The New York herald., 1921-10-17

men, known as the four big broth
tieup Of the country's transportation sys-
tenn. the people should bring to bear
| upon both parties the pressure Of an
impartial public sentiment"
President Goes Over Reports.
The President spent several hours In
the executive Offices to-day going over
| confidential reports which ne received
on the situation. He will confer with
Attorney General Daugherty tomorrow.
The Attorney General and other Cabinet
members absent from Washington are
hurrying back.
Postmaster-G General Hays was at his
office nearly all day. in consultation with
officials Of the department. While Mr..
Hays made no statement for publication.
It became known tonight that the Ad-
ministration has determined to keep the
mails moving at all hazards. even to the
calling out OF troops to run the trains
and the arming of the trains sufficiently
| to protect them in case OF any violence.
which. however. Is not expected.
| Mr.. Hays will confer tomorrow with
Mr.. Daugherty as to the authority OF the
| Government in handling strike which
may Interfere with the malls. Later In
the day he will see Secretary OF War
Weeks.
President Harding and other Govern
ment officials are not convinced that
general railroad strike will take place.
An insurgent or outlaw strike OF some
| of the men Is all that Is feared. But
the Government is making its prepara-
| ton in case the unexpected happens.
| The Post once Department will use
airplanes In large numbers. motor trucks.
motorboats and every other means OF
transportation to keep the mails moving.
! One Of the things which Mr.. Hays VIII
take up tomorrow with Mr.. Weeks Is
| the quest on OF obtaining army airplanes
and flyers to supplement the postal fly
ing force.
Hone for Peaceful Settlement.
| For the present the man purpose OF
! the Administration will be 10 try to ar
range a peacefuf settlement. Behind the
belief OF the Administration that there
will be no strike is the firm conviction.
ba sed or the logic Of the situation and
official reports. that the union leaders
do not want a strike at this time be-
/ cause the chances would b" all against
them Sentiment in Congress and
throughout the country generally Is
known to be overwhelmingly against a
strike.
Furthermore It Is no secret that the
railroad executives are not bothered
over the situation and believe that now
! is the best time In their history for a
strike to come. as they would have the
people and the Government necessarily
on their side.
| High officials tonight emphasized the
statement that the Presidents meeting
with the three representatives Of the
public on the Railroad Labor Board
and their later conference with the In
terstate Commerce Commission was ar
ranged before the strike call was issued
The meetings were actually In progress
| at the White House before the strike cal
was officially made known.
1t Is noted that the union officials
gave much publicity to an order issued
purporting to be regulations for the
| conduct of a strike. In the past 1t has
| been the practice Of the union leaders
to preserve strictest secrecy as to such
orders when they had determined to
walk out.
The Government. In short, believes
the union leaders are arming themselves
| for a period OF negotiations. The max
ing public OF the strike regulations and
lieved. constitute a gesture In line Will
| the plan to negotiate.
Power in Harding's Hands.
The President, OF course. can compc
the union leaders to postpone a walk
our by calling them into conference al
the last minute. He then can propose
tl.at the whole matter be submitted foi
adjustment TO the combined tribunal
con posed OF the Railroad Labor Boart
and the Interstate Commerce Com
mission.
Should the union leaders discover 9
graceful means of declining the proposal
tho President then may suggest the for.
nation OF a special tribunal to be named
Jointly by him and the unions. This was
done in the coal strike and the unior
leaders found no escape.
4 There is ore measure to which the
union leaders would agree instantly. Of
ficials here have been told. This would
be for the Government to take over the
rords and operate them pending a set
tlement Government operation of the
roads hos been sought by the unions
I since the nrmistice.
Postmaster General Hays, like other
members OF the Cabinet. believes there
will not be any strike. but he will &C
ahead with his plans to meet n strike
II II should come. The Government, In
/ brief. IL prepared TO. take an aggressive
stand II the strike actually materializes
Secretary Hoover. foremost student oi
the Administration In railroad questions
thus far has refrained from discussion
OF the probable outconv OF the strike
call. His views expressed prior to tn,
call by the brotherhood leaders dis.
couraged the idea that strike Is pos
sIblc. IL Is said he still adheres e
that view,
said TO ne Blum Of Unions.
Several OF the Presidents closest ad
visers have informed him the pres
ent move by the brotherhoods include.
a certain element OF "5luffing" Will,
the strike vote OF the railroad mcr
showed 90 per cent. In favor OF strik,
on the ground that the recent wage cu
was unacceptable to them, their rea
objective now IL to prevent still fur.
ther cut which Is planned by the rail
road executives.
In the words OF one high official. {
member of the Presidents ofTicial fam
fly, railroad labor now is "jockeying'
itself into position 10 thwart the raj
heads In other moves for wage slash
ing. The Administration In said 90 b.
impressed by the utter disregard of tn
public interes. in the lateet stroke o
the railroad workmen. IL there Is an.
direct move by tho Administration TO
ward getting the brotherhoods TO reced
from their decision TO walk ou' n vii
NC upon the ground that such actio'
| - a. t.a 10 nv