Evening star., 1949-09-22
Coal SettIementH Hopes
Fade as Operators
Await Steel Action
BY the Associated Press

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS,
W. Va, Sept. 22.-Chances for an
early settlement Of the coal strike
faded today even though Southern
mine owners limited they were get
ting ready to make up the back
payments to the United Mine
Workers welfare fund.
The 100000 UNIV members
walked off their jobs last Monday
after trustees of the welfare fund
voted to halt benefit payments.
The fund was threatened with
deficit even before some Southern
operators began withholding roy
atty payments on the grounds
their contract with the union ex-
pired in June.
Northern and Western coal
operators meeting here with John
L. Lewis spared for time, watching
developments in the steel dispute.
Union sources said the mine own
ers virtually announced they would
do no business until there was more
clarification of the steel. contro-
versy.
May Depend on Steel Pensions.
The. steel industry is opposing
the type of pension, proposed by
presidential fact-finding board,
financed by employers alone. The
future Of MIR. Lewis pension sys-
tenn built on employer royalties
currently at 20 cents a ton may
rest on the ultimate settlement
In steel.
Neither MIR. Lewis nor the oper-
Ators would discuss details of their
negotiations here yesterday be-
yond the union declaration that
the operators were trying to delay
the talks.
The Lewis camp gave some signs
that the mine leader would use
that as the basis for a blast at
the operators before a weekend
recess.
A prominent West Virginia
operator beat the UNIV leader to
the punch. President D. w. Mar
tin Of the Kanawha Coal Opera
tors Association declared that Mr..
Lewis, seemingly afraid OF pub
lie sentiment" had lodged respon-
sibility for calling the strike.
Mr.. Martin contended the min
ers were financially unprepared
for the walkout. He predicted
that before the first week of the
strike ends, garnishments of
earned wages by the miners will
be floating through the mining
districts thicker than flying sau-
GERS"
At Bluefield. w. Va, where
Southern Coal Producers Asso-
citation members are negotiating
with q union team, the issue of
paying the 20-cent royalty was
ut the top Of the agenda.
Three major Southern oper-
ators withheld the payments since
the contract expired June 20 and
Mr.. Lewis blamed them for caus-
ing him to suspend pensions and
distress allotments from the well
fare fund.
The miners negotiators served
notice they would not talk busi-
ness with the Southern group un-
til the three companies got int
line. A move to bring those COM
panies up to date was under way
and both sides appeared confident
that the payments would be
made.
The strike covered all opera
tions. however. including the
North, West. steel companies,
anthracite and many in the
South who opposed the stand of
their colleagues. AL protested to
Mr.. Lewis, but to no avail.
The crisis over the welfare pay
ments was climaxed last week by
the resignation of Ezra Van Horn,
Cleveland operator, as the trustee
representing the mine owners. He
had been criticized by the opera
tors themselves after it became
known he and Senator Bridges,
Republican. Of New Hampshire,
the neutral trustee, were accept
ing $35. 1000 q year for their serv-
ices.
influential operators were work.
ing for the selection of former