Evening star., 1946-05-11

COSTS have no truce with death. We
have nothing to lose except unem-
ployment compensation. Our women
and children are willing to fight it
out on this line if it takes all sum-
mer. We have not succumbed to the
hatred aimed at us"
There was evidence on all sides
that Mr.. Lewis truce caught the
Government completely by surprise
Representatives of operators here
were completely caught off guard
and at first there were indications
many would not reopen their mines.
A promise from President Truman
that retroactive price increases will
be granted to offset the retroactive
wage feature of Mr.. Lewis truce
order. however, carried the day. MI
Lewis instructed union locals not to
return TO work until the operators
had agreed to pay retroactively any
wage increases subsequently pro-
Vided for in new contract.
Harry NJ Moses, representative of
the captive" mines, was the first
to agree to terms of the truce. Two
hours later commercial operators
said they would comply.
Speed on Contract Urged.
In the White House conference
Mr.. Truman after discussing safety
the welfare fund and other points of
difference with Mr.. ONeill and Mr.
Lewis, tolo the disputants their
problems were not BILE
and he saw no reason why they
should not reach agreement by We'd
nesday.
Newsmen fired questions at the
two as they left the President. Mr.
Lewis bowed and waited until Mr..
ONeill said:
I'VE discussed - the President
rather, discussed with us-the eX-
treme necessity of making a con-
tract and getting coal moving and
production restored. He wanted us
to have that done in four or five
days"
Mr.. Lewis had nothing to say
when asked if the President had
requested the truce.
Secretary of Labor Schwellenbach,
who had taken part in the session,
remained behind at the White
House. Secretary of Interior Krug
who as solid fuels administrator
controls distribution of coal and
presumably would operate the mines
in event of Federal seizure, also was
at the White House.
Moses Statement.
Mr.. Moses, speaking for the mines
whose output largely goes to steel
producing companies, said shortly
after the White House meeting:
In the public interest and as a
to the Nations econ
omy. these companies will reopen
their mines for the production of
coal upon the mine workers return
to their employment"
Mr.. Moses said, however. "it must
De borne in mind that Mr.. Lewis
llth-hour proposal. does not solve
or settle the costly soft coal shut
down which he has imposed upon
the American people, because we are
completely aware of the full con-
trolls exercised by the Solid Fuels
Administration for War over all coal
produced during this short period
and are not hopeful or expectant of
any large scale opening of steel mills
or other industrial plants until this
resumption of operations is placed
on permanent basis"
Committee Statement.
The full Operators Negotiating
Committee issued the following
statement after lengthy meeting:
The Operators Negotiating Com
mlttee has recommended to all BIZ
luminous coal producers that they
with production Monday
morning in accordance with Mr.
Lewis offer to man the mines for a
tWo-week period upon a retroactive
basis: this upon the Governments
assurance that corresponding relief in
OPA prices will be given; all invoic-
ing to be upon a partial basis at
present prices, subsequent billing to
cover OPA increases.
The operators and the United
Mine Workers of America have been
asked by President Truman to work
out the details of a permanent con-
tract in the next four or five days.
This We will attempt to do.
Whether Mr.. Lewis proposal is a
sincere effort to solve the tremen-
dously important problem or is a
move to appease public opinion and
delay impending legislation the next
flve days will tell"
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