Arizona republican., 1921-10-19
HIGH OFFICIALS
 RECOGNIZE RAIL STRIKE AS TEST IF LABOR BOARD
Outcome of Negotiations In Chicago Will Determ- inc Practicability of Gov ernment Agency
Republican A. p. Leased wireJ


 WASHINGTON, Oct. 1S = The threatened railroad strike was recog- nized in high official circles today as having developed into the first real test of the practicability of the rail- road labor board. The outline of the negotiations now in progress. it was declared, would determine whether an entirely futile" agency has been created.
 Prominent in the defense put for ward by labor leaders in every con- troversy in the past, it was pointed out, was the pleaa that there was no legally constituted body before which they could lay their grievances, or to whose impartial judgment they could submit petitions for relief. With the labor board expressly created to fill the gap, assurance was given today that it would be permitted to have a free hand in it's efforts to meet the initial test provided by the disagree ment of the railroads and their em- ployes over wage schedules and work ing conditions
 With practically every active effort toward saverting the walkout sched- uled to begin Oct. 30, centered in Chi cago, the government today had com pleted its defensive plans and was watching developments.
 While authoritative information still was lacking as to the. basis on which the labor board was proceed ing, the impression was given that it involved some features, at least, of the suggestion put forward by the public members of the board Sun day as ''one feasible plan' for pre- venting a tieup.
 The probability that official sanc~
 I. ersr- f hot the July wage reduction be offset inn mediately by proportionate freight rate decreases was discussed in off cial circles. In case this was adopt ed as the governments compromise plan. the test of the railroad board S authority would arise immediately, it was pointed out in the question of its acceptance by either or both of the parties to the controversy.
 Apart from the suggestion of the | public group official intimation was l given that a freight rate reduction was being considered. There was nc i indication as to the factors on which such a rate revison would be formu 1 lated, or how soon a decision by the l proper governmental agencies could i be expected.
 | It was indicated that the entire SUD- l port of the government would b( 1 given the labor board in its efforts to
 reach a settlement and that other government agencies would be in l structed to cooperate actively
 With respect to his conference with the public group members here yes I terday, Attorney General Daugherty said he had gone over with then l every angle of the law under whicf the board operates and had examined into legal arguments and court de 1 cisionS covering various conspiracy 1 cases Whether this reference hat anything to do with the possible us'
 of the injunction. he declined to say
 He declared. however, that the de
 partment of justice expected to main
 tain silence on phases of the strikt | until called on for action, adding tha | if that time should come the gov ernment's legal branch would b
 ready.
 The department Is concerned witt rights of the public to transportation facilities, MT. Daugherty said, addini
 that the claims of each side would b
 given consideration. He held, how
 ever. that the keeping open of tn
 traffic lines was paramount.
 White House officials decline
 again to discuss the possibility of tn ' brotherhood chiefs being called her
 by the president The president wa
 understood to feel that the labo , board should go ahead on whateve l plan worked out and that he woul f deal with the question of talking wit the union heads when development should make it apparent such a mov was necessary or advisable. Reports that the action Of the labo board in summoning the brotherhoo , leaders to the Chicago conference wa result of the conference at tn
 White House prior to their departur , for Chicago lacked confirmation.