New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-10-16
Government Is Ready to
Take Over Roads If
Necessary TO Provide
Needed Food and Fuel
Capital Is Uneasy
Over Situation,
Results of Countrywide
Tie-Up at This Crisis
Appalling, Say Senators


WASHINGTON, Oct 15.-Confrontod cd
with the mcrace Of general railroad
strike. the Administration to-day moved
TO prevent nation vide hating Of
transportation and the grave condi-
tons which would accompany it. Prcsi-
dent Harding summoned the public
group members OF the Railroad Labor
Beard and the members OF the Inter-
state Commerce Commission to a
joint meeting. to seek to bring about
q settlement Of the complicated cues
items Of rates and wages from, which
the strike situation a@s developed and
at the same tine avert the strike if
possible.
Talk already is heard that the gov
ernment in extremity might be forced
to take hold Of the roads and operate
them, even under martial law If ncces-
sary and with use OF troops and volun-
teers to prevent the populations of
great. centers like New York from
freezing and starving.
So far no one in Congress has any
plan to offer to prevent the strike, al
though there is hope that tho diff
Guilty will 70 an extent compose itself
and that the sentiment Of the more
conservative members OF the brother
hoods will prevail in the end. While
some talk is heard OF reviving efforts
at antistrike legislation, e is regarded
as doubtful il this will be seriously
tried
Under the surface in Congress there
is plain speaking as 60 what will happen
If general strike is ordered Many
members declared public sentiment
would be arrayed against the strikers
and that it ultimately would be ruin
Gus to the brotherhoods Discussion is
heard Of what could be done if there
should impend in the centers Of popu-
latior.
Martial Law Possible
One OF the foremost Senators in
Washington said tonight that while he
hoped any such thing would be avertcd
there micht come a situation where the
Pres dent, IN the interest of humanity
and the general welfare, would have 20
and order the amy to operate them.
The people will not starve and they
will not freeze he said. at cannot
come to that. imagine, however, that
if the government again has to take
the roads over and operate them thew
will never 20 back. It is likely to
mean the end of private ownership" +"
Talk in Congress indicates that The
disposition there viii be conciiiatory
unless strike and suffering actually
comes. In that case, the Administra-
tlon viii be backed % in any action
needful TO. protect the public interest.
One Of the possibilities, il the sit9s-
tion gets worse. is tn&t the President
viii call the heads Of railroad labor
and the railroad executives here for q
conference It IS believed, in fact. the
President will do this if he sees things
drifting steadily toward a strike.
President William H. Johnston Of
the international Association OF Ma.
chinists III statement said that "If
the trainmen and other operating en-
ployecs go out on October 80 The ms
chinists and the railroad employees in
Group ,. which includes all the shop
crafts, Will go with them at the same
time. This would result, he said, in
the gvea atest railroad tic-up in his
tory"
Mr.. Johnston said that he had mo
doubt tnat Group 8, which includes the
maintenaAce Of way and clerks and
other unions, viii also 60 with the
transportation and shop crafts
Mr.. Johnston has just returned from
Chicago, whore he met with the rcpre-
ssrtatves o. the sixteen railway
Unions.
The President. in bringing about The