Evening star., 1946-03-16
Recess in Mine Talks
Gives Operators Time
For Reply 10 Lewis
By jones Y. Newton

The National Bituminous Coal
Wage Conference was in recess to-
day following John L. Lewis four
day oratorical buildup of his United
Mine Workers new contract de-
mands which he concluded by warn
ing that the miners would not work
unless conditions in the coal fields
were improved.
Mine operators requested the re-
cess to prepare their case in answer
to the Lewis demands for higher
wages, shortened working time. un-
ionization of foremen and particu-
larly the proposal for health and
welfare" fund for the miners. Mr..
Lewis challenged the owners to an
swer point by point" his lengthy
indictment" of conditions in the
industry, built up by testimony of
a score of union officials from vari-
Gus producing areas.
The miners left little doubt as to
the seriousness of their economic pro-
lection demand this year, which they
probably will ask the operators to
support through payment Of a ''roy-
atty into the union treasury. Mr..
Lewis and the union spent most of
the past four days giving evidence
to support that demand, although
they left open the question as to
how the fund will be raised.
Operators See Fight Ahead,
Operators who had believed a new
contract could be worked out easier
than usual this time after hearing
Mr.. Lewis nine general demands on
Tuesday now have changed their
mind and are preparing for a long,
hard fight.
On Monday the operators will be-
gin presentation of their case in the
open conference sessions at the
Shoreham Hotel and, If they attempt
to answer the miners point by
point" it will take several days.
After the mine owners side of the
case has been aired publicly. the
conference will be boiled down into
a small negotiating group of seven
miner representatives and seven
operators who will hold closed ses-
SionS.
This will leave less than two weeks
to reach accord on a new contract
before April l, the date Mr.. Lewis
Is expected to terminate the present
wage agreement. He is expected to
serve notice March 27 of termina-
tlon Of the contract, which under
Its provisions would take effect five
days later. He already has served
notice that the miners would strike
IN support of their demands.
Murray Hits Back at AFL.
Meanwhile, on another part of the
labor front, CIO President Philip
Murray said an AFL charge that
the CIO was partly responsible for
bulging the price line was "a lot of
luxurious misrepresentation" He
told a news conference that mo
group of citizens in the United
States has fought more diligently
for price controls than the CIO."
Mr.. Murray talked with newsmen
after a meeting of the CIO Execu-
tive Board which adopted series of
resolutions on international affairs.
including a demand that this coun-
try break diplomatic relations with
Franco Spain Immediately
The CIO head said latest reports
showed that there are still about
$1,000 steel workers on strike against
375 fabricating companies. He said
settlements with the fabricators
were being reached gradually and
that in no instance had the CIO
signed for less than an 1872 cent
an-hour increase, basis of settle
ment of the general steel strike.
Mr.. Lewis yesterday invited the
coal operators to make the union
an offer of wages and hours and
comn1tnted: Maybe we will buy.
Caveat emptor Qet the buyer be-
ware)."
Cites Heavy Mine Toll.
The mine leader concluded his
pubNc case with an address in which
he said that American coal is
''smeared with the blood" of miners
killed and injured in mine accidents.
He gave long recitation of what
he termed the irresponsibility of the
operators regarding safety and
health of their workers, and warned
the mine workers would strike un-
less conditions were improved.
'It is my opinion, for what it is
worth, that the miners don't want
to work for you people any more
unless you remedy these conditions, -
he told the operators.
Referring to the industry's battle
against recognition of the union OF
mine supervisory workers, he said:
This is no time for ultimatums,
dictums, DEGREES or ukases."
He expressed the hope, however,
that IAN agreement can be reached
here without any loss of produc-
ton"