Evening star., 1946-12-18
Plan
Talk Tomorrow
On Lewis ParIey
Release Of Mines
To Be Discussed
In New Contract
By james Y. Newton

Soft coal operators will meet
here tomorrow to consider open
ing negotiations with John L.
Lewis for a new contract that
would allow the Government to
release the mines seized last
May, it was learned today.
The operators are very secretive
about their meeting, possibly be-
cause they do not wish to tip of
Mr.. Lewis as to their plan. Ezra
Van Horn. chairman of the Owners
Negotiating Committee, even denied
knowledge of the conference.
Industry spokesmen said the oper-
Tators are sharply divided as to
whether they should propose me-
gotiations with the United Mine
Workers with a majority apparently
in favor of the move.
Southerners Favor Delay.
Southern mine owners, 1t is url-
derstood. believe they should wait
either for Mr. Lewis or the Gov
ernment to suggest a wage confer
ence.
The Interior Departments Coal
Mines Administration will stick by
its position which led Mr.. Lewis to
cancel" his Federal contract and
bring on the recent strike-that any
new contract talks should be held
with the private operators and not
with the Government.
Mr.. Lewis, in his letter ending the
strike, said he was ready to nego-
tiate either with the Government
or the operators. Northern and Mid
western coal interests, arguing for
an early beginning of contract talks,
hold that Mr.. Lewis in the letter
actually invited the owners to meet
with him.
Krug Seeks Court Ruling.
Secretary of Interior Krug, it is
understood, will give every en-
couragement to early resumption of
industry miner contract talks. He
does not believe, however, that any
action should be taken that might
lead to postponement of the Su-
preme Courts consideration of the
contempt convictions and fines OF
Mr.. Lewissand his union. The court
will hear arguments of the case re-
sulting from the strike on Janu-
ary IA.
While Mr.. Van Horn denied
knowledge of the meeting tomorrow,
it was determined beyond doubt
from other sources that it is sched-
uled to be held. -.
Mines Seized Last May.
/ The Government seized the soft
coal mines last May % after nego-
tiations between the operators and
Mr.. Lewis broke down during the
spring strike Seven days later,
Mr.. Krug and Mr.. Lewis signed the
contract for Federal operation, end
ing the 59-day walkout.
| Since then Mr.. Krug has made
repeated efforts to bring about
agreement in the industry so he
could release the mines. Brief nego-
tiations were held early in Septem-
ber, at which time most of the
operators except those in the South,
who represent about IS per cent of
the national production, were de-
scribed as agreeable to accept the
Krug-Lewis agreement. The United
Mine Workers, however, later re-
fused to contract separately with
part of the industry.
Then, on october 81, came Mr..
Lewis sudden To-day notice to Sec
retary Krug that he was reopening
the Government contract. On No
vember Is the union boss notified
Mr.. Krug that he was terminating"
the contract as of midnight No
vember 90, The Government held
Mr.. Lewis could not end the agree
ment and obtained court order
designed to head off the strike which
(See COAL, Page A-6.)