Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 17, Number 17, DeMotte, Jasper County, 21 March 1947 — LEWIS BARS COAL STRIKE ON APRIL 1 [ARTICLE]

LEWIS BARS COAL STRIKE ON APRIL 1

Withdraws Adv ic e That Miners Should! Not Work After* April 1 Washington John L. Lewis! forrrially Qjnded yesterday any threat of a strike in the soft coal fields on April 1. In a 20V word lptter to Secretary of the Interior Krug, Lewis un 7 conditionally withdrew his notice j of last Nov. 1 o in which he had j brought to an end the miners’ con-j tract with the government. Lewis also sent a letter to all members of* his A. F. L. Uhited Mijic Workers Union, in which he withdrew his advice given; to the j members on Dec. 7 that they j should continue wcirk only until April 1. 4 Lewis’ action apparently insured'. peace in the soft coal fields at least until June 30, when flu government relinquishes its operation of the mines. His 1 # actiop in force the contract he signed with Krug late last spring after the government had seized the mines to end a 50-day stoppage. It was this contract that Lewis sought to end last fall. The government obtained an order from Federal Judge T. Alan (loldsborough directing Lewis and his miners to call off a strike that followed in November. When Lewis refused, he and the miners were held guilty of contempt, Lewis was fined $10,0.00 and the United Mine Workers were fined $3,500,000. The Supreme Court upheld the contempt convictions and Lewis’ fine. The court, hovyever, directed that the union fine be reduced to $700,000, provided Lewis withdraw his notice ending the cor tract with the government within five idays after issuance of the Supreme Court mandate. That mandate is to be filed with the Federal'. District Court today. Tints, by obeying the court order Lewis saves the mine union a possible additional fine of $2,800,000. Unless Congress takes action to extend authority of the government t(k seize'' arid operate such properties in the public interes ■ the] tenure of the coal mines administrator will cease June 30. Krug planned no immediate step to get the mine leaders and operators together for negotiation. His aids pointed out that the initiative could.be taken by the l operators or Lewis without government prodding.