Evening star., 1946-11-25

STAR, Washington, D. G.
NOVEMBER IS. Is4S.
less out OF the hands Of Attorney
General Clark and Secretary Of In
terror Krug, spearheading President
Truman's battle against Mr.. Lewis.
Truman Remains Silent.
There were additional demands
| for special session Of the lame
duck Congress to deal with the
situation. Harold L. Ickes, former
secretary Of Interior, who has dealt
with Mr.. Lewis many times in the
past, broadcast q call for prompt
Legislation that would curb the
limpudence of q dictator, such as
Lewis" He said the Government
should dismiss Its court action and
rely on Congress.
Here is the background Of the
latest coal crisis
Late last May the Government
seized the strike bound scft coal
pits. On May 20, Secretary Krug
signed a contract for Government
Operation Of the mines with Mr..
Lewis, ending q 59-day strike. The
agreement gave the miners pay
boost, welfare fund to be raised
by levy Of five cents q ton on coal,
provided improved safety measure
and recognized Mr.. Lewis right to
Organize mine foremen.
Lewis Rejected Settlement.
Subsequent efforts Of the Govern
iment to relinquish control Of the
mines by persuading the private
mine owners to take over the Krug-
Lewis agreement failed. In Septeua-
ber all but so-called Southern coal
operators agreed to contract with
the miners. But Mr.. Lewis rejected
such partial settlement, saying he
would contract only with the entire
industry.
On October 81, Mr.. Lewis charged
the Government with preaching its
contract by 'unilateral Interpretation
and demanded reopening Of contract
November l. Secretary Krug, in the
West at the time, informed Mr..
Lewis the contract was for the entire
period Of Federal possession and
could not be reopened by the miners.
However, on Mr.. Krug's orders, his
coal mines administrator, Navy
Capt. N. II. COLLISION, began talks
with Mr.. Lewis. Little was accom-
plished even after Mr.. Krug joined
the talks.
Lewis Serves Notice.
Mr.. Lewis served notice November
Is that he was terminating" the
contract at midnight November 20.
Last Monday. the Justice Depart
ment, acting for the Government,
obtained from Justice Goldsborough
an order restraining Mr.. Lewis from
going forward with the strike. Since
the miners do not work without a
contract, it was assumed the ter
mination" notice was q strike call.
Mr.. Lewis was ordered to recall his
notice and to refrain from taking
any steps that might lead to mine
shutdown.
Mr.. Lewis ignored the order and
all the miners went out Wednesday
midnight. The next day, Thursday,
Justice Goldsborough cited Mr..
Lewis and the United Mine Work.
ers as an organization for contempt
and ordered his appearance today.
Demands Cited.
Mr.. Lewis contends that the right
to reopen and terminate the Krug-
Lewis agreement on notice Is car
ried over from the 1915 contract
with private mine operators. In re-
cent talks with Mr.. Krug, he de-
manded what amounts to a SO per
cent increase in miners base pay Of
81 .18M cents an hour and 100 per
cent increase in the welfare fund
to 10 cents per ton.
Mr.. Krug contends that the pre-
amble of the Krug-Lewis agreement
which states that it covers the
period of Government operation
voids reopening provisions Of the
1915 contract.
However, Mr.. Krug was willing to
discuss contract grievances with
Mr.. Lewis and make minor changes.
However, when Mr.. Lewis made his
wage and welfare demands. he dc.
cided the issues we're SO large they
could be negotiated properly only
with the mine owners. He proposed
a 60-day strike truce for such nego-
tiations between the miners and
operators Mr.. Lewis rejected 1t
fatty and served the contract ter
mination notice.
Court Decision Is Vital.
More basic, however, than the
argument over Mr.. Lewis right to
end the contract, Is the Smith
Connally Act which forbids strikes
in any plant or mine operated by
the Government.
If the Government Is successful In
holding Mr.. Lewis for contempt, 1t
is likely that action will be taken for
violation Of the Smith Connally
Act. It carries f1ne and Jail pen
alties.
Court action, Federal of1ciaB ad-
nitted, is unlikely to provide a
means to get mines back in opera