The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-11-18


 companies in the district had from seven to IS days supply of coal on hand. A steel spokesman said the mills had not been able to build Up normal stockpiles since the 5e- day coal shutdown last Spring.
 Spokesmen for the auto industry said q coal strike and the resultant loss in steel production would have an immediate effect on auto pro- duction. c. Y. Wilson, president of General Motors. said the entire inc dustry would have to shut down within . short time in event of a coal strike.
 The first answer to Krugs plea to the miners may come in pre- mature walkouts today. But the Government was prepared for inc itial sethacks and was ready to car- " the fight to Lewis unless he re. treated.
 One oficial said the Administra- ton was determined to stand on this position: Lewis must take his new contract demands to the mine owners. The Government wants q private agreement negotiated SO it can turn the mines back to the owners soon after the first of the year.
 Tactics Failed Before
 To combat the serious threat of a complete shutdown Thursday, Krug ordered this notice posted at the 5000 soft coal mines seized last May:
 This mine Is in Government possession and will remain open. Your contract with the Government remains effective. as it very plainly says. for the period of Government possession The Government and all the people of the country expect the miners 70 honor their contract and to mine the coal which the nation needs"
 Among Government officials. there was no evidence of optimism that the miners would heed the nos tice. The late President Roosevelt tried similar tactics in iols, but the miners never returned to work without signal from Lewis.
 Krug's notice went out with let- ter from Navy Capt. N. II. Collisson. Federal coal administrator. saying the mines would remain open for each normal work day on and after No. 20 and that employment would be available to all employees during usual operating hours.
 Clark Devises Legal Attack
 Attorney General Tom Clark and his top aides held an unusual Sun. day session yesterday to discuss pos- sible legal steps in case of . strike.
 The government would have no legal weapon against individual miners who merely remained at home. Pickets, however, would risk prosecution under the 9mith-Co nally law, which prohibits encour- aging or instigating work stoppages In 0overnment-selzed properties,
 If prosecution should be- directed at Lewis himself, the Government would have to prove that he had no eontractual right to serve the term. nation notice and that lt was the cause of a walkout
 One informed ofiieial said. prose- cuti0ns under the smith Connally Act were . probability"
 I've Views Taken
 Differences were reported among Government ofiicials over the ad- visibility of fighting Lewis now and among Government attorneys over the defensibllity of his position on the contract.
 4 pFepondeFanee Of Justice De- pAFtment opinion was said to hold that the Government would have. q case for prosecution under the emith-C Connally Act. Attorney Gen. eral Clark was believed to side with that view.
 Ofncials who questioned the ad. visibility of fighting Lewis now cited two possible objections. One was the fear that unstable labor re. lations in the coal industry would slow industrial production At . time that the nation could ill-Af. ford the loss. The second objection was that the fight might have con, gresslonal or other geporuuseiona that would damage not only Lewis but the entire labor movement.