THE NATION: Cease Forthwith

Just to prove that he was doing what he was told, John Lewis issued a second order to his miners: "Cease forthwith all stoppages and return to work without delay."

The order, and a report that blamed the operators' "obstructive tactics" for the long stalemate in negotiations, went out to United Mine Workers locals. But early this week thousands of Lewis' miners were still disregarding his instructions. The nation's coal mines were still closed.

Whether John Lewis actually meant his miners to go back, only Lewis could say, and the cat had his tongue. But of the facts of the situation there was no doubt. As his miners continued to disobey him, the better his bargaining position—if not his legal position—had become.

Federal Judge Richmond Keech, who had ordered Lewis to send his men back to work, ordered the U.M.W. into court later this week. The union would have to show why it should not be held in contempt of the Taft-Hartley injunction that its men were defying. With his two instructions on the record, Lewis himself had an obvious defense. In any case, that argument might drag out. Meanwhile, what about the coal? What was the country's defense against a strike that brought about economic paralysis? Harry Truman had declared that he had no right to seize the mines and did not want it.

While the grim farce continued, the emergency had become real. Steel plants prepared to shut down and coal was rationed to city-dwellers. Power was cut, railroad service curtailed. Estimates were that the country as a whole had only eight days' supply of coal; some areas were already down to almost nothing.

This week, as the Administration pondered what to do next, Lewis haughtily sat down again to talk things over with the operators.