The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-10-15
RAIL CRISIS
LEAD TAKEN
BY HARDING
President Takes Hand by
Designating Labor Board
and Interstate Commerce
Commission to Act.
UNIONS SILENT ON CALL
tBy Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15.-President
today assumed active leader
ship in the governments effort 10 SET
tie differences between the railroads
and their employees, and designated
as the best available agencies to avert
serious labor complications the public
group of the railroad labor board and
the membership of the interstate com
merce commission.
The president brought together the
three public representatives on the
wage board and the full membership
of the commission in a meeting to
consider not only the threatened ma
tion-wide strike, but the whole quez
tion of a re-adjustment of railroad
rates and wages.
The three wage board members,
Chairman Barton G. Wallace, W.
Hanger and Ben W. Hooper, came to
Washington at the presidents request
and went with him to the offices of
the interstate commerce commission,
where all the members of the commits
sion were awaiting.
The president remained in confer
ence for Is minutes and then returned
to the white house, where a state
ment was issued declaring his move
was part of a general realignment of
the railroad situation.
Consider Adjustment
"The purpose of the meeting" said
the white house sta atement, was a
broad consideration of the possibility
of an early adjustment of railroad
rates and wages, in the expectation
that it would contribute to the indus
trial revival"
No specific mention of the threat
ened strike was made in the state
ment, although it was indicated that
the situation, precipitated by the vir-
tual decision of the employees union.
has brought Mr.. Harding's plan to a
head
1t was assumed that the strike pro-
posals formed the topic of discussion
at the conference
The statement issued at the white
house outlined the presidents belief
that the public group of the wage
board and the members of the com
mission could do most for the public
welfare if they worked in cooperation.
1t also emphasized the opinion held
in administration quarters, that a re-
adjustment of the whole rail situation
would be of the greatest possible aid
toward a general industrial rehabiIi-
tation.
CHICAGO, Oct. 15.-Railroad broth
erhood chiefs after two weeks of con-
ferences with their general chairmen
and executive committees, wound up
their sessions early this afternoon
without issuing a strike call and with
no announcement of their conclusions.
High officers of the brotherhoods
prepared to depart for Cleveland to-
night where the strike order, if it is
! issued, will be sent out from general
headquarters.
| According to unofficial sources the
strike date has been set for Oct. &c.
! None of the brotherhood leaders would
confirm this date. They know the au-
thorization of their membership, how
ever, to order walkout whenever it
| is deemed advisable
| Confer Jointly.
| Twelve other railroad organiza ton
executives were comforting Jointly this
afternoon all holding the same author
tlzation. Their action, according to
the head of one of these organizations
probably would coincide with that Of
the brotherhoods.
A suite of offices in a downtow n
building were opened by the four
brotherhoods today with the designa.
ton special joint committee on the
door The names of the organizations
iappeared underneath.
Harry P. Daugherty, assistant grand
| n of n q sc T
Engineers is in charge of the commit
tee. Brotherhood officials denied re
ports that the new officers were IN.
tended as strike headquarters. saying
that the committee was established
to transact routine business principal
ly with the railroad labor board.
Say Hope Destroyed.
Union leaders who had been hopeful
of averting strike, some of whom
had even opposed it, declared today
that the action of the railroad ex
ecutives yesterday in deciding or
further wage reductions, have de
stroyed the last hope of peace
1T will be the greatest strike ir
history" President Lee, of the train
men, was quoted as saying as he left
the union conference "It is life anG
Geath struggle for our organization
and we are not going into this will
our eyes closed. Our house is in order
and we are ready
The 16 unions involved have a tota
membership of about 100000
No Violation Intended
Notices to be posted by railroad d
next week, announcing another 10 pc
cent cut in wages effective in 80 days
will not mean an immediate reductio,
on that date, it was authoritative,
: stated in railroad circles today.
! The railroads do not intend to vic
, late the transportation act clause
providing for appeal to the Unite
States railroad labor board, it was in
dicated, because to do SO would alien
> ate public opinion. The plan to b
7 followed as provided by law is:
The railroads will post their notice
4 announcing the cut in 80 days an
: then invite the union committee t
!; conferences to discuss the cuts. L
: event the union men refuse to accep
. it, the dispute will then be referre
: to the labor board for adjustment. tn
. cut being automatically suspended pr
p til either approved or denied by tn
: board. Decision by the boa I'd may b