Show Thousands Quit Coal Pits in Lewis Lew s Protest PITTSBURGH April 20 INS Thousands of soft oft coal miners I quit the pits Tuesday in sullen protest aga the conviction and fine of John JohnL L. L L wil and t the e eI I United United Mine Mine Workers on a federal contempt charge The rapidly spreading protest movement threatened to embrace the entire Industry and its miners within a matter of hours The walkouts which began M Monday soon after Lewis' Lewis conviction conviction tion was announced already in include include in- in clude elude about miners That figure was expected to be bemore bemore bemore more than tham doubled when night nightshifts nightshifts nightshifts shifts are due to to- report late Tues Thee day Exhaust Reserves Coal doal operators the steel industry industry industry in in- their bituminous 1 reserves already virtually exhausted bec because because be be- c cause use of the 29 day 29 day walkout recently recently re re- partially concluded felt production would be virtually nil by W Wednesday One responsible source said The temper of L f. the n miners iners is such that I dont don't think they'll even wait for a supreme co court rt decision decision de de- de- de cislon in the Lewis case before making the protest strike protest strike general They're angry Their reluctance to wait even for the sentence Tuesday indicates their unwillingness unwilling unwilling- ness to work so long as the court case hangs over Lewis I feel that only direct word from Lewis telling them to continue continue continue con con- working will prevent another another another an an- other disastrous strike Prevention Doubtful It was doubtful the fact the government can send Lewis to jail in event of ot another widespread protest strike will prevent further work stoppages A continued strike at thi time would virtually paralyze the steel Industry alre already dy grinding to a ahalt ahalt ahalt halt when wilen the recent work stoppage stop page which bro brought about Lewis Lewis' conviction ended U Ti M MV WI V officials were noncommittal noncommittal noncommittal noncom noncom- for the most part upon learning of the fine against the union and Lewis But the g general temper of the miners the past few days has been We wont won't stand for a fine or jail sentence against Lewis Wyoming Miners Join Utah in Coal Walkout I Ithe Backing verbal dissatisfaction of ot the fine imposed upon John L. L Lewis and nd his United Mine Workers Work Work- ers with action soft coal miners See Page 2 Column 5 i. i PROTEST STRIKE Continued from rage Page One in the Rock Springs Wyo area began egan a walkout Tuesday joining their fellow rellow Utah miners in idle idle- ness ness Approximately matel Utah miners have hav remained off the job since the start of the unwilling n ss to work walkout a month ago iJ Union leaders in the Carbon and Emery coal cohl fields In Utah who reportedly were awaiting de decI decision decision de- de cI 3 on in the case against Lewis and the union before announcing a r return turn to work were noncommittal noncommittal noncom noncom- Tuesday regarding the sen sen- ten tence e. e It was reported however that they would meet dur during ng the next few days to decide what action would be taken regarding continuance of the walkout The walkout in th the Wyoming area followed a pattern set in eastern and southern collieries where many many off the job Monday night Miners and other citizens in Carbon Carbon Car Car- bon hon county were of the opinion t that at the idleness at the 21 major coal ml mines es in the area would continue indefinitely Approximately miners are off the job in the Utah coal fields according to B. B P. P Manley manager manager man man- ager Utah Coal Operators Operator's They have been idle since M March 15 Only one mine was reported operating in the Rock Springs coal fields Tuesday morning that being the Stansbury mine of the Union Pacific Coal Co The men there represent only 75 orthe of or the normal shift strength |