Evening star., 1921-10-18
Moves Here Await
| Result of New
| Meeting.
APPROVES ACTION
IN ISSUING CALL
Strike Still Within
Possibility" View
of Mr.. Harding.

The action of the Railroad Labor
Board in summoning railroad union
chiefs to Chicago for conference was
described in high official circles to-
day as a first step to determine
whether the railway board is to be
regarded as an efficient government
agency or a failure.
The step. it was learned. is in entire
accord with the desires of the admins
tration. although the indications were
that President Harding was not ready
to take personal hand in the situation
SO long as the board was working
toward a solution.
No conference between the President
and the brotherhood chiefs is in imme-
date prospect, it was stated.
Purely Unomcinl Summons.
The summons Issued to the brother
hood heads is understood here to be
a purely unofficial one, and not Of
the formal character authorized un-
der the ummins-Esch law for cases
where there have been violations of
the boards rulings. The discussions
at Chicago are expected to be largely
informal. and to be used as basis
for determining whether formal cita-
tionS shall be issued against the
brotherhoods.
Officials discussing the situation
pointed to the fact that the Railroad
Labor Board on Thursday meets its
real test Provided it can cope with
the situation the administration
hopes to leave the settlement of a
very serious situation to the agency
created to Geal with it. If the con-
ference is unsuccessful. the admins
tration is prepared to take necessary
steps.
President Harding was in position
to lay before his cabinet. which had a
T,,ll t~lo No
railroad strike. an analysis of the sit
uation, an outline of the governments S
position in the controversy and sug-
ges,ions as to defensive measures to
protect federal functions If. and when,
the tie-up becomes actual.
In addition to a report submitted
by the joint conference. of the public
group of the Railroad Labor Board
and the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. Mr.. Harding was understood
to have the gist of reports obtained
by Attorney General Daugherty and
Postmaster General Hays. after SUR
veys of the situation by operatives
in the Department of Justice and
Post Office establishment.
Secretary Weeks had at his dis
posal the result of a study made by
general staff officers, as an academic
problem of the best methods of util-
izing the powers of his portfolio in
case of a national emergency such as
would result from nationwide
paralysis of transportation, but it was
not known wherther he had been
invited to bring this to the White
House.
That President Harding does not
yet view the strike as having passed
beyond the possibility" stage was
one Interpretation placed upon the
announcement that he plans to leave
Washington tonight for Yorktown
and Williamsburg, Va, where he will
make addresses tomorrow. The pres
idential party is not expected to re-
turn before Thursday.
Mr.. Davis Mt White House.
The first move of the day bearing
on the strike situation was confer
ence at the White House between the
President and Secretary Davis. who
was summoned to Washington from a
trip through the middle west within
a few hours after announcement was
made in Chicago that the strike call
had been issued. The Secretary spent
most of yesterday surveying the sit
uation from the Labor Department
standpod1b b and Tews was befnrs ne
ing at today's conference.
Attorney General Daugherty on en-
tering the cabinet meeting today said:
II think it. improper for the De-
partment of Justice to discuss any
phase of the railroad strike situation
at this time. If any action is required
by the department, of course there
will be action. but in all probability
there will be no statement from the
department concerning the strike sit
uation until there are further deyel-
opments."
officials prior to the meeting of the
cabinet, declined to say whether the
action of the Railroad Labor Board in
summoning union chiefs to Chicago
for a conference Thursday was an
<,ff ho T..
urday and yesterday between public
representatives on the board and the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
Il have made all my plans for the
moving of the mails in the event of
a strike on the railroads" Postmaster
General Hays said when he arrived
at the White House to attend the
cabinet session. Il also have planned
to cope with any interference In the
moving of mails in the event any in
reference occurs. ]. however, do not
anticipate. at this time. any trouble
in moving the mails"
Mr. Hays said the department will
make no further statement regarding
the plans other than what may be
contained in departmental orders.
Congress to suspend Action.
Action in Congress, both on the
railroad debt funding bill and hear
ing of railroad brotherhood represen-
tatives in the general railroad inves-
tigation, is to be suspended. it was
said today, until the strike situation
becomes settled. A meeting of the
Senate interstate commerce, commit
tee scheduled today to consider the
s5O0,OOO,OOO debt funding bill was
called off indefinitely, as was the
brotherhoods' hearing. Some Sena-
tors said it was intended to prevent
the general railroad investigation
from developing into a debate on the
strike question.
Work of the public group of the
Railroad Labor Board In connection
with the threatened strike ended here
temporarily yesterday when, follow
ing a conference with the Interstate
Commerce Commission. Chairman
Barton and his co-workers left for
Chicago.
Members of the group conferred
with Attorney General Daugherty
at noon. Attorney General Daugherty
then lunched with the President, but
declined to comment on his inter-
change of views with the Chief
Executive.
Following the conference Of labor
board officials with the Interstate
Commerce Commission, a voluminous
report, embodying statistics Of rail-
road pay and employment conditions,
was laid before President Harding.
Comment on the report at the White
House, however, as we'll as by officials
oF fha 1nferafafa Commerco Commits.