The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-11-19

flat decision on surrender CT dee fianee--an attempt to have the court order dissolved before the deadline for the walkout
 If Lewis simply ignored the court order, he would face the threat M contempt of court action or prose- cution under the Smith-Connally Anti-Srtkie Law.
 Miners Can Ignore Edict
 But regardless of any action that Lewis took. there was no assurance that the soft coal industry could not be closed by a walkout of his 400. 900 soft coal miners. Individual miners can stay away from the pits without risking court action
 More than 33.0O0 bituminous min- CTS left their jobs yeSterday-three days ahead of time-as the initial response to the Governments chal- lenge to Lewis. The walkouts were i reported from Pennsylvania, West Virginia. Kentucky, Indiana. Vir- ginia, Ohio, Alabama and Illinaas.
 The Government prepared for the worst by ordering 25 percent cut in coal-burnlng passenger train service effective next Monday. It indicated that parcel post, ordinary train mail and less essential freight would be curtailed if a full-scale shutdown developed.
 Even as the waIkouts got under way. Attorney General Tom c. Clark went before U. S. District Judge T. Alan GoldSborough here and obtained the temporary re- straining order. He acted with the knowledge and support of President Truman, who kept in close touch with the coal developments from his vacation retreat at Key Wests Fla.
 Union Permitted Hearing
 Goldsboroug hs order required Lewis to cancel his order terminat- ing the UNIV. contract with the Government at midnight tomorrow. IL also ordered the union to cozn- ply with the contract and to re- fratn from action instigating a strike or showdown in the mines.
 If Lewis failed to obey the order 10 withdraw the termination no- tiee, he would be subject to what ever penalties Golsborough set for contempt of court.
 The law permits the union to de- mand & hearing on the GoldSb0r- ough order on two days notice. The two-day condition would have re- quired that the notice be filed yes- terday to relieve Lewis Of the re- sponsibility of withdrawing the termination notice. It was under stood, however, that the Justice Department was willing to waive the two-day requirement if the union wanted a hearing.
 Goldsborough set Nov. 2T for & hearing on the Government petition for a permanent injunction.
 Traditional Course Expected
 Nothing in Goldsborough's order or in the Smith-C -Connally Act pre- vented individual miners from stay- ing away from work. Their past record suggested that most or all mines would be closed Thursday whatever action Lewis took.
 Lewis served the contract termi- nation notice last Friday on Secre- tary Of Interior J. A. krug after rejecting Krug's plan for union ne- gotiations with mine owners. Krug and Lewis negotiated the present Government wage contract last May after the Government seized the mines to keep coal moving to vital industries.
 Goldsborough's order and tae Governments petition for 1t admit ted that the UM.W. does not Aeall" strikes. Both recognized that ik was the traditional practice oe laae miners not to work without . c0n- tract. The Government petition said the notice was sin fact ans in effect call to etriha