Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-11
CABINET CONSIDERS
SERIOUS WAR PHASES
Russian Situation, Labor Troubles
and Prices Discussed at
Lengthy Session.
sLAvs NEED AMERICAN AID
Difficulties Of transportation Would
Tend to Make Forces Ineffective.
Germans VIII Find Little Grain In
Odessa Should Port Be Captured.

WASHINGTON. August Io.--A three
hour meeting of tho Cabinet to-day
was confronted with these serious
phases OF the war situation:
I. Russia.
2. Labor trouble.
3. Prices.
Russia already has more nshtin.
men than she knows what to do with.
Yet Charles Edward Russell. OF the
Root mission, Is not alone in his opinion
that our troops should so to stiffen the
waverlng Russian line. Tho Cabinet
was told to-day that there was dis
tinguished opinion in the War College
In favor of such q campaign.
Yet the same difficulties which miti-
gate In large extent to make tho
Russian forces ineffective operate
against placing any effective force Of
ours on the eastern front. These are
the difficulties Of transportation and
subsistence. Russia's TRANSITIONAL
railway is still only a single-track
line. choked already to stranguiation
by such supplies as come from Japan
and the eastern end Of the new re-
public. Her rail line to the Arctic
port was not completely connected up
at last reports. These are the only
ways In which our aid can reach Rus
STA. And Russia, the Cabinet was told
in convincing terms to-day. desperately
needs our aid.
Such advices as the United States
has are assuring regarding the RUS
sian food and munition supply. The
food In particular, however. Is scat
tered and cannot be assembled, due to
tho lack OF rail transports. The one
consoiing feature OF this situation. as
it was pictured to-day. was that even
though the German Austrian drive to
Odessa should be successful. Germany
will find little grain there. Practically
none has been gathered at this port
since Russia entered the war. 1t Ia
still scattered in the cribs of tho
peasants.
The Cabinet to-day considered va
rious methods Of sending railway sup
plies and railway workers to Russia.
1t was even suggested that the ensi-
neer regiments now in training might
be used to better advantage In Rus
STA than in France and Belgium.
CABINET CONSIDERS
SERIOUS LABOR PROBLEM
Even more serious wore the prob
lens OF labor and prices which the
Cabinet discussed. the President was
reported as deeply concerned over the
labor problem. In the face OF the
pledge OF Samuel Gompers and other
leaders at the outbreak OF war that
strikes will be avoided, the President
heard OF strikes and threats OF strikes
on government work and in private
Industry. He himself is hopeful that
the work of Herbert Hoover, now the
food dictator. with ofIlcial power, will
lower tho cost CT living and remove
what he considers the chief cause Of
labor unrest.
Members of his Cabinet to-day. how
ever. urged that more stringent meth
DDS be adopted to suppress labor
trouble. They want the compulsory
arbitration policy yesterday adopted
by tho Council Of National Defense
Immediately and rigidly applied to ali
government work. They would like
to see method devised for tho main
tenance of private industry without
interruption. 1t was noted that At
torney-Generai Gregory and Secretary
OF Labor Wilson. with Secretary Rod
hoid. OF the Commerce Department,
were among the last OF the Presidents
aavixsrs to leave the meeting. 1t il
believed that the President consulted
them about the possibility of alien in
nuences back Of some OF the labor
disturbances, and the possibility Of
proceeding against the disturbers
The split upon the question of price.
divided the Cabinet sharply over tho
extent to which the government should
go In interfering with private enter
prise, Secretaries Houston, Burleson
and Lane are known to believe that
the government must put some faith
In the fairness and patriotism of bust,
ness men, big and little.
Secretaries Baker and Daniels, on the
other hand. backed by Mr.. McAdoo.
insist that all costs should be deter .
mined and prices set on a strict cost.
plus fair profit basis.