
A measure passed by the Senate
In substantially the same form last
year was left to die after Mr.. Roose-
welt obtained a "no-strike" agree
ment from labor leaders.
At the outset of the telegram, the
President briefly reviewed the his
tory of the case insofar as the ac-
ton of the War Labor Board was
concerned. The President recalled
that officials of the UNIV had ig-
nored a board invitation to appoint
a labor member to the panel investl-
eating the dispute and that the
board had then set up its own panel,
with David B. Robertson of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
and Enginemen as the labor repre-
sentative, Walter White represent
ing the operators and Morris l..
Cooke the public.
Impartiality Assured.
"The personnel of this panel" the
President said, assures an impair
tial investigation of the facts to be
used by the board in its determine
ton of the controversy, in accord
ance with the law.
The officials of the United Mine
Workers of America have ignored
the request of the board that they
present their case to the National
War Labor Board panel and like
wise have ignored the request OF the
board that the strikers be urged tc
return to their work. I am advised
that many thousands of miners are
out on strike and strikes are threat
ened at many other mines which
now are in operation.
The procedure that has been fol-
lowed in this case by the board is,
am assured, in exact accord with
that followed in all other contro-
versies of this character.
I'm view of the statements made
In kilograms to me from some men,
bers of the United Mine Workers
that OPA price regulations have
been disregarded and that the cost
of living has gone up disproportion-
ately in mining areas, 1 have dl-
rected OPA to make an immediate
investigation of the facts and where
ever a violation of the law is dis
closed by that investigation, to see
that the violators of the law are
prosecuted.
Pledge Declared Violated.
The strikes and stoppages in the
coal industry that have occurred
and are threatened are in clear vio-
lation of the no strike pledge
These are not mere strikes against
employers of this industry to en-
force collective bargaining demands
They are strikes against the United
States Government itself.
These strikes are a direct inter-
ference with the prosecution of the
war. They challenge the govern
mental machinery that has been set
up for the orderly and peaceful
settlement of all labor disputes.
They challenge the power of the
Government to carry on the war.
THE continuance and spread oi
these strikes would have the same
effect on the course of the war as
q crippling defeat in the field. y
"The production of coal must con-
tinue. Without coal our war indus
tries cannot produce tanks, guns ano
ammunition for our armed forces