Evening star., 1947-03-30
Lewis Stops Mining for Six Days
To Mourn Illinois Blast Victims;
y. S. Will Not Invoke Court Rule
Action to Be T uken
If Stoppoge Lasts
Beyond Set Time

that court action would not be
attempted against John L. Lewis
for calling the memorial" mine
work stoppage, although their
attorneys believed they had
cause to bring the union leader
into court for violation of strike
injunction and supporting Su-
preme Court mandate, both of
which are still in force.
One official said action would be
taken if the miners stay out longer
than the six days prescribed by Mr.
Lewis. He said that since the
short mine shutdown would have
little if any effect on the economy
1.-THE decision was made not to press
the case.
1--WE think it would be inappro-
pirate to take action at this time, "
he said. 1--WE have no desire to
engage with Mr.. Lewis in what
might be construed as brawl over
the Centralia Qll0 mine disaster
which we think was just as horrible
as Mr.. Lewis Goes. This Is some
thine that is beyond legal construc-
tion."
New Contempt Action Possible.
The action referred to was the
possibility that Mr.. Lewis could be
cited again for contempt of court.
Justice T. Alan Goldsborough in
District Court issued a restraining
order and later an injunction
against a mine strike last Novem-
her.
The strike took place anyway and
Mr.. Lewis and the union were con-
victed and fined for contempt. The
Supreme Court on March 6 upheld
both the injunction and contempt
conviction. The strike injunction is
still over the miners heads.
1t was expected that Secretary Of
Interior Krug will reply, probably
tomorrow, to Mr.. Lewis general
charges of laxity in enforcing safety
provisions as well as the specific
accusation that he is responsible
for the Centralia explosion.
Monthly Death Rate Down
The officials did not attempt to
deny That the provision for memo
rial periods" first inserted in the
1941 mine contract was carried over
into the agreement under which
the Government now operates the
mines.
They said, however, that insofar
as they knew the provision had
never been invoked before, although
for five years before the Govern
ment took over the mines last May
industry fatalities had averaged
nearly 100 month.
Until the Centralia explosion, IA
talities under Federal operation
were reduced to about 10 month.
They said that even including Gen.
tralia's III dead, the monthly death
rate was still below the average OF
the previous five years.
Operators Have Not Agreed.
"For five years nearly as many men
as died at Centralia were killed in
the mines every month";" an official
said, then suddenly at this late
time, Mr.. Lewis suddenly tells his
ment to take a week of. In saying
this I do not wish to put the Cen
tralia disaster below what it is-it is
a calamity"
The Federal Mine Safety Code was
given the miners as a result of the
contract signed by Secretary Krug
and Mr.. Lewis last may. The private
mine operators, in the background
since the mines were seized have
never agreed to the code and other
provisions of the Krug-Lewis agree
ment.
| While the code became effective
under Federal operation last July
29, it was pointed out that all sides
recognized that it would take some
time to complete the entire program
CT safety measures required under
it. A Federal official estimated last
night that two years would be re-
quired to make the program effective
in the average mine.
| lhlS delay is neceSSltated, he said
because of the enormous work to be
Gone, a shortage of manpower, and
such equipment as ventilating fans
and transformers.
Code is Long Time Objective.
'You just can't tell an industry
such as this overnight that this is
the new level of safety" he said
The safety CODE program was a
long time objective and Mr.. Lewis
recognized it as such last summer" "
The official declared that although
Mr.. Lewis both before and during
his long court battle over last falls
strike frequently accused the Gov
ernment of violating it's agreement
(see FEDERAL, Page A-6)