The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-10-17
NAILS WILL
Be Moved,
SAYS HAYS
Harding Nay Call Road
Heads and Union Chiefs
for Conference.
RTLLETIN.

Chicago. Oct. 1.-THE United
States Railroad Labor board TO
d9y authorized a 20 per cent
wcre reduction fCr engineers,
mot0rmen. firemen. conductors
and trakemen of the Electro
Short Lines Railway company
and In doing so took into con-
sIderatlon Ter the first time in
aBy wage decision the financial
condition OF the carrier.
The HOard announced that
the reduction was made pr
mariIy because the road. run
ming between Minneapolis and
HUTCHINSON, Minn., "wOuld go
bankrupt without it,"
Washington, Oct. 17.-'United
Press. 1.-THE mails will be moved,
Postmaster General Hays declared
today in the first official statement
on the rail strike from a govern
ment official here.
Washington, Oct. 17.-(United
Press THE federal government
will keep the railroads in opera
ton
This was the definite assurance
that came today from high admin
istration official as President Har
ding and other government leaders
renewed their attempts TO avert {
nation wide rail strike.
No Program Framed.
A feeling pervaded official Wash,
ington that the called strike viii
not materialize on an extensive
scale, but at the same time the gov
eminent realizes the transportation
lines must be kept in operation
whatever happens, because the very
existence of millions Of people de
pends upon them.
The federal government has ye'
framed no program of action
Whether the government would
seize the railroads in case the strike
call is not rescinded and the walk
out begins, no prominent officia
would say.
Washington, Oct. 17.-Unitet
Press. s.)-President Harding ma,
call a conference of railroad execu
nves and union chiefs here thii
week in an effort to avert the ma
uonsl railroad strike called TO
Oct. 80, it was learned on high au
thority today.
Officials Seek Solution.
From President Harding dowr
oncials were trying to devise prac
teal means of:
I.freVentIng altogether tn
strike of railroad workers now Sc
Tor Oct. 80, or
Making such preparations tha
.ue general public and the govern
Ient Shall suffer as little as posi-
ois as a result of the strike.
narolng has sets of experts a
soK gathering information as tn
sasis OF proposals he may make /
Ge railroads and their EMPLOYEES
-. aaese proposals, If made, will b
~ nature to obtain the supper
tne American public opinio
esasfaiiy, and this will be counte
W " lorce both the railroads ex
.eu.iEes ~. and their employees to &C
eept them.
| Cabinet Officers Busy.
Caoinet officers and members {
ssS;s.sfess, considering the situatio
ho,,a view to helping stave o
pspie' we're taking these steps:
nnaster General Hays: Pre-
ing TO provide armed guards
.eeeSsary to keep mail trains NOV
IS nays conferred with Attorne
/ Is-.s Ial Daugherty regarding th
Is a4 aspects of the matter. Hay
s,, o Is considering calling for vo
,ser aviators to carry mails
aaorney General Daugherty
Ss1Gying the legal angles of tt
% situation, in order that
~ De prepared to do anythin
,sary through the feder;
es or otherwise to protect IL
shment's interests.
senator Cummins. chairman
senate interstate commert
nittee, will confer today Wi
tiee members and with men
i OF the interstate CONNER,
4 Wonunued on Page Nine)