The Daily Alaska empire., 1946-11-21
WALk0UT OF MIN FRS IS
 COMPLETE
Lewis 10 Be Tax en Into Court on Contempt
 Charge

w oNt NON. 1i.-- WILL ! the soft coal shutdown virtually complete and spreading to anthra- cite fields, the government today prepared to bring John L. Lewis in- to court on contempt charge. Justice Department attorneys drew up the necessary papers and officials said they will be present. . cd to Federal Judge T. Alan Colds , borough this afternoon" Assistant Attorney General John Sonnett arrived at the District Court shortly after 3:l5 D. m. and promptly entered the Chambers of Judge Goldborough
 Judge Goldborough. who enjoin- ed Lewis from permitting coal mine walkout last Monday--an in- junction which Lewis disregardcd had adjourned his court several hours earlier.
 The governments petition could be acted on in the chambers. how ever.
 Lewis. who disregarded court order to restore the effectiveness of the miners contract with the government, continued silent. The United n4.ne Worker boss was at his home in suburban Alex andria. Va. and as the day passed there was no indication that he planned to come Into his Washing- ton union headquarters. There were indications there that Lewis may have made arrangements for an ex- tended absence from his office It was known that he spent much of yesterday answering mail and otherwise clearing his desk of pend ing business.
 To Cushion Famine
 Orders went out to cushion the impact of prospective coal fam inc.
 Federal Works Administrator Philip B. Fleming ordered return to wartime heating and lighting strictures in all Federal buildings throughout the country which de- pend on coal.
 Fleming said he will seek to re- duce temperatures to the wartime level of 68 degrees. The order af- fleets approximately 300 buildings in the capital alone.
 The Civilian Production Adminis- tration prepared a directive design ed to help ration artificial gas, pro- duced from coal. The same agency pondered an electricity conserya- ton order
 All-Out Action In all-out action, the Adninistra- ton was reported also preparing to seek punishment for any local un- ion leaders or others who are found to be encouraging a strike. Evidence is being collected with view 10 prosecuting under the SmithConnally Act anyone, from Lewis on down, whom the govern ment may contend Is encouraging a strike. The Smith -Connally law forbids encouraging or melting a strike in government operated mine or plant. Conviction carries a penalty of S5,o00 fine or a year in jail
 Study is being given to the pos . siLility of freezing the United Mine Workers si3.5o0,0o0 union fund. and this will be done if way can be found around legal technicalities.
 In the mounting erisiss U. s troops stood ready to move into the ccal fields to prevent violence but not to mine coal. Unit com manders were alerted. Government officials also kept an anxious ear to the ground for any manifestations of general up- heaval by labor The AFL with it's 7,l50.000 union members and the CIO with its 6.00o000 had al- ready thrown their moral support behind the UNIV chief
 The walkouts spread into the an- thracite field of Pennsylvania. with 7,500 employees of eight large mines quitting work The hard coal in- dustry employs 8o.oo0 miners. who are under a contract separate from the bituminous one.
 The situation in the fields was generally calm. Miners simply fail ed to show up at the pits. The Stars and Stripes--symbol of government management of the mines-still waved over mine prop critics deserted by grimy-faced coal diggers who chose not to heed the governments plea that they re- main at work