Miners take ‘holiday;’ war plants hum
Almost 100 pits unable to operate
Victory in Europe set back coal production in Western Pennsylvania.
War plant ‘patriots’ hear Truman, go home
President Truman had just finished his address proclaiming victory and urging all Americans to remain on their jobs.
At the Allenport plant of the Pittsburgh Steel Company, more than a thousand had listened in silence.
As he finished, one worker remarked: “Let’s go home.”
They all did.
Thirty-three thousand miners “celebrated” by taking the day off. But workers in virtually all district war plants remained at their posts.
The Solid Fuels Administration announced that almost 100 mines are closed, causing a production loss of 180,000 tons.
Mines open, close
Most pits failed to open when miners failed to show up. At two mines of the Pittsburgh Coal Company, the Midland and Somers, workers stayed in the pits only a few hours. Miners began emerging as President Truman proclaimed victory. When he finished reading his proclamation, they went home.
Today’s estimates raised the production loss in Western Pennsylvania coal fields to 2,140,000 tons since January 1, due to numerous strikes and “holidays” taken by the miners, and high absenteeism.
Absenteeism low
But in war plants workers were busy turning out weapons for continuance of the war against Japan.
At most plants, workers heard the president on plant P.A. systems.
Jones & Laughlin Steel Company, the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company and Curtiss-Wright at Beaver all reported absenteeism lower than average. A 20-minute program was held for Curtiss-Wright workers.
Carnegie-Illinois, the National Tube Company and the American Bridge Company all reported conditions normal.