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Secretary,” rolling his voice out.

“Well,” I said, “what would you think of asking the Secretary of the Interior to take it over. With a government seizure of course it remains the property of the owners, operated by the government, operated by the Secretary of the Interior.”

He said, “Do you understand that that would mean that the United Mine Workers' contracts would be honored?”

I said, “Why, yes, certainly they would. It couldn't be anything else. The government takes it over to operate it, with all the obligations of the owners still standing.

The contract of the United Mine Workers stands. If the government wishes to make any changes, the government agrees with the United Mine Workers as to what those changes are, for the period of time the government is in control, just for that operation.”

He said, “What kind of a man is Ickes? He has a good reputation, but I know nothing of him. He has a good reputation as an honest man, but that means nothing to me.”

“Well,” I said, “I don't know, Mr. Lewis. I'm not sure that he would do it. I think probably he wouldn't do it, as a matter of fact. I think he will make a great row about it, but I didn't want to even broach the subject unless it was agreeable to you. I really mean that, because I think he'll probably throw it right back. I won't broach