Evening star., 1948-04-18
Lewis Demands
.voiding Of Court
Order on Strike
Clark in No Hurry;
Contempt Decision
Is Due Tomorrow
By jones Y. Newton

John L. Lewis, who tomorrow
will hear Justice T. Alan Colds
borough's decision on the con-
tempt charges against him, yes
terday demanded that the Gov
ernment seek dissolution of the
anti-strike court order that he
is accused of violating.
Mr.. Lewis. through his chief at
torney, Welly K. Hopkins, demanded
that Attorney General Clark act to
end the District Court order direct
ing him and the United Mine Work
ers to call off the soft coal mine
stoppage and not to permit" re-
currence of the walkout.
The demand, made in letter tc
Mr.. Clark, was based on the grounds
that the dispute over pensions fol
miners that touched off the walk
out has been settled.
Mr. Clark replied that he was ir
no hurry to do the thing Mr.. Lewis
says he must under the law.
Will Act at Appropriate Time.
He said that "a substantial num-
ber of the miners have not YET
obeyed the courts order by return.
ing to work." adding:
Il shall take whatever action (con-
cerning the restraining order the
facts and the law warrant at the
appropriate time"
The immediate question" is the
judgment due tomorrow at 10 am
from Justice Goldsborough in the
matter of the contempt of court
charges against Mr.. Lewis and the
United Mine Workers, Mr.. Clark
pointed out.
Reports from coal-producing areas
showed that about a THIRD Of the
100000 UNIV members were still
of the job, waiting to see what
Justice Goldsborough- does in the
contempt case.
Coal production climbed slowly
during the week following Mr.. Lewis
back work instructions, but in
dustrial supplies still were very low
About 10000 workers furloughed
in the full strike were still idle
and serious new lay-offs are in the
offing-notably that of 100000 work.
ers by General Motors because of
the lack of pig iron and steel as
a result of coal shortage.
The Taft-Hartley Act, under
which the Government obtained the
understanding order April 3
states that such orders shall be
cancelled in case of settlement
Claims Dispute Settled.
Mr.. Hopkins told the Attorney
General the dispute with the mine
operators was settled April II when
d proposal granting the miners $10t
monthly pensions was pushed
through a meeting of trustees OF
the UNIV welfare and retirement
fund. The plan, opposed by the
operators, was submitted by Senator
Bridges, Republican, of New Hamp-
shire, who had just been named
neutral" trustee for the fund.
About the time Mr.. Clark was
replying to Mr.. Hopkins demand fol
discharge of the (strike) injunc-
tion," the Southern Coal Producers
Association sent the Attorney Gen.
eral a telegram, backing him up.
Joseph E. Moody, president of the
association, wired Mr. Clark the
union is wrong about settlement
of the pension dispute having been
reached.
He said that the strike still con-
tinues to some extent in all South
ern coal fields, and that reports
from the mines indicate that the
strike will be renewed with vigor'
if Justice Goldsboroughs decision
should inconvenience Mr.. Lewis"
Mr.. Moody added that the South
ern operators have an unresolved
dispute with Mr.. Lewis over the
latter's refusal to bargain with the
association.
And he said the "so-called solu-
ton of the pension dispute by Mr..
Bridges is "of doubtful legality"
The operators, through their re-
tirement fund trustee, Ezra Van
Horn, are threatening to challenge
the Bridges pension plan in court.
The Hopkins letter to Mr.. Clark,
quoting from the Taft Hartley Act,
concluded:
Il do now. therefore. further call
(See COAL. Page ABB