Evening star., 1948-03-16
BY the Assoeioted Press

PITTSBURGH, Mar. 16.-The
mushrooming soft coal walkout
today appeared likely to engulf
most of the industry within the
next "a hours.
More than 100000 workers, or 10
percent of the soft coal miners, al
ready have laid down their tools in
support of John L. Lewis demand
for $i00 monthly pensions.
The flow of coal to this steel capi-
tai came to a dead stop as thou
sands more bitmuminous miners
joined the walkout.
All major steel industry and COM
mercial mines in the Pittsburgh
Uniontown area were shut. The
United States Steel Corp, leading
steel producer, was losing its entire
Pennsylvania coal output of 10000
tons daily, with IA mines down.
Other steel Arms affected included
Jones & Laughlin, Republic, Weir
ton, Bethlehem and Youngstown
Sheet & Tube.
All $4,000 members of the United
Mine Workers had quit their jobs in
Illinois and large quotas had stopped
work in II other States.
Explore Ways to End Stoppage.
In Washington, United States me-
diation ofhcials were hastily explor-
ing ways to stop the walkout. They
were undecided what to do. The
strongest possibility seemed that the
Government would try to mediate as
long as there seemed hope of a solu-
tion.
The White House said today Presi-
dent Truman is studying reports on
the soft coal walkouts. Presidential
Press Eecrstafy Charles @. Ross told
reporters, however, that nothing
concrete" has been done.
In 1916 Mr.. Truman obtained a
court injunction to halt l. strike by
the mine workers. There was no in
dication such q step Is under imme-
diate consideration in the current
dispute.
Court Action in Doubt,
Even should President Truman
seek another injunction against Mr..
Lewis, there was some question
whether the court could find any,
thing to restrain. Mr.. Lewis con-
tract, signed by the industry last
July 8, provided only that miners
should work as long as they were
liable and willing"
The Hartley Act provides
machinery for keeping vital indus
tries going in national emergency
but it would take some time to get
its provision into action.
In West Virginia, 100000, almost
the entire labor force, had walked
out of the pits. The Williamson
Field in Southern West Virginia,
$4,000 was shut down
tight
J. J. Ardigo, secretary Of the Will
hanson Operators Association, said
he had no idea when the men would
60 back. Mr.. Ardigo added:
"As long as the men are able but
not willing, they won't work. maybe
when the workers are willing, the
companies won't be willing and
a ble"
Pennsylvania Near Close.
In Pennsylvania, $4,000 out of
96 900 had quit. An operators
spokesman declared.
This looks like the last day of
operation until the walkout is over"
In Ohio the number of idle grew
to $4,000 out of $4,000, and the walk
out appeared to be growing rapidly.
Three of the States largest mines
we're shut down.
Utah, which has $500 miners, saw
It's idle jump from TOO to $500. A
Inion spokesman predicted 100 per
;ent absenteeism by night.
Kentucky had $4,000 out, Alabama
20 600 and Virginia 5000, while Wy
ming, Indiana, Tennessee and Col
,rado had smaller numbers off the
Oh.
The walkouts came after Mr.
lewis sent letters to his locals last
friday telling them operators have
iishonored the 1947 wage agree
nent and defaulted under its pro-
yisions affecting the welfare board"
Lewis to Go Forward"
This office," Mr.. Lewis contin-
led, proposes to go forward in
'equiring the coal operators to
honor their agreement. Your ears
will soon be assailed by their out
,ries and walls of anguish. To
'elieve themselves, they need only