Evening star., 1949-05-27
Summer Coal Strike
Appears Certainty;
Lewis Halls Talks
By Jones Y. Newton
Stas SscN Ces.sspene~~s

BLUEFIELD. w. Va. May 1T
A summer coal strike on q Nation
wide basis seemed q certainty to-
jday, following q breakdown of
contract negotiations here be-
tween John L. Lewis and South
ern coal operators.
Mr.. Lewis srnimarily broke Oh
the wage talks yesterday in one
of his better oratorical perform
ances before an appreciative
audience. He pulled out all stops
in belittling the powerful oper-
ators The auditorium Of the
coal center was packed with min
ers. many of whom got their frst
glimpse Of John L."
A number Of mines in the area
were closed because the men SIM
ply walked OF the job to see the
boss" in action. He did not let
them down. And the mine work
ers cheered their champion to the
Irooftops as he impaled the op-
position on his oratorical rapier.
1t was Mr.. Lewis first perform
ance in 80 years in this major
coal-producing area.
Recessed Until Thursday.
As q result Of all the 1ockeying
that went on during the two-day
session. the contract talks between
the United Mine Workers and
Southern Coal ProdUers are re-
cessed until next Thursday.
Mr.. Lewis said the recess was to
allow the operators opportunity
to "reorganize their shattered
forces or fall fiat more rapidly"
At that time, Mr.. Lewis and his
men will meet again here with
the Southern operators in an
effort to get contract talks started.
There was little optimism in any
camp that a new contract could
be negotiated to take the place Of
the present agreement, which ex-
pires June 80.
The contract with the entire
soft coal industry ends at the same
time. There are few hopeful signs
that an Industry wide shutdown
can be avoided.
Steel Prepares to Bargain.
Coal subsidiaries of the United
Estates Steel Corp. have agreed to
talk with Mr.. Lewis ION or after
June TO-" but the chance Of set
ting . pattern for q Nationwide
coal agreement there would seem
| to be remote. The steel industry
starts bargaining June Is with the
CIO United Steelworkers, who feel
they have been short-changed in
recent years in favor Of the
miners.
The wage conference here was
recessed when Mr.. Lewis chal-
leneed the legal right Of the
Southern Coal Producers Associa-
ton to negotiate for the operators
of. the southern West Virginia,
kVirginf& sKentuckyand Tennessee
Iarea.s His target in the oratorical
shoW was the association and its
president, Joseph E. Moody. Of
Washington.
The operators said Mr.. Lewis
had failed in his main objective
to destroy the association. which
has been q thorn In his side for
seven years 50 far as getting fat
contracts for the miners is con-
cerned.
Challenged on Bargaining.
While Mr.. Lewis predicted the
association would fold up before
next weeks resumption Of nego-
ttiations, the operators said they
would represent even more South
ern tonnage by that time. Pro-
duction of the area is about one
third Of the Nations output. Mr..
Moody now claims about lie, 0,000,-
900 tons, about p28. 100000 tons
less than he came to the bargain
ing table with three days ago.
Mr.. Lewis charged that the
Southern Association. as q result
Of Withdrawals Of some Of its
member companies. no longer
constituted q legal bargaining
agency. He pushed through the
weeks recess to see whether the
group represented an adequate
amount Of tonnage with which
the UNIV could do business. In
the interim, the UNIV is expected
TO exert heavy pressure to bring
about further defections.
He proposed the recess before
there was a chance for Commit
tees on Rules and Credentials to
report. Mr.. Moody tried desper-
ately to thwart him. but since coal
contract conferences require una
nimity, he lost.
Mr.. Lewis said there was ire
bellion" In the Southern ranks.
He declared there was violent,
destructive and bitter internal
| u. rfa reu IN The associations and