The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-11-26
FeeIerS Out ToCooI Ops, UnionC Chief
 OveVtures Made
 To Get Together
 Opposing Groups

Washington, Nov. 26-CUPC - An authoritative source indicated today the Govern ment was feeling out chances of promoting direct talks be- tween John L. Lewis and the coal industry to speed settle ment Of the six-day old soft coal strike
 AZ the same time, however, is was emphasized that the Admin iSTation had no intention of re- treating from its fight in the courts to force Lewis into sending a back to-work order to his 100000 striking United Mine Workers CAFI)
 Lewis must appear in Federal Court at 10 A. M. tomorrow for trial on a contempt of court charge be- cause he has refused thus far to issue such an order.
 No Retreat Expected
 Officials close to President Tru- man believed a retreat now would be an admission of defeat that would enhance Lewis power. Nevertheless. 1t was said. the Ad- mlnstration position would not rule out the possibility of some kind of compromise If the plan would send the miners back to work while Lewis negotiated his new demands with miner owners.
 One authoritative source said persons in the Government-he did al trying to foster discussions between Lewis and the mine operators. Lewis 10 days ago rejected a Gov ernment proposal for a 60-day truce while he conferred with the in- duStry.
 This source said feelers were be. Ing put out on the belief that what ever the outcome of the court fight, no coal would be produced until Lewis and thesoperators reached an agreement.
 A spokesman for the coal indus. try said he knew of no overtures to the operators wage negotiating committee, but there was evidence mat Lewis himself was involved in the oehind-the-Scenes moves.
 Talks With Banker
 On the heels of reports that he hao made most overtures to the steel industry last week, Lewis dis cuSSed the dispute privately yester. oay with Cyrus Eaton, Cleveland banker and director of the Chesa- peake & Ohio Railroad. Eaton would be interested in a settlement because the C. SS O. earns about 30 percent of its freight revenue haul ing coal. ~ --'' VA
 Neither Lewis nor Eaton would reveal anything about their rneet- ing. It was indicated, however. that Eaton also was contracting some Government officials.
 One Government official said the Governments first hope was that LeWs would retreat if and when ne loses the court battle now in progress before Federal Judge T Alan Goldsborough.
 Al a preliminary hearing yester. day, Goldsborough ordered Lewis brought to trial tomorrow on A con- tempt of court charge. The charge was made by the Government last Thursday after Lewis had failed to obey a temporary restraining order requiring him to withdraw a con- tract termination notice,
 His notice, terminating the wage agreement under which the miners worked in the Government-opera soft coal industry, led to the nation wide walkout
 Lewis sat mutely during yester- days 35-minute hearing, but UNIV. Chief Counsel Welly K. Hopkins announced the union was prepared to challenge Goldboroughs author ity to issue the restraining order. He said the union would have its arguments ready tomorrow.
 GoldSborough speculated aloud that the union would challenge the order under the Norris-LaG Guardia Act, limiting the use of injunctions in labor disputes. The Government has contended that the act does not apply to its dispute with, the UNIV.
 After deciding the contempt case, Goldsborough must rule on the Government petition for an tnjunc- tion 10 prevent the union from dominating its wage contract with the Government. The Government argues that the agreement is still in force while Lewis maintains that he had a right to terminate it.
 The Justice Department hoped that the both cases could be com- pleted in one or two days. ending not later than Friday after a Thanksgiving holiday recess. The selection of an advisory jury" in the contempt case could delay the proceedings. however.
 Witnesses expected to appear for the Government included Navy Capt. N. H. Collisson, Federal Coal Administrator, and Civilian Produc- ton Administrator John D. Small