The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-10-18
HARDING ALONE
CAN HALT TIEUP
ON RAIL LINES
Road Executives and
An In7passe.
Union Heads Reach
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright, 1929
(SDecial to The ArgusD

Washington, Oct. 17.-Executive
influence alone can save the nation
from a railroad strike.
Both the railroads and the en-
ployes have defied the United States
railroad labor board, created by
congress for the very purpose of
avoiding strikes. Where the fault
lies is hard for officials not in daily
touch with the situation to decide.
The fact is both sides have con-
Quoted continuous propaganda de-
signed to show that the initiative in
ignoring the railroad labor board
lies with the other.
And while the quarrels have
grown more intense, while some of
the railroads on the one hand have
goaded the employees to strike by
declaring they were ready to deal
a body blow to uniOnism, the en-
ployes on the other hand have in
sisted that if they take a cut i'll
wages the rate must come down for
freight and passenger service.
President Is Arbiter.
Between the two stands the pub
lie represented by a more or less
helpless group in the United States
railroad board but now represented
by the larger influence and power
of the chief executive upon whose
doorstep the problem has been de-
posfted-the railroads confident
that Mr.. Harding will force a wage
cut and the employees sure that the
president will not dare to use his
executive power to interfere in
labor controversy to their disad-
vantage. The employees know,
moreover, that in congress the DOW
erful agricultural bloc has been
trying for months to force a reduc-
ton in freight rates and that the
railroads will not escape this time
with simply victory over their en-
ployes if congress takes a hand.
President Harding Las reduced
the matter to simple formula i'll
that he recognizes that the inter
state commerce commission on the
one hand which controls the income
of railroads, and the United States
railroad board, which handles
large item in railroad expenditures
namely wages-have much in
common and that combined report
from both agencies will assist in an
intelligent settlement Of the prob
lem.
For months the railroads have
been insisting that they couldn't re-
cuce freight rates. They convinced
most everybody in the government
that they would be bankrupt by
July 1 unless aid was forthcoming
from congress, but that aid hasn't
been given and now October is here
with railroad earnings picking I'D.
Inc railroads have been making vol
untary reductions in freight rates
put Mr. Harding, who has from the
iirst insisted that rates must come
down, probably will not be satisfied
TINS time with promises of reduc-
uons but will find way to make
tnose reductions effective.
Pennsy Is Confident.
The fact that nearly two weeks
must eiapse before the strike order
taxes effect is looked upon as giving
ample opportunity for negotiation.
Meanwhile the word from railroad
sources is that a strike can he
fought and will not paralyze traffic.
General Atterbury, of the PennsyI-
Vanla railroad. is reported as saving
tnat the strike could be beaten by
MS road. 1t may be that his EN-
pioyes will not prove as loyal to the
unions as the leaders of the latter
tnlnk. 1t will be noted that the
union leaders have postponed the
strike order on the PENNSYLVANIA
Two days beyond the date of the
call to the workmen on other roads.
rms is interpreted here as meaning
that it is hoped to influence reluct
ant employees on the PENNSYLVANIA
by demonstrations of strength on
western railroads.
Feeling between the railroad ex-
ecutlves and the labor leaders has
been growing more intense every
day. The chances of reconciliation
between them are not considered
good. only the Intervention of the
executive can force a withdrawal of
tne strike order but it will have to
De accompanied by a reduction in
freight rates before it will get very
far with the employees.
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