New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-10-18
Writ Similar to That OBJ
tanned i'm Coal War Is
Held Possible Weapon;
HAYS Will Move Mails
Rail Credit Bill
Club Over Roads
Senate Is i'm Position to
Force Rate Cut; $50
Idle Ships Available

From The Trtbune's Washington Bnrean
WASHINGTON. Oct. 17.-Witl q
railroad strike threatening to tie up
the country two weeks hence, gov
ernment officials to-day turned their
efforts to preventing the strike if
possible, and, if not, to protect the
public interest when the walk-out
comes. President Harding went over
the situation with Chairman Nc
Chord of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, Chairman Barton of the
Railroad Labor Board, Attorney
General Daugherty and others, EN-
phasizing to every one the determi-
nation Of the Administration to pre-
vent any transportation tie-up from
causing suffering and shortage Of
food, fuel and supplies. Postmaster
Hays announced that the mails would
be moved, and he intimated that
force would be used if necessary.
May Tie Up Strike Funds
Although no plan for blocking the
strike has yet been decided or. as
far as official disclosures go, il is
probable that the Department of
Justice will not only make use Of
the weapon Of injunction, but lega!
action will be taken to tie UP the
vast strike funds of the striking
railroad employees.
a conference between the public
group of the labor board and At
torney General Daugherty, who later
saw the President, was regarded as
Of much importance. What passed
is not disclosed. The labor board is
giving serious consideration to tho
question of appealing to the courts
to have its orders enforced. Able
lawyers have been consulted on this
matter.
President Harding and other Of
ficials regard the outlook as grave.
At the same time, there is q distinct
feeling that a strike will be avoided
Adjustment Held Possible
In spite of the fact that President
W S. Stone Of the Brotherhood Of
Locomotive Engineers and other Of
fcials are quoted as saying that the
plan proposed by the public group Of
the Railway Labor Board is not feast
BILE, information is at hand here from
high sources in organized labor that
there are possibilities OF an adjust
ment along the following lines:
The roads 70 cut rates in accordance
with the rete reductions in July
The men to accept the 12i2 rer cent
cut ordered in July and withdraw the
strike order on condition that the roads
seek no further reductions
1t is said the heads of the brother
| hoods fear that unless the railroads
desist from seeking further reductions
in wages, and unless there is consid-
cradle reduction in rates leading to the
hope of lower cost of living, they viii
! be confronted with a series Of wild
undoiug of the unions. Unless they
can find a solution which will not
! bring about these unauthorized strikes
the heads of the brotherhoods and
other organizations of railway en-
ployees may prefer to take their
chances with general strike.
Strike Aimed at Future
On tne face Of it, the strike oroer Is
aimed at the 1212 per cent reduction IN
wages already ordered. In reality, i,
is regarded here as primarily an at
tempt to head of further reductions.
Hence there is q strong belief here tina,
: the employees could be assured no
further reductions would be sought,
and at the same time given reason to
believe rates on the necessaries of life
would go lower, they would yield be-
fore going out.
Although the roads assert that they
cannot stand cuts in rates without fup-
ther wage cuts, it is not overlooked
here that the Administration has q
strong persuasive influence in it's
hands. This IS the railway credit bill,
involving payment to the roads Of about
S500,000,000 cash.
Not only is the President in position
to say to the roads if he wishes that
unless they take such steps as he
deems wise as to rates, the credit bill
will wait. but there is in the Senate
a powerful group of agricultural Sem
: ators who say the bin cannot pass
unless rates are first lowered. II is
} not officially asserted here the credit
bill will be held back by the Admin
istration in order to force lowering
OF rates, but there is much talk about
the Capitol to the effect the Executive
il in situation where he has con-
tIol in large measure of the question
whether the credit bill shall pass.
Coal Strike Writ Recalled
The fact that Department of Justlcs
officials are living study TO the pos
. sibic use .<e injunction in case Of y
serious crisis, recalls the course Of ths