Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-09-16
Divide and Conquer
Seen as Lewis Plan
In Early Coal Strike
BY me Associated Press

he shaping up an early strike of
about 100000 Eastern soft coal
miners in a divide-and-conquer
strategy against coal producers.
But the United Mine Workers
chief said a walkout isn't likely to
produce a national emergency
among coal users.
Breaking his silence on a month
of private negotiations, Mr.. Lewis
sternly reported to newsmen yes
terday he has reached a most dis
turbing" impasse with Northern
soft coal operators, with only four
more days to go before their pres
|ent contract expires Saturday.
Similarly, he said. mo conclu-
sions" have been reached in fire.
Iquent talks with Southern soft
coal producers. whose contract ex-
lpireS September 80.
Mr.. Lewis plainly implied both
groups of mines would be shut
down as their contracts run out.
Most U. S. Mines Involved.
Together, the two groups turn
out about 10 per cent of the Ma
TONS coal-or z million tons q
week. About 100000 miners work
in the Northern group, 100000 in
the Southern.
Contrasting with this grim pic
ture the mine chief stressed that
Western and Midwestern soft Goa
mines which are not members OF
the Northern) Bituminous Coal
Operators Association will be
permitted to work"
Also, Mr.. Lewis reported, he ex.
poets to reach an agreement this
week with the Pennsylvania an
thracite (hard coaD industry
whose contract also expires Sep.
TENDER 80. His plan is for both
these groups, which he said EN-.
|ploy about 100000. to continue
producing.
Mr.. Lewis declared the present
national coal stockpile of about
79.314,000 tons-plus continued II
not expanded production in the
Western and hard coal mines
would preclude any possible ma
tional emergency"
The mine chief apparently had
an eye cast to skirting the Taft
Hartley law. which permits the
Government to get court orders
against a strike that creates a ma
tional emergency. In a previous
brush with that law in 1916, the
mine workers union was fined
1912 million and Mr.. Lewis was
fined $4,000 for not obeying no.
strike orders.
Also. by permitting the gen.
orally smaller Western mines t.
operate. Mr.. Lewis obviously hoped
to put the screws on the compel.
ing big Eastern commercial mine.
and the captive" mines owned
by the steel industry.
Mr.. Lewis talked to newsmer
after meeting behind closed door!
with union district presidents anc
with his 200-man Policy Commit.
tee.
The mine workers boss said HI
Preached an accord and a meeting
of minds on a new contract" Sep.
tember 8 with Harry M. Moses
Ipresidept and negotiator Of th,
Bituminous Coal Operators Asso.
citation. But MFR. Lewis said tn,
operators had rejected this agree.
ment at a meeting in Pittsburgh
last Wednesday,
Mr.. Moses told reporters: 3
Perhaps MIR. Lewis understoo,
that we had a meeting of tn,
minds September 8. I didn't"
| $1.65 Increase.
Mr.. Lewis repeatedly is askin,
for an increase from $685. II
about $18 in the standard bash
daily pay for miners, an increas,
in the employers contribution II
the miners pension fund, ant
perhaps a reduction from al
eight-hour day to seven hours.
He refused to discuss terms, ex
Icept to blast published reports tina
the union is seeking q Share-the
work plan which would aim at i,
three-day week by imposing pre-
|mium pay for the fourth. nth o
sixth days. Some mines now worl
five or six days, while others worl
|only one or two.
Mr.. Lewis said mine worker
have not even suggested such ,
Iplan. He added that some opera
tors are sponsoring it, but the
won't come out publicly for it. III
Isaid some industry stabilizatiol
lplan might be worked out in tn
future.
/ 1902 Ky l1'
T.