The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-02-13
MINER55NUB
 LEWI5, T-H
 INJUNCTION
Wont Be Reduced 10 Slaves" They Maintain = Pay No Heed 10 Injunction

| " NV ItVVu " tuJutISitVti PITTSBURGH, Feb. 13 - R = Angry soft coal miners continued their nationwide mo contract no work" strike full blast today. They ignored both John L. Lewis work order and federal court injunc- tion.
 In some areas, lack of official notification delayed decision by United Mine Workers Locals on obeying their chieftain's order to re- turn to the pits forthwith"
 No mines were operating Tn the large bituminous (soft coaD pro- ducing areas except unorganized or indepedent union pits and those covered by new contracts with the UNIV.
 Pennsylvania. West Virginia, In- diana. Illinois, Alabama, Ohio and other important coal states all re- ported the strike was as strong this week as last.
 Determined strikers vowed they'll stay out until they get a contract.
 Over the weekend. Lewis bowed to the court order and directed his 372.000 striking miners back to work. But with telegraph offices closed on Sundays in many small mining com munities. several locals were late in receiving the official word.
 Some idle miners said they aren't working because this is Lewis roth birthday. The UNIV Presidents an- niversary actually was yesterday.
 Dave Fowler, President of UNIV District 2l in Oklahoma and Arkan- sas, looks for continuation of the strike despite Lewis and the court. He said.
 Some of the miners feel the gov- ernment is trying to make convicts out of them. The miners fought for 50 years to get their union. They don't want it stolen away from them and be reduced to slaves"
 In Indiana, where all $500 UNIV diggers are idle. President Louis Austin of UNIV District II said:
 Apparently the miners are angry because they have no contract"
 In West Virginia, the Norfolk and Western and the Virginian Railways said no mines are reported working along their lines. About 14,0OO miners are idle in Logan County West Virginia.
 No mines are operating near Har- Ian, Ky.
 Comment from rank and file diggers showed their attitude to be one of grim determination.
 The injunction won't mine coal and we know it." said miner at the Russellton, Pa, mine No. Two of Re- public Steel Corporation. He added: That Hartley business IS foolish. No contract. no work" Miner Paul Truckley of Curtisviile. Pa, declared:
 Truman gave the operators an ace in the hole. They knew Lewis either had to order us back or leave us wide open to an injunction. In my opinion, the men are solidly opposed to going back without contract"
 Another digger, at the Wheeling Steel Corporations shaft at liar marville, said: Let the operators dig their own coal"
 A furry of violence developed as pickets appeared at some West Vir- ginia and Pennsylvania spots.
 The Nicholas (W-Va) County Sheriff's office reported two or three men who tried to work at a union mine near Redwood were rolghed up. Thirty to 40 carloads of pickets visited the operation.
 A motorized band of 1.700 pickets patrolled highways in the Punxsu- tawney. Pa., area where some non- union mines are working. State Po- lice Sergeant Marcus White said they stormed two coal trucks.
 MEETING SCHEDULED l PITTSBURGH, Feb. 135R-The