Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-10-29
EVENTS OF A WEEK.

EVENTS OF A WEEK.
The subject in which the people OF the United
States have taken the greatest interest during the
past week is that of the, railroad strike which was
to have begun on Sunday, and which, to the relief
Of all but a very few professional disturbers, has
been called off. At this writing the exact nature
Of the understanding reached which resulted in the
recall of the strike order has not been made public,
but certain facts point to a combination of circurn-
stances as having exercised an influence IN bringing
the menace of the strike to an end.
The proposed strike involved primarily a walk
out by the five great railway brotherhoods whose
members number approximately half a million men.
Outside Of these organizations are eleven other
unions with a combined membership OF some L.
100000, and nearly all Of these bodies decided not
to participate in the strike. The unions which had
voted to strike were DESTROYS OF the support OF the
other organizations, and the failure of the latter to
respond in the desired manner must have had a
marked influence on the deliberations.
The Railway Labor board called railway exec
utives and the officers of the striking organizations
into conference, assuming jurisdiction over the
whole controversy on the ground that the dispute
fell within the legal powers of the board. Some OF
the leaders in the strike movement have declared
that the railway managers, by means OF skllltul
propaganda, had created the impression that if the
strike went into effect it would not be against the
railway n1anagements, but against the federal gov
eminent, and they were unwilling to stand in this
attitude before the public.
Whatever influence any statements en1anating
from railway headquarters may have had on the
public mind, it is a fact that the strike was decided
ly unpopular from the beginning! The abundant
evidence of its unpopularity, the undoubted fact
that it was popularity regarded as a defiance of the
government, the known reluctance of many 'of the
workmen to strike under conditions which were
certain to, prevent even the faintest shadow of
chance for the. success Of the strike, and the deci-
sion of three-fourths of the railway employees to re-
main aloof seem sufficient to convince the brother
hood leaders that a strike would be hopeless, and
to welcome any opportunity to retire from an un-
tenable position. At any rate, the strike move
ment is over for this time, and it is for the govern
ment now to take such action as will provide ade-
quate safeguards against such a possibility in the
future.
With only a little over a week remaining be-
fore the opening of the armament conference, there
is, great activity in the work of preparing for the
great gathering. 1t has been practically decided
that the first session of the conference will be held
Originally fixed. The 18th is !Armistice day, and
that anniversary will be observed with elaborate
ceremonies in Washington, as elsewhere. 1t has
been considered wise to give the foreign guests all
HtCpDC1 lullllS u ltltS dllu pdIllClpdIC III II CeIc-
monies, hence the decision to postpone the date OF
meeting one day.
President Harding has been making a tour Of
the south in the course of which he delivered a
number of addresses. lie has made a strong plea
for the obliteration of sectionalism, and in this he
has pleased the southern people. He stirred W
something of a tempest by his references to thu
color problem, and brought on himself the denunci
alton of extremists of one faction by saving tina,
I'm The NEGRO r1I1ct eDinr a11a1 riohtc 0f c,fi1Archi
with the white man, and Of another by his frank
declaration that social equality between the races
IS an impossibility.
The Irish conference in London is proceeding
slowly, and for the time being its sessions have
been discontinued. It appears that questions have
arisen which must be referred back to the Irish
people or taken under consideration by British ad
visors OF the conferees. 1t is announced that while
difficulties have been encountered, there is really
no great hitch in the negotiations.
Central Europe has been the scene of anothe,
mad adventure by the present head of the house O
Hapsburg, Charles, deposed king Of the dual mon
make a second attempt to seat himself upon tn.
Hungarian throne, and in the early stages Of hi!
effort he had the backing of a small body resemb
ling an army. In a skirmish with the nationa
troops his forces were worsted support which hi
had expected did not appear; and he and his wife
who appears to be the stronger character Of til.
two, were captured. Charles made a futile, ant
probably insincere attempt to shoot himself, and h,
Is now held awaiting such disposition as his forme,
subjects and the Allied powers may make Of hi
lease.
This nation is honored just now in having al
y as guest Marshal Foch, the great soldier who's,
Kenius co-ordinated the military efforts Of the AL
Possible. The French general started for the Unit
States inst j little earlier than did Genera