The St. Louis Times from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 7

The St. Louis Times Page 7 Dec. 27-28, 1978 Nobody Tells Globe 'Vet' To Stay Out Slyggdir tW RTJ IP I .1 -xzsL by Jo Anne Davis Harry Mitauer is not about to stop coming to work just because he's been locked out. And nobody at the Globe-Democrat is about to tell him he can't. After 45 years, it would be like turning the man out of his own home.

"Harry's the only guy who's ever gotten bawled out for showing up late on his day off," said Executive Sports Editor Bob Burnes, one of the few who calls Mitauer by his given name rather than "Slugger," a nickname he earned many years ago after hitting four home runs for a Globe baseball team. At 72, Slugger still compiles sports statistics and has at hand stacks of little-known facts about just about any sport. His primary interests are baseball and bowling. Ask him the earned run average of a certain obscure relief pitcher in 1955, and he can tell you. "It's the only way I keep out of trouble," he says, shaking a head of full, white hair, slicked back in waves.

Around him, a thick cloud of smoke from his cigar permeates the air. The Globe is Slugger's life. Slugger didn't have to worry about what he would do during the newspaper strike, when Globe employees were laid off. He has been at the place he likes best the fifth floor of the almost-deserted Globe-Democrat doing the things he likes best compiling his statistics, sending out hundreds of Christmas cards and working on preparations for the annual dinner of the St. Louis Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Harry Mitauer in familiar spot in Globe sports department. (Photo by Scott Dine) that'll get him through a game 15 for friends and the rest for players who do well," Burnes said. And so the strike continues, and while some out-of-work staff members work on interim papers, look for free-lance jobs or collect unemployment, Slugger continues to sort and clip the pile of wire service copy that keeps coming. Before his 99-y ear-old mother entered a nursing home a few years ago, Slugger usually went to Florida in December. Because he wasn't in Florida this December, did that mean he wasn't going to take a vacation? "I'm on one now," he said with a smile.

Slugger shrugs. "Three, maybe 4 in the morning." "How long?" Burnes tries again. But Slugger just smiles, the left side of his mouth gnawing on the ever-present cigar. You'd never know he is really such a soft touch. But he is.

He is ready with loans for everyone from the copy boy to the reporter who comes up short before payday, with Christmas turkeys for the cleaning ladies and cash remembrances for the hotel telephone operators who wake him up every day, and with cigars for anyone who'll take them. "When he goes to a baseball game he takes about 30 cigars: 10 for himself Slugger like an executive can walk right in. He's one of the first fixtures a newcomer learns to spot. "See that guy? He lives here," is one of the first things a new security guard is told. "I guess I stay longer than I should," he said.

"I think I'm the unofficial watchman. During our regular work hours, I never leave until 2 in the morning Nearby, there is a guffaw. Burnes, whose first assignment 43 years ago was to help Slugger on a baseball story, knows understatement when he hears it. "How long?" No Formal Negotiations Held In Paper Strike the Post-Dispatch. Nicholas G.

Penniman, assistant general manager for the Post-Dispatch, would say only that a news blackout has been imposed "at the request of one of the parties." O'Reilly said there were no meetings scheduled with the dockhands and invoked the blackout on the "time and substance" of any sessions with the paperhandlers. Meanwhile, the pressmen's union, which County Water Rate Increase Recommended by Jeff Gelles There were no formal negotiations Tuesday between two striking unions and officials of the Post-Dispatch, and a news blackout was imposed on the scheduling of future talks. Federal Mediator Michael O'Reilly met with members of the paperhandlers union Tuesday for 2xh hours, but representatives from the Post-Dispatch were not present. Tom Atkins, president of the paperhandlers, said the union had "reaffirmed and outlined our position" during the session after which O'Reilly conferred with Post officials by telephone. No talks were held involving the other striking unions, dockworkers and drivers for the Berberich Delivery which delivers started the shutdown of both daily papers when it went on strike Nov.

20, ratified a new contract Sunday. Alex Frigo, president of the pressman's union, said after the 164-36 ratification vote, "We were able to maintain the manning tables, which we consider the lifeblood of our union." So the pressman's union, where it all began, has taken down its picket lines, but the end is not in sight. Under the reported terms of the settlement the company can eliminate through attrition at least five journeymen pressmen and 14 flymen. "There is no specific agreement that any number of journeymen pressmen will be maintained," Penniman said. of the $4.6 million the utility sought.

The range would depend on the amount of profit allowed. The staff proposals usually carry much influence in PSC decisions. The PSC has until March to make its decision. The company's last rate increase was in 1975. JEFFERSON CITY A rate increase for the St.

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