The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-11

Washington Aug. IA three-hour
meeting of the cabinet Friday was
confronted with these serious phases
of the war situation:
Russia. labor trouble cnd prices
Russia already has more fighting
men than she knows what to do WITH
Yet Charles Edward Russell, or the
Root mission. is not alone in his opin-
ion that our troops should go to stiff
fen the wavering Russian Rne. Inc
cabinet was told today that there was
distinguished opinion in the war COL
leee in favor of such a campaign
Yet the same difficulties whlch
initiate in a large extent to MAKE Inc
Russian forces ineffective, operate
against placing any etfeclNe loIce u
ours on the eastern front. 1hese dI
the difficulties of transportation anu
subsistence. Russias trans-SlDerlah
railway is still only a single track me,
choked already to stranSulatloh "
such supplies as come from Japan anu
the eastern end of the new rep IN IN,
Her rail line to the Arctic port wa wa
not completely connected up at last
renorts These are the only ways in
which our aid can reach Russia. Anu
Russia, the cabinet was told IN con-
vincing terms, desperately needs our
aid.
Russia Has SupIhN9
Such advices as the United states
has. are assuring regarding the ~ Srtt
sian food and munition supply ne
food in particular, however, IS scat
tered and cannot be assembled, Que 70
the lack of rail transportation. IN
one consohng feature OF TINS STU tloi.'
as it was pictured today VISA that' eNel,
tho the German-Austflan oI Il'11,
Odessa. should be successful, GerIndnS
will find little grain there. PractlcdI+
" none has been gathered at TINS Po!t
since Russia entered the war. II /
still scattered in the cribs OF the
peasants. ,,a,.io,,s
,,a+bods of sending railway supphes
and railway workers to RUSSIA: II
was even suggested that the engineer
regiments now in training might De
used to better advantage III H"9941
than in France and Belgium
Labor Problems at Home.
Even more serious were the prob
lems of labor and prices Whlch the
nabinet discussed. The president was
,.enrasented as deeply concerned over
the labor problem. In the lace VI
the hedge of Samuel Gompers ana
other leaders at the outbreak Oh Wai
that strikes Will be avoided, the pres
ident heard of strikes ana In 80 -;
strikes on government work ana III
nt-ivate industry. He, himself IS nope
mi that the work of Herbert Hoover;
now the food dictator, with oLtlclaI
mower. will lower the cost OF hNlHS
"a remove what he considers the
chef cause of labor unrest. Members
of his cabinet today, however urged
that more stringent methods be ADOPT
ed to suppress labor troubles. 1hTS
want the compulsory arbitration pol-
icy adopted by the councll Oh na lioiiei
defense Immediately and rigidly APP
piled to all government work. Ihey
would like to see an analogous method
devised for the maintenance OF private
industry without interruption.
1t was noted that Attorney Genera
Gregory and Secretary of Labor vii
son, with Secretary Redfield of the
commerce department, were among
the last of the presidents advisers TO
leave the meeting. 1t is believed that
the president consulted them ABOUT
the possibility of alien influences back
Of some of the labor disturbances and
the possibility of proceeding against
the disturbers.
Issue Call to Labor.
There VS. an almost unanimous
opinion among cabinet officers that
the president at this time should issue
a call to labor similar to the call he
made upon business.
The split upon the question of prices
divided the cabinet sharply over the
extent to which the government
should &C II interfering with private
enterprise. Secretaries Houston,
Burleson and Lane are known to be-
lieve that the government must put
some faith in the fairness and patri-
otism of business men, big and little
They believe that the government can
not successfully take over any large
business interest. Secretaries Baker
and Daniels, on the other hand
backed by MIR. McAdoo, insist that all
costs should be determined and prices
set upon a strict cost plus fair profit
basis. irrespective of whether private