Communiqu

Massive in his padded swivel chair in the Washington headquarters of the United Mine Workers. John L. Lewis chomped on a big cigar, dispatched orders, conferred with his captains and awaited reports from the field.

Occasionally John L.'s phone would jangle with news of another victory. Big John would dictate to a press aide a curt communique which concluded with a half-hopeful, half-commanding "More tonnage will sign." The press covered U.M.W. like a military HQ. Almost every night last week, U.M.W. was able to report to the newsmen that another company or two had agreed to boost pay (from $14.05 to $15 a day) and increase royalties for the miners' welfare fund (from 20-c- to 35-c- a ton). Lewis, unable to beat the ganged-up might of coal-industry leaders, was trying to pick them off, company by company. Actually, John L. Lewis was winning nothing but minor skirmishes, which he proclaimed as victorious battles. Most of his 480,000 miners were still working a three-day week. By week's end, barely 2% of the nation's soft-coal mines had surrendered to his terms.

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