Evening star., 1947-03-07
US. 'BIackjacks'
Miners, Lewis
Tells Senators
Union Head Charges
Government Combine
To Halt Bargaining
By james Y. Newton

SSsuSS = tNSWtUu
John L. Lewis today accused
the Government of using a legal
blackjack to beat the miners
into submission" and said the
executive, judiciary and legisla-
tive branches of the Govern
ment had combined to arrest
collective bargaining in the coal
industry"
Mr.. Lewis testified before the
Senate Labor Committee in the Sem
ate caucus room, jam packed with
spectators who alternately ap-
plauded him and laughed at his re-
torts to committee members. He
talked for an hour and 40 minutes,
alternately lecturing the Senators
on economics and condemning the
Government for its handling of coal
disputes.
Mr.. Lewis appearance before the
committee came less than "a hours
after the Supreme Court upheld the
Governments right to halt a strike
by injunction in the federally oper-
ated soft coal pits and sustained
the contempt Of court conviction Of j,
Mr. Lewis and the UNIV.
At. one point when he was asked
about some corrective legislation
that might prevent Nationwide
strikes such as have occurred fire.
quently in the coal industry, MIR.
Lewis replied, There is nothing
wrong with the coal industry except
the 1ll-treatment that is being ac-
corded the coal miners
Calls Differences Personal.
That's personal matter between
the associated coal owners and the
United Mine Workers" he contin-
ued. I'VE could settle that with the
operators If the Government ceased
using blackjack to beat the miners d
into submission while the operators
continue to take the profits"
Chairman Taft asked Mr.. Lewis
If he had been approached by either
Governments or the operators for q
final settlement of the coal industry
dispute, which has now been going
on nearly a year. Mr.. Lewis replied
the Government had made no effort
since last September to get him and
the operators into negotiations and
that he had had no approaches"
from the operators.
They don't need to approach
me. Senator" he remarked. '"They
are happy as they are"
Does Not Predict Future.
Senator Taft then asked the Wit
ness what will happen when the
Smith Cennally Act, under which
the Government operates the seized
mines. expires and the court order
against the coal strike terminates
and there is no legislation to deal
with such Nation wide strike.
Il have no answer to that" Mr..
Lewis answered. "The effect Of the
recent intervention by the execu-
tive, judiciary and legislative
branches Of the Government has
been to arrest collective bargaining
in the coal industry. 1t has been
an effective stoppage.
"They (the private operators) are
satisfied with this situation" Mr..
Lewis continued, because there is
no regulation OF their mines inS'
fact. They got a telegram from.
the Coal Mines Administration say
ing their mines were seized. They
don't even know they are under
Government operation. They don't
even have to make reports except
the few required OF them normally"
Sees Is Cents a Ton Profit.
Mr.. Lewis said that meantime the
operators are making money on the
average As cents a ton on all coal
produced, aggregating $3.50 ,000, 900
in profits q year after all charges
are deducted. He said they were
netting another 81 100000 a day in
"tax-deductible items which makes
the present situation extremely
profitable for Them"
I'VE will pass some laws to pre-
vent another Nationwide coal
strike" Senator Taft told Mr.. Lewis.
do you have any contribution to
offer to that?"
Mr.. Lewis replied that the whole
question Of the applicability of the
coal industry contract Is a matter
OF litigation and I doubt if I can
make any contribution at this time"
Mr.. Lewis was highly critical Of
Government operation Of the mines
frequently during his testimony and
at one point he charged
"The coal industry has been So
cialized under conditions peculiarly
agreeable to the coal operator. They
are making these huge profits while
(See LABOR, Page A-4.)