STRIKE OFF

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22199, 9 December 1946, Page 7

STRIKE OFF

U.S. COAL MINERS ORDER EVE OF APPEAL CASE CALMNESS REQUIRED (10 a.m. WASHINGTON, Dec. 8. Mr. John L. Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers' Association announced that he had called off the softcoal miner's strike. Mr. Lewis said he told the miners to resume work at least until March 31 so ihat the Supreme Court could be free from "public pressure superinduced by the hysteria and frenzy of an economic crisis.” Mr. Lewis made the announcement just as the Supreme Court was considering 1 lie Government’s plea for an immediate review of Judge Goldsborough’s judgment on the charges of contempt ot court against the U.M.W.A. and their leader. President Truman simultaneously was working on the text of his nationwide broadcast in which he intended to discuss the strike. Mr. Lewis said the U.M.W.A. was willing to negotiate a working agreement with the Government or private operators along whatever lines the Supreme Court may decide. Mr. Lewis, in. a letter to members of the U.M.W A. instructing them to resume work on the terms and condiiions ruling when he terminated their contract with the Government on November 20, said: “The Supreme Courts’ powers are derived from the constitution and the court is protector of American liberties and the rightful privileges of individual citizens.” He added that the issues before the court were fateful for the American Republic. The United press says it is believed that Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson persuaded Mr. Lewis to call off the strike and to allow the Supreme Court, in less difficult circumstances, to consider the legal issues before it The White House announced that President Truman has cancelled his broadcast on the coal dispute scheduled for to-day. Mr. Lewis directed the miners to resume work, with shifts starting at midnight on Sunday. The administration has lifted all embargoes on rail freight and passenger traffic.

All the New York Sunday papers agree that the coal strike resulted in complete defeat for Mil Lewis and the Republican leaders, said that labour legislation to prevent a recurrence would be the first task of the new Congress in January. Chief Justice Lawrence Groner. in the Circuit Court of Appeals, granted the Justice Department a motion to transfer the anpeals bv Mr. Lewis and the United Mine Workers’ Association directly to the Supreme Court. Peace Feelers Rebuffed,

Earlier, the A F.L. president, Mr. William Green, unavailingly suggested that the Government drop the action against Lewis and initiate negotiations between the coal owners and miners.

Mr Capehart (Republican, Indiana) told the press he had been reliably informed that Mr. Lewis had submitted a written memorandum to the court offering to negotiate for the resumption of coal production if the imposition of the fine was deferred, but the Government attorneys had rejected Mr. Lewis’ offer.

Mr. Green’s appeal for a conference between the owners and Mr. Lewis brought no immediate response from the Government, employers or Mr. Lewis, savs the Associated Press. It seems unlikely that it would have been issued without the approval or, at least the knowledge of Mr. Lewis, who is one of the A F.L. vice-presidents. Meanwhile, the War Department has made available 250,000 tons of coal from reserves for public emergency. Quarter of Reserves Used

The Solid Fuels Administration announced that the nation had consumed one-fourth of the emergency coal slocks in the first 12 days of the strike, but further drastic restrictions will heavily reduce the consumption rate. It is now estimated that the remaining stocks will last another 55 days. It is reported from Charleston. Virginia, that the miners’ children are sending Mr. Lewis their Christinas savings, ranging from five cents to eight dollars, to help to pay the fine.

More than 15,000 workers were laid off on their respective shifts at the Ford Motor Company's River Rouge plant last night. Twenty thousand more will follow to-day. This* is the vanguard of 750,000 who will be thrown idle in the Detroit area because of the rail freight restrictions which are paraijsing the automotive and parts industries.

While other industries are threatened with shut-downs, the aircraft manufacturers consider that they will be able to produce for 30 or more days by flying in supplies Natural gas began to move from Louisiana to Ohio through the “Little Inch” pipeline to-day and is expected to flow through the “Big Inch” in a few d iys.