Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-11-19
Lewis Still Silent on Court Order
Must Act By Tonight to Head off
Strike Of 100000 Coal Miners
$4,000 Workers
Already Idle in
255 Operations
By james Y. Newton

John L. Lewis still was silent
today on the question of obeying
a District Court order against a
coal strike, but Federal officials
said he must recall his contract
termination" notice by tonight
If a walkout of most of the AGO.
900 soft coal miners is to be pre-
vented.
Ohicials pointed out that a large
percentage of the miners live in re-
mote places and should Mr.. Lewis
delay compliance with the court
order until tomorrow it probably
would be too late to head of the
contract cancellation deadline set
by the mine workers for tomorrow
midnight.
Failure to abide by the restraining
order issued by Justice T. Alan
Goldsborough could land the union
chief in jail for contempt of court.
That is an eventuality that Sec
rotary of Interior Krug and other
top officials would not like to see.
They believe it would make Mr..
Lewis martyr in the eyes of his
miners and possibly the rest of
labor. 1t would make the strike
situation very difficult to handle.
6S,112 Reported Idle.
The Solid Fuels Administration
announced that 255 Government
operated mines employing 68,112
men already are idle.
The STA estimated coal lost in
production for today at AIT, 137 tons
about one-fifth of normal output
compared with 10000 tons lost due
to idleness yesterday.
The 68,112 men represent approx
imately one-flfth of the men in soft
coal mines east of the Mississippi.
These mines account for So per cent
of the Nations output.
STA said its estimate of 255 idle
mines does not include 76 mines
closed in Northwest, Virginia be-
cause of a car shortage A week ago
80 mines were idle there because of
car shortages.
President Truman, mentioning in
Key West, Fla, was in touch with
the grim situation. An aide de- |
scribed him as determined to fight
this one to finish"
Asked II troops might be sent to
the mines, Charles @. Ross, presi-
DENTAL press secretary, replied, II
don't know" Officials here, how
ever, were quick to point out that
troops could not mine coal.
Mr.. Ross said the President sis
aware Of everything that is being
done, and everything that is being
done is in accordance with his in
structions."
Mr.. Ross said Mr.. Truman in
structed Secretary Krug to obtain
the District Court order restraining
Mr.. Lewis until November q from
"coercing, instigating, inducing or
encouraging" the miners to strike
either directly or indirectly-or
otherwise to breach his contract
with the Government.
Case to Be Heard Nov. ~.
The court action is based on the
Governments contention that the
agreement Mr.. Krug signed with
the operators last May 20 is for the
full period of Federal operation of
the mines Mr.. Lewis contends that
he has the right to cancel the con-
tract on due notice, and that the
cancellation provision is carried over
from the 1915 contract with private
mine operators.
Justice Goldsborough set the case
for argument November ~. At that
time the Government will seek an
injunction to compel Mr.. Lewis to
comply with the contract.
Attorney General Clark in apply
ing for the court order cited the
famous case of Eugene v. Debs, who
led the Chicago Pullman strike in
1894 and was sent to Jail for six
months for contempt of court for
violating an antistrike injunction.
Some legal minds were uncertain
whether Mr.. Lewis could be sent to
jail If the miners quit work with
out any word or counsel from him.
Also it was a possibility that the
miners might walk out even if Mr..
Lewis retracts his Cancellation" of
the contract.
Keyed with the .swift-moving con-
troversy were these developments:
i. George T. Christopher, presi-
dent of Packard Motor Co., said in
Atlanta that a coal strike would
lSee COAL, Page A-5.)