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PREDICT BITTER LABOR WAR WASHINGTON, D. C, April 7.--In a move which may touch off one of the most bitter labor wars in the nations history, a group of soft coal operators in West Virginia today I agreed to enter into contract negotiations with the A. F. of L.s miners union. Coming at a time when the C. I. O.s United Mine Workers Union and soft coal operators were deadlocked in contract negotiations in New York, the action of the West Virginia group may lead to open warfare between the C. I. O. and the A. F. of L. in the important coal fields. It also may rock President Roosevelts labor peace conferences to their foundations. The move of the West Virginia operators was forced by an ultimatum served on them by the A. F. of L. Progressive Miners Union, the C. I. O.s rival in the coal fields.
