Evening star., 1946-11-28
Owners Willing
To Meet Lewis
|0n Contract
| Ruling Due Tomorrow
| On PIeo for Dismissal
| Of Contempt Case
By Jones 7. Newton

very happy" to start new con-
tract negotiations with John L.
Lewis that would end the eight
day Nationwide strike and the
mine union chiefs finish fight
with the Government, Edward R.
Burke, head of the Southern
Coal Producers Association, told
The Star today.
Mr.. .Burkes remarks, considered
and hopeful of a way
out of the coal crisis since they
came from the conservative wing
Of mine owners, were read as Mr..
Lewis appeared to be losing his
fight in District Court against
contempt citation as well as his bat
tie to prevent the Government
from obtaining an Injunction
against the strike.
1t was the first official statement
from the operators on possibilities
Of settling the Nations coal trou-
bles and it came as reports con-
tinued Of exchanges of compromise
plans between Mr.. Lewis and coal
interests.
Men Would Return.
MIR. Burke's plan for ending the
conflict follows:
The miners would return to work
under terms of the Government
contract tKrug-Lewis agreement)
while negotiations are in progress.
Talks would be resumed right
where they were" when negotia-
tions with the operators broke down
last May, just before Government
seizure of the pits.
When the wage talks start, for
the purpose of negotiation the
Krug-Lewis agreement would be
forgotten" The operators and
Mr.. Lewis would then proceed to
negotiate an entirely new agree
ment.
mo one can say what the terms
of such new contract would be or
whether we could even make one"
Mr.. Burke said. However, we are
willing to forget all about the re-
cent difficulties. We think the
miners are entitled to the best of
treatment and we are even willing
to talk with them about a shorter
workweek.
Trial Recessed Today.
Before the talks begged down last
spring, the operators offered Mr..
Lewis an 1874 cents per hour wage
increase. among other things.
The trial of Mr.. Lewis was in q
Thanksgiving Day recess.
1t will be resumed at 10 am. to-
morrow and Justice T. Alan Colds
borough is expected to rule early on
the motion of Mr.. Lewis counsel to
dismiss the proceedings on the
grounds the injunctive action is In
violation of the Norris-La Guardia
Act, which forbids issuance of in
functions by Federal courts in labor
disputes.
It was clear from remarks made
in the courtroom that things had
not gone well for Mr.. Lewis conten-
tion that he could legally disregard
Justice GoldSborough's order to
withdraw the United Mine Workers
termination" of the contract which
led to the walkout a week ago Of
400, 900 miners.
Order Extended 10 Days.
Meanwhile, Justice Goldsborough
extended his disregarded strike-re-
straining order for 10 days after q
brief verbal skirmish with MIR. Lewis
counsel. The order was extended Is
minutes before it was due to expire
at 3 pm. yesterday.
The court said Mr.. Lewis and the
union could be found guilty of con-
tempt for disobeying the order even
If it were found that the ansi-in-
junction Norris-La Guardia Act ap-
piled and Justice Goldsborough was
without jurisdiction to issue the
order.
Joseph A. Padway and Welly K.
Hopkins, heading the Lewis coun-
sci, completed their arguments for
dismissal of the proceedings and
Assistant Attorney General John F.
Sonnett gave a rebuttal argument
just before court recessed for the
holiday.
Mr.. Lewis sat glunnly through the
whole proceedings. He appeared
''edgy," chewed on a cigar, hidden
from the court by a large hand, at
one point, and paced nervously in
front of the bench during a brief
recess. He had no word to say to
his counsel.
As photographers crowded about
his car as he was leaving for lunch,
Mr.. Lewis laShed out at a free
lance cameraman with his cane,
skinning the mans knuckles and
denting his equipment.
Court Sees anarchy"
Several remarks of the court dur
ing the hearing so far were held
significant. Justice Goldsborough
said it was anarchy" when individ-
uals gave no heed to court order.
On another occasion he said "the
court feels that your (the defense)
action in not waiting for judicial
(See COAL, Page A-5)
IN ~.