Evening star., 1947-07-06
Lewis Holds Out for New Points,
Delaying Signing Of Mine Pact;
Wo|kout Threat Raised Aqain
Southern Owners
Claim Brush orr
By UNIV Leader
By james Y. Newton

John L. Lewis, playing his pow
erful hand for all it is worth,
sought additional concessions
from the soft coal industry last
night, and that situation delayed
the drafting of a mining contract
to a dangerously late hour.
Mr.. Lewis insistence on a full
measure for his United Mine Work
ers, plus some fringe" adjustments
of varying Importance, again raised
the threat of coal strike. The
seriousness of the threat could not
be determined. Weary industry at
torneys and negotiators who had
battled Mr.. Lewis and his men ver-
bally for more than 48 hours were
hopeful the differences could be
smoothed out today.
Complicating the picture further,
Southern operators reported they
had received "a complete brush-off" ;"
from Mr.. Lewis in their efforts to
determine the terms of the contract
which the miners are working out
with Northern and steel company
operators.
& No Response From Lewis.
An official of the Southern soft
coal bloc, representing about Is per
cent of the Nations production, de-
clared=that in the last 48 hours they
had sent letter and four telephone
calls to Mr.. Lewis without response
He commented: Its a complete
brush-off."
The Southerners have been COM
pletely outside the coal peace talks
led by big steel and Northern oper-
ators. However, it was expected that
under protest the Southern group
would accept the terms of the con-
tract worked out by the Northern
interests. They frankly do not like
the terms, to put it mildly, but point
out that shutdown of their mines
is the only alternative to acceptance.
Meanwhile, the hour for shut
down drew closer. The 100000 soft
coal miners are scheduled to end
their Today official vacation at mid
night tomorrow. Unless there is a
contract, it is held certain they will
not report for work Tuesday.
Thousands May Not Return.
Even if agreement is reached
sometime today, which still seemed
likely, there was the possibility that
thousands of miners would not work
Tuesday because of the short time
left to notify workers in remote Sec
tions should accord be reached.
The spokesman for the Southern
operators commented further:
We'll have no further part in
trying to make contract with Lewis.
We're waiting now for him to get
in touch with U.S."
Some operators predicted that the
Southern mines would remain closed
Tuesday. One operator who has
been close to the contract-drafting
proceedings between Mr.. Lewis and
the steel company Northern COM
mercial operators, said it even ap-
peared that Mr.. Lewis wanted to
close down all of the mines, al
though probably for only a short
time.
Sees Plan to Prove Power.
"It seems to me-" he said, that
Mr.. Lewis now wants to show the
country that he has no fear of the
new Taft Hartley law and that he
might plan to prove that he still
has the power to close down the
mines. If that is what is in Lewis
mind, I do not look for long
strike. If it comes, it will be more
in the nature of a demonstration
How else can you explain his hag-
Cling over every detail and comma
and insistence on every ounce OF
our flesh that he can get?"
The steel company and Northern