Show PUT ON PRESSURE I. I Lewis Krug Confer C nf r rOn On Coal Contract WASHINGTON ASHINGTON V May 22 UP John John L. L Lewis president of ot the United Mine Workers A F FL L and Secy of ot Interior J. J A. A Krug Wednesday opened negotiations on ona ona ona a union government-union soft coal contract contract con con- tract including discussion of some sort of welfare fund for the min mm- ers The government put on the thc pressure for tor some agreement before before before be be- fore the week two strike truce expires expires ex ex- pires Saturday It sought a contract as thousands thousands thousands thou thou- sands of bituminous miners refused refused refused re re- re- re fused to work for the government on this first day of federal opera opera- the nations nation's soft coal mines Despite the truce the general general gen gen- eral attitude of the thc idle miners was no contract ct no work work even even for the government Confer Again As evidence of ot the pressure beIng being being be be- ing exerted for a quick agreement Lewis and Krug conferred for three hours this morning mornin and re re- re sum d negotiations at 3 3 p. p m. m E EST S T An interior department spokesman spokes spokes- man disclosed that Krug asked Chairman Arthur Altmeyer of the social security board to join the afternoon conference Altmeyer will give advice on the union demand demand demand de de- de- de mand for fora a U UI M V W welfare fund Negotiations between Lewis and the coal operators broke down on that controversial issue forcing President Truman to order federal federa seizure of the thc min mines s as of 12 1201 01 a. a m. m Wednesday l I Doesn't Imply U. U S. S Aid d The interior depar department ment spokesman spokes spokes- I man was asked if it Altmeyer's presence presence presence pres pres- I ence indicated government participation pation in administering the proposed proposed proposed pro pro- posed fund Not necessarily he replied It was not known what type o of welfare fund the government had hadIn hadin hadin in mind but it appeared certain that it would not consent to a I fund administered exclusively by bythe bythe bythe the union Mr Truman himself himsel said recently that he believed that would be a violation of the Wagner Wagner Wag Wag- ner ncr labor law In his futile negotiations with mine owners Lewis had demanded See Page Pago 2 Column 1 Lewis Krug Drug Speed Up Contract Negotiations Continued from Pago One Onea a a. welfare fund financed fInanced fi financed fI- fI entirely by the operators but administered exclusively by byth bythe bythe th the union The operators flatly rejected the demand Krug Negotiates Krug is II authorized under Mr Truman Truman's mine seizure order to negotiate with Lewis a contract for the period covering government government govern govern- ment meat operations of ot the mines Thousands of miners failed to show up for work today even even though the week two-week truce In the coal strike d does s not expire until Saturday Lewis gave no Indication whether he would ask the miners to remain at work The weight of ot evidence suggested the miners would stop t r work Saturday unless a 8 wage agreement Is is' s' s reached r Lewis Lewis' Order Needed ded I I Lewis would not order the minera min min- min min-I I era ers to strike because this would violate the Smith Smith-Connally war labor Jabor disputes act But he could fan fail to tell the tho miners rs to stay on the Job job and and they would cease work at midnight Saturday When Lewis ordered them back to work after a crippling week six-week strike he be limited the truce to a week two week period which will expire at that Doesn't Forbid Strikes The Smith-Connally Smith act docs does not prohibit strikes strike In government government- operated properties it specifically provides that an individual worker remaining away from his job Is not violating the act It does docs however forbid any person from engaging in activity presumably activity presumably It must be overt activity activity to to encourage encourage encourage en en- courage strikes or other Interruptions interruptions lions of production in properties In government possession Krug disclosed Lewis was asked Tuesday whether the miners would work He quoted Lewis as assa assaying assaying sa saying the Smith-Connally Smith act left the thc decI decision lon to individual workers We Ve requested his support Krug Krog told reporters He has bos that under consideration |