Evening star., 1952-08-16
Lewis Directs
Mine Shutdown
For Mourning
Closing From Aug. q
To Sept. 2 Comes
As Strike Threatens

John L. Lewis today served no.
tice that the United Mine Workers
will stop digging coal during a
memorial period" from August
% to September /, inclusive.
The stoppage order. which in
wolves only five actual working
days. came less than two weeks
after Mr.. Lewis raised the pros
pect Of coal strike. He launched
new contract bargaining talks by
giving notice August S that the
present wage contract expires
September 80 and calling atten-
ton to the unions policy against
working without a contract.
Similar memorial period" calls
by Mr.. Lewis in 1949 and 1947
came in late March or early April
when negotiations were about to
begin on contracts which then
expired June 80. ~
Today's notice, as printed in
the United Mine Workers Journal
and sent to company manage
ments and Federal and State
mine authorities. contained TO
reference to contract talks.
Under Contract Clause.
The coming memorial period"
as well as those in past years,
Is under contract clause allow
ing the union to arrange such
mourning periods in commemora-
ton of mine disaster casualties.
In the two-week stoppage in 1947
one of the announced purposes
was to protest the appointment
of DR.. Charles Boyd as director
of the Bureau of Mines. DR.. Boyd
resigned last October.
The stoppage this month will
affect about 100000 soft-coal
coal miners and $4,000 in the
hard-coal pits. 1t also comes at
a time when the soft-coal stock
pile has reached a 84-day sup
ply, one of the highest ever.
The notice declared:
Exercising its option, the Inter-
national Union, United Mine
Workers of America, declares a
memorial period from August %.
1852, to September /, 1852, in
elusive. during which time the pro-
duction Of coal will cease. All other
necessary work incident to the in
dustry requirements will continue
during the period designated"
The statement explained that
such men will remain on the job
as are necessary for construction.
installation. sinking and repair
work, as well as for safety require
mentS.
The memorial period" will call
specific attention to the West
Frankfort, ILL.,, mine disaster eight
months ago in which 119 men were
killed, Mr.. Lewis said.
Continued Toll Cited.
Citing the continued ravages"
in the coal industry, including
334 deaths and 10000 injuries to
miners from last December % to
July 81, the Lewis statement de-
clared that violations of safety
provisions still continue in many
places. He asserted that 37,387
"uncorrected violations" of the
Federal mining code existed as Of
July 81.
"This appalling record cries
aloud for redress by those who
are sufficiently fortunate to re-
main alive and unnamed in this
savage industry" he stated. 1T
is fitting that during the memorial
period tribute should be paid to
those who have made the great
sacrifice and that every effort
should be made to lessen the
bloodletting and wastage of human
flesh which constitutes our ma
tional shame"
Mr.. Lewis suggested that the
United States Bureau of Mines
and the various State mining de-
partments Cooperate during
this period of non-production by
insisting that mine management
effectuate immediate compliance
with previously issued instructions
and recommendations hitherto
ignored by mine management"