Locust Valley, NY  
                      October 25, 1941                      
 
                 Personal and Confidential                  
 
                Memorandum to the President:                
 
                     From: Myron Taylor                     
 
                                                            
 
 
On my return last night, I was surprised and disapointed to receive a   
message from Mr. Davis nominating me for a joint activity with Mr. John  
L. Lewis to settle a question which the Mediation Board seems not to be   
courageous enough to set upon themselves. It will be no surprise to you    
to know that I immediatly wired Mr. Davis that I was not available for   
                       that service.                        
 
                                                            
 
 
Among the resons for this, that in 1937 when I concluded the union   
recognition and collective bargaining arrangements of the United  
States Steel corporation with Mr. Lewis and the C.I.O., I incurred the  
undeserved enmity of the so-called Little Steel group, who are also   
involved in the present captive mine controversy. You will recall that  
with your assistance, I led the captive mine group through the early   
phases of that controversy in 1934 or 1935 to the successful conclusion   
which was then reached and which has endured without corruption until the  
present time. I am, therefore, not on a basis that would promote successful  
leadership with the Little Steel Group in this present emergency, and it   
would be most unfair to you and to the emergency, this fact in mind, if I  
                    should undertake it.