New-York tribune., 1921-10-21
Capital Still
Retains Hope
OF Rail Truce
Failnre of Chicago Confer
cnce Causes Keen Disap-
pointment, but Is Held
Not Necessarily Final
Chance Seen i'm Rate Cut
Harding to Take Up Situa-
tion With Cabinet To-day;
Hoover to Protect Public

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20.--Receipt of
news from Chicago tonight to tho ef-
feet that the conference between the
Labor Board and railway union chiefs
had been fruitless in ending the threat
ened strike has caused feeling O.
deep disappointment here.
President Harding and the Cabil e
will discuss the situation at their
meeting tomorrow int the light of this
latest development.
The fact that the conference at Chi
cago has so far resulted in failure, as
viewed here, however, will not neces-
sarily mean the failure to settle the
strike. 1t has been believed from the
outset that reductions in railroad rates
would have an important bearing on n
settlement and would make the en-
ployees more disposed to some conces-
sions, inasmuch as lower rates give
some promise of lower cost of living.
Such reductions have practically been
decided on and are soon to be an
nounced.
Moreover. in spite of the fact the
roads SO far insist on an additional cut
in wages of 10 per cent to balance off
against cuts in rates, those best in
formed in high quarters deem it likely
the roads will forego seeking this
further reduction at this time.
Hoaas Assr conference prs.dan+ at the White
Chairman McChord, Of the Interstate
torney General Gof, the decided i'm
preston was given that an order could
be expected soon from the commission
putting into effect the reduction in
freight rates.
One of the definite developments Of
the day was the announcement that
preparations had been completed fox
the coordination under the Commerce
Department. of plans for transportation
Of essentials should the strike go into
effect. iM
Secretary Hoover, in announcing that
The Department of Comm cree was pre-
pared to serve as focal point for eff
forts of state and municipal govern
fuel and other primary commodities in
event of the strike, indicated that mo-
tor truck and water transportation
would be used to supplement any por-
tion Of the railroads left in operation.
Traffic experts have computed that
through the proper use of motor equip
ment, the average American city can
draw subsistence from contiguous ter
ritory within a radius of Atty miles.
Under this plan, 1T was said, COM
munity would not feel the effects Of
a national strike before several weeks
had passed, instead of in a few days,
as would have been the case ten years
ago.
Reports to the department indicate
that large industries generally have
been busy for some time assembling
reserve stocks of fuel and raw ma
terial. This preparation would permit
the departments relief work, It was
pointed out, to be centered in behalf
Of those industries which had been un-
able to take similar precaution and
would limit the danger of industrial
shut downs.
The two cases before the Interstate
Commerce Commission involving petit
tions for rate. reductions are that of
Western agricultural interests. who
have urged elimination of all war time
increases on grain, hay and feed, and
that of dealers in hardware and forest
products operating through territory
east of Arkansas, for material de-
creases in rates on lumber.
Developments to-day strengthened
the impression that the Administra-
ton would not move in the strike
situation until the Railroad Labor
Board had been given proper oppor-
tunity to function. 1t was reiterated
that the Administration was behind
the board, and would lend full sup
port to it's program now in process of
formation.