Evening star., 1948-06-04
Go|dsborough Injunction Orders
Lewis and UNIV to Bargain With
SouthernAssociation and Moody
Cicero Quoted by
Justicein BIust at
Mine Union Head
By jones Y. Newton

Justice T. Alan GOldSbOrougn
today ordered John L. Lewis and
his United Mine Workers to bar
gain for a new soft coal con-
tract with the Southern Coal
Producers Association and its
President, Joseph E. Moody.
In granting an injunction re-
uuested by the general counsel of
the National Labor Relations Board
to force Mr.. Lewis to negotiate with
the Southerners. the judge accused
Mr.. Lewis of attempting to destroy
the Southern association and was
sharply critical of the union presi-
dents power over the coal industry.
He postponed the actual signing
of the order until 2:30 pm. pending
the drafting by NLRB attorneys of
findings of fact and conclusions OF
law" to support the injunction
Both will be issued at that time.
The UNIV said it would comment
on the Goldsborough decision after
the order is signed, while Mr.. Moody
scheduled a news conference for
$3.50 pm.
Justice Goldsborough used quota
tion from Cicero's debate with
Catiline, the Roman conspirator, to
illustrate his opinion of Mr.. Lewis
activities. He said
ut is your boundless audacity, oh
Catiline."
An observer commented that the
judge was trying to out-LeWis
Lewis" who Is noted for using
quotations to illustrate his points
The Lewis forte is Shakespeare and
the Bible
Lewis Not in Court.
The UNIV leader was not in
court. He was represented by his
attorneys.
Some of the coal operators were
standing by, ready to resume con-
tract talks.
Justice Goldsborough, in his
lengthy oral opinion in the injunc-
ton case, remarked that there were
two observations that fitted the
activities of Mr.. Lewis and the case
before him. These were:
Il. Power is always corrupt and
absolute power is absolutely corrupt.
20. There is no such thing as a
benevolent despot."
The injunction request was made
by the NLRB on complaint of Mr.. |
Moody under the Taft-Hartley Act
in an effort to get under way ma
tional negotiations for new soft
coal contract. The present contract
expires June 30. The law describes
as an unlawful practice the refusal
of either labor or management to
bargain with a duly chosen repre-
sentative of the other side.
Lewis Arguments Brushed Aside.
Mr.. Lewis refusal to negotiate
with Mr.. Moody as president OF the
Southern operators caused the
breakdown Of national coal nego-
tiations last month.
Justice Goldsborough brushed
aside arguments Of UNIV attorneys
in issuing the injunction.
The principal arguments of Mr..
Lewis we're:
/. The Southern Association and
Mr.. Moody did not sign the pres
ent industry contract and, there
fore, they are not authorized toI
bargain for a new one.
2. That the association had
blocked agreement in the past and
desired to obstruct the drafting OF
a new one.
3. That the part of the Taft
HARTLEY Act involved in the case
is unconstitutional; and various
other legal grounds.
The judge described as unreason-
able the Lewis position that while
he was unwilling to bargain with
Mr.. Moody as head of the associa-
ton, he would negotiate with MIR.
Moody as authorized agent Of the
IA local operator groups that COM
pose the association.
THE evidence before me-" Justice
Goldsborough said, indicates what
Mr.. Lewis and the UNIV want to do
is to destroy the Southern associa-
tion because there is no difference
in dealing with unit of that kind
ICao CnAT