Evening star., 1952-06-05
Pact Bargaining
On Steel Begins
All White House
Industry and Union
Name Top Officials
As Negotiotors
By jones Y. Newton

The Government expressed hope
today of "quick progress" toward
settlement Of the steel strike as
company and CIO union officials
resumed contract negotiations
here.
The peace talks were being con.
Quoted under White House aus
pices by John r. Steelman, as
sistant to President Truman and
acting defense mobilizer. It was
the first time the steel disputants
had met since May 4.
Seven top officials of the "big
six" steel producing companies
and 10 officers of the striking CIO
United Steelworkers attended the
bargaining conference. f
Truman Plans No Action.
President Truman, meanwhile.
told his news conference he did
not contemplate at this time send
ing a special message to Congress
suggesting means of settling the
three-day-old steel strike. That
was the only comment Mr.. Tru-
man made on the critical steel
situation.
The President had been reported
as ready to ask Congress for spe-
clal powers to seize the strike
bound steel industry. The strike
began Monday after the Supreme
Court held that Mr.. Truman did
not have powers under the Con-
stitution to take over the industry.
Mr.. Steelman opened the indus
ltry-union peace talks in the exec
utive Offices at 11:15 am.
He told the negotiators, accord
ing to a spokesman of the desire
of the Government and of the
Importance of getting a quick set.
tlement of the. six-month-old dis
pute. -,
Leaves During Conference.
Then Mr.. Steelman left the
conference room so that contract
negotiations could start.
A short while later. the steel
officials agreed to turn bargaining
over to a subcommittee of three
Representatives of each side. These
six men will handle the contract
negotiations. They are:
For the union, CIO President
Philip Murray. who also heads the
Steelworkers; David j. Mcdonald
and Arthur Goldberg, secretary
treasurer and general counsel re-
spectively. For the companies.
Charles M. White. president Of
Republic Steel Corp; Ben Moreell.
chairman of Jones & Laughlin.
and John A. Stephens. vice presi-
dent Of United States Steel.
Others in Attendance.
Attending the White House
meeting along with the six nego-
tiators were Benjamin F. Fairless.
United States Steel president; j. L.
Mauthe. president of Youngstown
Sheet & Tube Co.: A. B. Homer.
president Bethlehem Steel: Clar-
ence B. Randall, president Inland
Steel, and the following union off,
cials:
James G. Thimmes. vice presi-
dent; John Murray. Joseph Ger
mano, James Thomas, Joe Molony.
John Doherty and William Dono-
van, all union district directors.
Mr.. Steelman was being assisted
by David H. Stowe, presidential
administrative assistant.
officials said the meeting would
not have been called if leaders Of
both groups had not given assur-
ance they were ready to engage in
real" collective bargaining. How
ever, there was no indication Mr..
Steelman would make a settle
ment proposal Of his own today.
Area Of Agreement Sought.
But it was hoped that an area
OF agreement could be found at
the conferences. The meetings
may last several days.
Unemployment resulting from
the three-day-old strike of $4,000
basic steelworkers, meanwhile.
climbed to nearly 100000.
Meanwhile, the Senate, after
(See STEEL. Page A-5.)