Evening star., 1946-05-05
Lewis Prepared to Fight
To End for Mine Reforms
Believes Time Is Ripe to Improve Living and
Working Conditions While Industry Is in
Good Condition Financially
By James Y. Newfon

miners and he is determined to fight
it out to victory now regardless of the
cost OF the strike to the union or the
Nation generally.
At least that is the way he felt about
the soft coal contract battle few days
ago according to those close to the
struggle. 1t is not likely that he has
changed the objective since.
Mr.. Lewis, &C and none too robust in
health, believes ne may be waging his
last big battle for the mine workers.
final crusade. He knows that he is
better general than any of those likely
to follow him as head of the United
Mine Workers, that he has a better
chance of winning
He would like miners health and
welfare fund as a sort of monument to
him after he is gone On the safety
issue, he would like history to say that
he was the man most responsible for
making the mines a better place to
work
Coal Industry Prosperous.
Economically, the time is ripe for the
strike. The coal industry is in better
financial condition than it has been
for generation. Money making war
years are past, but the demand for coal
is huge and likely will continue to be so
for several years.
Mr.. Lewis feels that if he lets this
opportunity to win economic protec-
ton" for his men slide by, it may be
lost forever Most of the experts be-
lieve the industry will return to the
economic doldrums from which it was
rescued by war as soon as the present
boom is over
Mr.. Lewis has won fat increases for
the miners in past years which have
raised their general level of wages to a
point at least equal to the pay in our
other big industries
The health. welfare and safety sides
of mine life largely have been neglected
by him. He has been chided by labor,
notably by enemies in the CIO he
formed, about the deplorable living con-
ditions in the coal fields He felt it was
past time to do something about it.
Question Lewis Objective.
The coal operators say that Mr. Lewis
objective is to become dictator" with
unprecedented power. The welfare fund,
provided it we're raised by levying 10
cent per ton royalty on coal, would give
him, they say, "slush fund" of from
$4,000, 900 to s60,oO0,0oo a year to sup
port his ambitions
Even top flight Federal officials sus-
pect that the miners leader is mott
vated in the present fight more by per-
sonal ambitions than any sincere desire
to better the lot of the workers.
This may be caused by the fact that
Mr.. Lewis, publicly at least, has neither
specified this year as to just how the
fund should be raised by the operators
nor outlined the way the union would
expend the fund. He has held back
presumably for strategic reasons of ne
gotiation. But, it would seem the time
has arrived for him to do some Clarity
ing.
1t may we'll have been as his oppo.
nents said that in his younger days MIR
Lewis had visions of being the ''czar" of
American labor with all the political
power that would go with the position.
1t may have been true in the days when
he was riding high, wide and handsome
at the helm of the young and vigorous
CIO.
Believed Sincere in Aims.
But, it would seem rather late in life
for him to launch new campaign for
great personal power. Despite the OBJ
scurity of his aims, he is believed to be
sincere in the present fight; that he
really wants to make life easier to bear
for the unfortunates of his union
There would seem to be little doubt
about the ruthlessness of Mr.. Lewis
approach from the public standpoint to
his welfare and safety objectives. He is
said to have told Federal officials that
the public does not understand the
plight of the mine workers; that he
realizes he does not have public support
and is not concerned about it.
Despite such alleged statements, Mr..
Lewis has held support of consider
able number of people. even those not
generally in sympathy with organized
labor, which he would not have enjoyed
in strictly wage fight.
The effects of the five-week coal
shortage now are being brought home to
every one. One aspect of it which may
be most serious of all in the long term
effect on the country is the loss of job
opportunities as result of the spread
ing shutdown of industry and business.
Jobs are vanishing at time when hun
dreds of thousands of newly discharged
veterans are seeking employment
Reforms Are Needed.
1t would be difficult to justify on
any grounds the creation of the crisis
the Nation faces today because of fuel
shortage. But let's look at the merits
of Mr.. Lewis charges and demands.
A recent survey of the coal fields of
West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia
disclosed deplorable conditions. Re-
forms were found needed in welfare,
health, housing and safety conditions.
These are the issues which have pro-
longed the strike, with the health and
welfare issues conceded to be the tough
est ones to settle.
Much truth in Mr.. Lewis charges
was found despite exaggeration and one
sidedness. Joint responsibility must be
assumed by both miners and operators
for some of the situations needing cor
rection. especially in the fields of safety
and housing.
To take up the major strike issue
first there seemed defpite oeod for