Evening star., 1949-11-09

Is head OF the town govern
ment.
Labor
Continued From First Page.)
dustry and deplores such public
inconvenience that has resulted
therefrom.
The only immediate comment
coming from the White House on
the Lewis action was a that's
good" from Charles G. Ross, pres
idential press secretary.
The strike truce was not an un-
precedented move for the miners
chief to make. 1t was recalled
that he had taken similar action
IN the past. notably in May, 1946,
when he told the miners to re-
turn to work for two weeks to
mine essential" coal.
Worker Pressure Seen.
John D. Battle, executive Off
Ger OF the National Coal Associa-
ton here. attributed the truce to
pressure from the workers who
have not received a full pay en-
velope since early July, when Mr..
Lewis put the industry on a three
day workweek.
Harry M. Moses, head of coal
operations at the United States
Steel Corp, said Mr.. Lewis Or
dered the truce Ito shut off Gov
ernment intervention" meaning
possible action by Mr.. Truman to
invoke the strike injunction fea-
ture Of the Taft Hartley Act. Mr..
Moses said United States Steel
had not made up its mind ION
whether its mines will now be
reopened."
But another coal spokesman
said the industry would adhere
to its position that the mines are
available for work under terms of
the old contract.
Some Miners Already Working.
Joseph E.. Moody. president of
the Southern Coal Producers AS
sociation. said that miners al
ready had returned to work at
some properties in Southern West
Virginia. and others had sched-
uled work in advance of the Lewis
notice. Apparently some coal dis
tricts received advance informa-
ton on the truce.
Mr.. Lewis called the truce after
an unsuccessful effort to break
the united front of operator re-
sistance to his contract demands
and enter into a separate. pat
tern-setting agreement with Il
linois operators. He went to Chi
cago last Saturday in the effort
to split away some big operators
there who had been described
as anxious to settle with him
MIR. Lewis charged that, the
coal operators have been arro-
CANT and brutal in the withhold
ing Of their assent" He said the
committee emphasizes the fact
that the Associated Coal Opera
tors have continuously declined
throughout all conferences, in
whatever area. to concede the
right Of the mine workers to have
an honorable and adequate wage
contract"
He also declared the operators
have expended vast sums in pub
lie advertisements and otherwise
in the publication and dissemina-
ton Of untruths and oppressive
statements"
He said they have conspired to
cripple and destroy the mine
workers welfare fund by resort to
lying and deceitful strategems."
Statement Assails Operators.
The mine chiefs statement said
further:
They have stopped to defame
and belittle the contribution of
the mineworkers to the National
economy: they have engaged In
reprehensible and clandestine in
trigue with financial and political
opponents OF honest American
labor:
They have concealed and de-
cried enormous profits in the min
ing and distribution OF coal, the
total Of which is derived from
the purse Of the American con-
sumner;
They have alleged falsely that
the labor cost Of producing coal
is responsible for the high desti-
nation price paid by the consum-
er;; they have degraded themselves
in their attempts to brutalize the
American coal miner;
"They have shamed the pre-
cepts of morality by casting aside
every restraint to their sordid and
mercenary appetites;
"They have forfeited the good
will and respect of every American
whose bread is earned by the
sweat Of his brow, and should for
felt the good will and respect Of
every citizen who believes that
the rights of human beings tram
scend and are prior to the mer-
cenary acts and the motives of
those who browbeat and exploit
merely to aggrandize their wealth
and power"
Here are the terms of Mr..
Lewis repeatedly offered some H.
linois producers which, apparent
ly, they rejected:
A 100 per cent increase in oper-
ator payments to the United Mine
Workers Welfare and Retirement
Fund. bringing the total royalty"
to 40 cents per ton.
A wage increase Of a5 cents q
day and q seven-hour day and
35-hour work week. His new scale