Evening star., 1946-12-20
Soft Coal Men
Call Operators
Split Permanent
Breok Over Timing
Of PorIeys With Lewis
Viewed as Irreporoble
By Jomes Y. Newton

Industry officials said today
that the break in the ranks OF
private soft coal operators was
permanent and expressed belief
that industry-wide bargaining
was completely at an end.
Federal officials concerned with
coal production feared that the
apparently irreparable split in the
mine owners ranks, disclosed last
night, would greatly delay the day
of peace in the industry.
The mine owners divided sharply
over the question as to when ne
gotiations should be begun for a
new industry wide contract with
John L. Lewis United Mine Workers.
Northern and d-Western opera
tors and Representatives of the
captive" mines owned largely by
steel conpanies-representing about
go per cent of coal output-expressed
themselves in favor of immediate
wage talks with Mr.. Lewis.
West and South Would Wait.
Southern producers and those Of
the Far West insist on postponing
negotiations until the Supreme
Court has ruled on the conviction
of Mr.. Lewis and the union for
contempt in bringing about the re-
cent mine strike The court will
hear the case January IA. The
Southern producers represent about
IS per cent of national production
and the Far West per cent.
Behind the dispute are long
standing basic differences between
Northern and Southern interests.
Southerners hold the view they
could make a better deal with Mr..
Lewis if their negotiations are not
tied to the others.
A representative of important
Northern mines said the Southern
Coal Producers Association fire.
quently had blocked accord with the
mine workers. He said the South
ern group would never be allowed
to bargain again with the majority
as long as he is negotiator. Since
unanimous vote would be required to
resurrect the National Bituminous
Operators Negotiating Committee,
the operators views meant industry
wide bargaining was at an end.
/ Meeting Lasts Nine Hours.
The split among the operators was
announced after nine hour, closed
door meeting at the Shoreham Hotel.
/ The Government has been in pos
session Of the mines since last May
4 %, when the pits were seized in the
midst of the long spring strike. 1t
will be necessary for Mr.. Lewis and
the operators to agree on q con-
tract before the pits can be re-
leased.
| The full National Negotiating
Committee of the operators at
tended yesterdays meeting After
ward, it was announced that the
committee had adjourned sine die
without any date for another ses-
sion.
Chief barriers to an attempt to
make partial peace with the mine
workers were the attitudes of MIR.
Lewis and his union. Last Septem-
Der the Northern and mid-Western
owners we're ready to sign up with
the miners on the basis of the Krug-
Lewis agreement under which the
Government has operated the mines
since May 20. The Southern owners
refused to go along.
Lewis Wanted All.
Mr.. Lewis stalled on signing an
agreement with 60 per cent of the
industry. He put it up to the mine
workers convention. which declined
to depart from the idea of Ma
tion-wide agreement
| The mine workers were silent on
the new split among the operators.
Mr.. Lewis still was reported as
visiting his mother in Springfield,
Ill.
| But, in calling off the 17-day