Omaha daily bee., 1920-04-11
PRESIDENT
ARRA|GNED
BY CUMM|NS
Senior Iowa Senator Declares
Wilson's Delay in Naming
Railway Labor Board, in Face
Of Strike 'lnexCusabIe."
RUMORS OF RELAPSE
THICK IN WASHINGTON
Congress Taking More Notice
Of Reports That Chief Ex.
ecutive Has Again Suffered
Setback in Health.

SSNk'vS ''0o 'SCui SN''Ss w
Setback in Health.
Chicago Tribune e-Omaha Bee Leased Wire
Washington, April 10.-With the
railroad strike menace continuing
to grow. President Wilson failed
again today to appoint the railroad
labor board and congress began to
take more stock in the persistent
rumors that the chief executive has
suffered a relapse. In no other way
were senator's and representatives
able to understand why, in view oi
the switchmen's strike, the presi-
dent has not named the board SET
up for just such emergencies by the
Cummins-Esch railroad act.
Senator Cummins of Iowa, chair
man of the senate interstate COM
merce commission and one of the
authors of the new railroad act, de-
clared that the presidtn's inaction
was "inexcusable and indefensible.' .
II have been hoping for three
weeks" he said, shat the presiden,
would name the board created by
the railroad act. Failure to do so is
holding up the demand Of the
switchmen for a consideration oi
their wage troubles.
On Edge of Volcano.
"The presidents inaction is utter
ly inexcusable and indefensible and
while the president does nothing
the country is being brought to the
edge of very active volcano.
"The men placed their demands
with Mr.. Hines and he. because Of
the short period of federal control
remaining, refused to grant them.
! The men then went to the president
who induced them to wait until the
machinery could be put in operation
to deal with their case. He told
them that such machinery would be
provided either by congress or BY
himself. .s ..-
"For six weeks now the president
has failed to act while Rome is burn
ing"
Big Four brotherhood officials do
not look with favor upon the pro-
posed congressional inquiry. Sena.
tor Cummins received kilograms to.
day from w. G. Lee, president OF
the trainmen's brotherhood. and w.
S. Carter, president of the Brother.
hood of Locomotive Firemen and
Enginemen. He declined to make
public the kilograms, but it is un-
derstood that Lee and Carter ex-
pressed the fear that congressional
intervention might hamper the ef-
forts of "Big Four" officials to bring
about a settlement.
Watchful Waiting.
The attitude of the entire govern
ment toward the strike continued
to be one of watchful apathy. The
president, Department of Justice
and Department of Labor were re-
ceiving reports on conditions, but
there was no indication OF any gov
ernment action to end the strike.
In some official quarters it was
declared the government would have
to intervene should the strike
spread to proportions which would
seriously menace the public welfare.
That stage, it was argued, had not
been reached and the prediction was
made that it would not, the govern
ment placing great confidence IN
the ability of the regular railroad
labor organizations to keep the sit
uation in check until the strike wore
itself out
How the government, il neces-
sarv. would intervene, has not been
made clear. 1t probably would make
ro effort to take over the roads as,
in the opinion of certain offlcials,
that is one of the purposes which
the radical strikers wish consum-
mated. But it might proceed by IN.
junction proceedings, arrest and
prosecute the leaders of the So
called renegade" organizations and
furnish troop guards for protection
of men operating the trains.
Expect Report Today.
G. w. w. Hanger, assistant direc-
tor of the United States board OF
mediation and conciliation, who
went to Chicago to investigate the
strike, is expected to report tomor-
row, but nothing is expected to de-
yelop toward bringing an end to
the strike through this board. Meth
er is the mediation board of the De
partment of Labor likely to make
successful move although it is ready
to act. But its services must first
be sought by one side or the other
in the controversary.
The Council of National Defense
declared today that should the strike
CT railway switchmen become et-
fective enough to cripple railway
transportation and imperil the food
supply of cities it would be possible
for the United States government on
comparatively short notice tomobi-
l;ze about $4,000 of its own motor
trucks to meet the resulting crisis,
and in the event of an obstinate
struggle. it would be entirely feasible
to reinforce them with 100000 pri-
yately owned trucks and eventually
with about 100000 passenger auto
mobiles,