Evening star., 1948-03-21
Failure Is Seen
For I New Coal
Peace Moves
Umpire Is Sought;
Lewis Says Meeting
Will Get Nowhere
By Jones Y. Newton

Two separate actions yester-
day were aimed at settling the
pension fund dispute between
John L. Lewis and the mine OPP
orators, but little hope was held
that either would bring an early
end to the six-day, Nation wide
soft coal walkout.
Meanwhile, the nearly complete
mine shutdown was biting deeper
into operations Of steel and other
industries. 1t brought O statement
from the United States Chamber Of
Commerce describing the stoppage
as "a major catastrophe" and end
ing with an appeal from industry:
Let us have coalr'
Soft coal operators asked District
Court to appoint an umpire" for
the dispute over a pension for Mr.,
Lewis United Mine Workers. Ezra
Van Horn, operators trustee for
the UNIV welfare and retirement
fund, petitioned the court to select
a third and neutral trustee for the
fund. Mr.. Lewis is the union trus-
tee. Both sides had indicated q
third trustee could arbitrate their
differences over use of the fund,
which now totals $4,000, 900.
Reluctantly Accepts Invitation.
In the other action, Mr.. Lewis
reluctantly accepted an invitation
to meet with the operators tomor-
row, extended by Cyrus s. Ching,
director Of the Federal Mediation
and Cancellation Service.
The meeting. scheduled for 2:30
pm. in Mr.. Ching's of1ice, was sug-
gested in the hope of ironing out
the strike causing dispute. No word
was received from the operators,
but it was taken for granted they
would attend. Mr.. Lewis said Bit
terly 1t Is 'preposterous" to, assume
any progress will be made at the
meeting.
Mr. Van Horn had asked Mr..
Lewis to join him in seeking court
help in Strengthening out the pen
sion argument, as provided In the
coal industry work contract. When
no word was forthcoming from the
UNIV. the operators representative
took independent action.
The neutral trustee named In ths
contract, Thomas E. Murray of New
York, resigned In late January, Bit
terly criticizing the other trustees
for failing to resolve their differ.
ences over Use of the money.
Quick Action Asked.
/ There was no indication immedi-
ately as to when the court. will act
on the operators request, which
cited the urgency Of quick action.
i Mr.. Van Horns petition. filed by
Attorneys Charles Horsky and Adam
c. Maxwell, also asked the court
!. to retain jurisdiction so that 10
would be In position to settle any
questions of law arising from the
dispute over the fund. It stated
that agreement between the parties
on third trustee was unlikely be-
cause 'of the conduct of Mr.. Lewis
in causing the strike 40.
| The Lewis message accepting the
Ching invitation to the peace"
meeting bore a brusqueness remi-
niscent of the note he scrawled on
an old peice of paper to william
Green. AFL president, last Decem-
Der. The occasion was the with
drawal of the miners from the
federation. 1t read: Green, AFI.,
We disaffiliate. Lewis"
Meeting Called Preposterous.
The message to Mr.. Ching read:
March 40, 194s.
Memorandum.
ITO: Ching.
| From: Lewis.
Your wire. Obviously you think
time is expendable. The group OF
individuals whom you have asked to
your Monday meeting is the kept
outfit that hangs around the Shore
ham Hotel to constitute a false
front for the coal industry. From
time to time they interrupt their
luxurious life at that inn by the
issuance Of false and irresponsible
press statements. They are the
same outfit, who for eight months
have dishonored the existing agree
ment in the coal industry. It Is pre-
posterous to assume that any prog
ress will be made at your Monday
meeting, as these men merely carry
out the instructions of their prin-
cipals
"As have previously advised you,
there are half dozen men who can
speak with finality on matters of
policy affecting the coal industry.
They are: Messrs. Fairless Of Steel:
Humphrey Of M. A. Hanna; Harri-
man of Union Pacific; Buchanan Of
Old Ben; J. D. Francis of Island
Creek; and Alexander of Pocohon-
tas Fuel You may recall that last
year Messrs. Fairless and HUM
phrey performed such a job by
themselves.
I'm view, however, that YOU have
made public announcement of such
a meeting, and with every desire to
avoid any discourtesy to you per-
sonally, the United Mine Workers
of America. out of difference to your
request. and purely as matter
of routine procedure, will have q
representative committee present
at your meeting.
"(s) LEWIS"
The half dozen" men mentioned
(See COAL, Page A-5D