Evening star., 1950-03-02
Coal
Continued From First Page }

a court of law to constitute only a
token compliance.
1T was testified on behalf of the
union that no union funds have
been used to aid striking miners
since issuance of the temporary
restraining order. There was no
attempt to disprove this testi-
mony."
Thus Judge Keech ruled that
while he was not saying that the
union had tried to comply with his
strike end order in good faith"
the court had no evidence that the
union had disobeyed the order.
The courts decision left the
Government without any imme-
diate weapon for ending the
strike, which has all, but ex-
hausted the Nations supply of
fuel. e's'4 rfs ,nSat.* 80
~ Lewis Obeyed Court Order.
Three weeks ago Mr.. Truman
invoked the national emergency
provisions Of the Taft Hartley Act
against the strike..a
Following that action. Judge
Keech issued a restraining order
February II against the tsrike.
The judge had ordered Mr..
Lewis and the UNIV to take every
step necessary to see that the
strike was brought to a swift end.
Mr.. Lewis followed up with several
appeals to the miners to return to
work. At least one back-to-work
message bore the name of the
other two principal officers of the
union.
In the three-day trial which
ended late yesterday, Union
Counsel Welly K. Hopkins based
his defense on the argument that
the miners had quit work and
had continued their strike as
free individuals and not at the
direction of the union. He ar
gued that it would violate the
miners constitutional rights for
the court to force them to work
against their will.
Mr.. Lewis was not charged with
contempt this time, apparently
because OF his appeals to the
miners to end the work stoppage.
Parieys to Resume Today.
There also was a possibility
that the~strike would be settled by
agreement of the UNIV and mine
operators on terms of the new
contract. Negotiations between
Mr.. Lewis and the operators were
to be resumed at 2:30 pm. today
and officials close to the situation
said the possibility of agreement
was not too remote.
A reporter asked Mr.. Truman if
the report were true that the Gov
ernment already has drafted plans
to take over the struck mines. He
replied that always there are
technical drafts of all war powers
on hand for use if the occasion
arises.
He said there was no power left
over from World War II that he
could use to seize the mines. The
implication drawn from his re-
marks was that Mr.. Truman would
ask Congress for special legisla-
tion to seize the mines unless the
coal strike ends very soon.
Indicates Change in Attitude.
Mr.. Truman has said before he
does not have and does not want
seizure powers, but observers saw
today's development as indicating
a change of attitude.
He was questioned about re-
ports that the Government may
take over the mines by using the
Presidents so-called inherent"
powers to maintain the functions
of Government and protect the
welfare of the people. Mr.. Tru-
man replied that there was a very
fine legal line in connection with
his inherent powers.
/ 1t was understood that the
seizure plan being prepared would
invest the powers for oper-
alton of the mines in the
hands of Interior Secretary Chap
man and through him to the Sec
retary of the Navy. The actual
work of handling the operation
would be carried out by naval
officers. The same procedure was
followed the last time the Gov
eminent took over the mines
in 1916.
The Government seizure plan is