The Wilmington morning star., 1946-11-18
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FROM PAGE ONE

Somewhere, sometime, the ad-
ministration must find out who is
more powerful - Lewis or the
government. This looks like the
time"
twas evident that the admins
tration was taking a tougher posi-
ton toward Lewis than it had done
at any time since May, 1913. Lewis
was stopped temporarily then -
at a price Of a series OF brief coal
strikes - but six months later he
emerged with what looked like a
victory.
1t is known that the government
is considering possible court action
against Lewis if a work stoppage
develops at midnight Wednesday,
the time set by Lewis for the
unions contract with the govern
ment to expire.
Such action might come in a civil
suit to settle a dispute over inter
pretations of the contract or in
prosecution for alleged violation
of the Smith-C onnally Labor Dis
putes act.
Krug has insisted that Lewis
could not terminate " force a re-
opening of the wage contract which
they signed last May %. Lewis has
insisted that it could be.
BY going over Lewis head to
the miners Sunday night, Krug in
effect was asking the miners to
repudiate Lewis leadership.
A notice over Krug,s signature
went out to all mine operators, who
serve as government managers OF
the seized mines, with instructions
that they be posted at the mines.
Under the caption. Notice To
ALI Members of United Mine Work
ers of America" the placard said:
This NINE is in government pos
session and will remain open. Your
contract with the government re-
mains effective, as it very plainly
says, for the period of government
possession The government and
all of the people of the country
expect the miners to honor their
contract and to mine the coal which
the nation needs"
Krug's action added to the mass
of evidence that the administration
is determined to challenge Lewis to
a showdown fight, possibly carry
ing the dispute to the courts.
Along with the Krug notice to
be posted at the mines, Navy Capt.
N. H. COLLISION, federal coal ad
ministrator, sent mine operators
a letter asserting that the govern
ment 'has faithfully lived up to"
its contract and would continue to
do so.
He cited a formal opinion Of U.
S. Attorney General Tom Clark
saying -that--the contract could not
be terminated or modified except
by mutual consent or by a petition
to the Wage Sterilization board.
1.-The agreement is in full force
and effect and the government pro-
poses to carry out its obligations
under said agreement and to ope-
rate the mines in government pos
session in accordance with Execu-
tive Order No. 9728 president Tru-
mans seizure order) and the pro.
visions of said agreement"
He told the operators that the
mines Twill be open for operation
on each normal work day on ano
after November 20, 1916, and that
employment will be made avail.
able to all employees during usua.
operating hours"
In a statement explaining Krug':
announcement, the Interior depart.
ment quoted him as saying that
Lewis notice "purporting" to ter
inmate the contract was based or
a "misinterpretation" OF the agree.
ment.
Krugs move came a few hours
after the departure of President
Truman, who last Friday gave hi:
full support to Krug's method Of
handling the case. 1t was under.
stood that Reconversion Director
John R. Steelman may join the
President at his holiday retrea1
about Wednesday, the day before
the anticipated mine shutdown. .