Evening star., 1946-11-08
Krug Attends heetin!
OF Cabinet as Lewis
Outlines Strategy

Interior Secretary Krug, back
from his Western trip, attended
the regular Friday cabinet meeting
today at which the soft coal situa-
ton was discussed. Mr.. Krue
avoided reporters, leaving the White
House the back way.
Secretary of War Patterson said
that the coal situation had beer
discussed "but not in detail"
Earlier, John L. Lewis, president
of the United Mine Workers. callec
to Washington the presidents oi
the 80 UNIV districts.
Next Move Is Secret.
Mr.. Lewis, shortly before the elec-
tion. formally requested reopenine
of the contract between the Gov
ernment and his union under which
the mines are being operated.
Mr.. Lewis secretly told his mex
move to his district union presi-
dents today and squared away fol
his personal showdown with Krug.
No inkling of Mr.. Lewis strategy
was permitted to leak out.
Speculation arose, however, that
a compromise might already have
been worked out. This was based on
the fact that the district presidents
who gathered in Washington late
Yesterday, would pass on any settle
ment plan.
Fear Labor Curbs.
There was also conjecture that
the fear of restrictive labor legisla-
tion by the new Republican-con-
trolled Congress which meets jan
uary 3 might sway Mr.. Lewis to-
ward quick settlement without re-
sorting to the strike weapon.
MI. Lewis is expected to meet Mr..
Krug on Monday in their first face
to-faee parley since the miners
boss exploded his new but unspeci-
fed wage demands october 81.
{ A week -end recess was called yes
terday in the conferences between
the Coal Mines Administration,
which has been running the mines
since Government seizure of the
pits during last springs 59-day
strike, and Mr.. Lewis negotiating
committee.
Gives Brea thing Spell.
The four-day layover gives Mr.
Lewis a breathing spell in which to
crystalline his strategy.
What the next step will be was
a closely guarded secret, but here
are some of the factors behind the
situation:
l. Mr.. Lewis, the coal mine owners
and the Government all profess to
be anxious to restore the pits to
private operation. Any move to
speed this would get top priority in
any settlement between the Gov
ernment and Lewis. In Mr.. Krug's
absence, it is possible that feelers
may have passed between Mr.. Lewis
and other Government representa-
tives.
2. President Truman is expected
to issue his wage policy statement
in matter of days. This Is certain
to take into account it's possible
effect on. the coal controversy
Whether it will aid or hinder efforts
to avert a tough coal strike No
vember 20, when Lewis plans to end
the current contract with the Gov
ernment.
3. Some labor leaders believe Mr.
Truman will drop all wage con-
trolls and free coal from price fix
ing by OPA, then appeal to Mr
Lewis and the coal operators to
make their own bargain. =
Unless Mr. Lewis agrees to extern
sion of the Government contract
beyond November 20, a strike would
be hard to avoid, because of the
short time in which to make con-
tract between the union and the
mine owners.
One of the toughest obstacles to
returning the mines-because the
Southern operators bitterly oppose
that part of the Government con-
tracts the question of unionizing
mine supervisors.
In this connection, the National
Labor Relations Board promised a
quick decision on yesterdays hear
ing involving the test case at Jones
&c Laughlin Steel Corp. mines, in
order to pave the way for an ulti-
mate Supreme Court decision.