Evening star., 1950-02-18
Break in Coal Strike Expected
Monday Due to Lewis Order,
Board Of Inquiry Tells Truman
Contempt Action
Delayed to Await
Return of Miners
By jones Y. Newton

President Truman was told to-
day that a strong back-to-Work
movement among John L. Lewis
100000 striking miners was ex-
pected to develop Monday.
The cheering news on the soft
coal crisis came from the three
man coal dispute inquiry board
and Federal Mediation Chief Cyrus
S. Ching, who gave a first-hand
report on the coal situation to
the President.
The optimistic report of the
Presidents observers meant there
will be no further action by the
Government over the week end
directed at ending the 12-day-old
Nationwide mine strike.
Cole Expresses Optimism.
The Justice Department had
been ready for several days to
start contempt proceedings against
the United Mine Workers in en-
forcing a week old District Court
order to end the strike. David L.
Cole, chairman of the board of
inquiry, told reporters on leaving
Mr.. Truman's office:
I'VE in this group believe
great many miners are going back
Monday-we expect a real back
to-work movement to get under
way"
Mr.. Cole said the board and
Mr.. Ching were hopeful that
enough miners would return to
their jobs to allay the critical coal
shortage and make any further
drastic action by the Government
unnecessary.
Lewis Order Much Stronger"
He said hope for at least a par
tial end of the strike was based
on the strong language Mr.. Lewis
used in his second back work
order to the miners late yesterday.
Mr.. Cole said language of the
Lewis instructions" was much
stronger than his initial message
last Saturday to UNIV district
leaders.
Mr.. Cole also pointed out that
Mr.. Lewis latest message was
sent to all the 5000 local unions
in the UNIV.
Later Charles G. Ross. White
House press secretary. told report
ers they couldn't say that the
President was encouraged" by
the boards report. He said the
President simply listened to what
his coal crisis observers had to say.
Seizure Intention Denied.
But Mr.. Ross said that no ac-
tion was to be expected today
toward enforcement of the Dis
trict Court restraining order and
that the President has no inten-
ton of asking Congress for spe-
cial powers to seize the soft coal
mines.
Mr.. Cole had said yesterday that
1t was "a possibility" Mr.. Truman
would ask Congress for seizure
authority.
The contract negotiations be-
tween Mr.. Lewis and the mine
owners were resumed at the Ho-
tel Statler Immediately after the
board and Mr.. Ching made their
report to the President.
Mr.. Cole had told the President
no progress was made at the ne
gotiating session last night toward
resolving the wide contract diff
ferences between the disputants.
Conferences Due to Continue.
The board chairman said he
would ask Mr.. Lewis and the op-
orators to continue their contract
conferences over the week end,
but he did not expect agreement
to be reached in that time.
Initial reaction of the miners to
the latest Lewis order was cool.
Many said right away that they
would not return to work until
they got contract. But it will not
be known at least until Monday
precisely how effective Mr.. Lewis
message is.
Although some progress was re-
ported earlier today toward an &C
cord on monetary and other con-
tract issues, the Presidents men
In the negotiations said the dis
(See COAL, Page A-2.)