The Wilmington morning star., 1946-05-05
SENATORS URGE
MINE SEIZURE
BY PRESIDENT
contin,,ed from Page One

70 Cod for guidance to find a solu-
: ton to their problems"
3-Solid fuels Administrator j.
A. Krug said further curtailments
: on soft coal consumption were nee
; essary to prevent the European re
lief and rehabilitation program
from collapsjng.
Demand Seizure
4-Sen. Scott w. Lucas, D., ILL.,,
demanded Presidential seizure of
the mines to stop what he said
could easily become an i%nsurrec-
ton against the government" Sen.
&C. Wayland Brookson C., ILL.,, join
ed Lucas in demanding govern
ment action. UNIV President John
L. Lewis was denounced as "A
bully by Sen. Allen K. Ellender,
D., La.
5-Lewis was reported ready to
discuss a settlement of the strike,
only if other issues including safe
ty and welfare provisions and pay
ment of 81, 900, 900 in claimed over
time wages are settled before
wages and hours are discussed.
6-Edward r. Burke, president of
the Southern Coal Producers assoc
iation, said in a ra1lio speech
! lMPCl {b,+ tho opor1+orc will ,oro1
to pay the best wages ever earned
in the coal industry; negotiate a
shorter work day and week;
move heaven and earth to pre-
vent avoidable mine accidents, ex-
anime the extent of hardship cases
and jointly establish a fund for
their alienation.
THE Army announced that, in
keeping with ODT restrictions on
railroad transportation, it will
move only troops returning from
or en- route overseas, and patients.
Movements of all other groups and
individuals will be suspended in
definitely. 1t said this will slow the
movement and rehabilitation of
troops in the United States.
8-Sen. Harry F. Byrd, D., Va,
revealed he has urged President
Truman to give Lewis and the op-
orators three days to. come to
terms. Failing that, he said, Mr..
Truman should exercise his pow
ers Ito prevent the catastrophe of
a shutdown of nearly all activities
in America the country looks
to the President for effective and
forceful action"
No Plan
President Truman limited Thurs
day that he may order seizure OF
the struck pits if the situation gets
much graver. But informed sources
have indicated that the President
/, so far has not developed a plan for
taking over the mines. The govern
ment apparently vas doubtful thai
the miners would return to work
even under federal seizure.
Mr.. Humans alarming view o.
the situation was spelled out in c
report prepared at his request by
the Office of War Mobilization ano
Reconversion and issued through
: the White House.
t White House Press Secretary
Charles G. Ross said that Mr.. Tru'
man ordered the survey because
the President desired the public
to be fully informed about the i'm.
l pact of the strike on reconversion
There was speculation, but ne
comment from the White House
!: that the report may be a prelude te
government seizure of the mines.
A White House source said, how
ever, that there may be further
cuts in railroad freight and pas.
senger service beyond those al
ready ordered.
:, The OWMR report painted al
awesome picture of the grave
situation which confronts the ma.
tibn as result of the strike.
] Manufacturing plants are clos
ing down all over the country" il
began. And yet the American PEG.
pie have barely begun to feel the
impact of this national disaster.
, The basic industries-particu.
" larry steel-have received the mi
tial body blow from the strike
{ The impact on even these indus
trieS has been Cushioned by stocks
on hand and in transit.
But from now on the effects
will spread rapidly throughout the
ecorPmy and the damage to re
conversion Nrogress will take
months to mend"
1t said inventories of coal have
been NEARLY exhausted and in
ventories of raw materials depend
ent on coal are being depleted.
Even after the miners return t.
the ITS, it said, it will take II
days to two weeks before coal con
sumers begin to receive a regulal
supply.
INDUSTRY CRIPPLED
CHICAGO. Nav A. up TIL,