Arizona republican., 1921-10-22
There Is Hope Yet

Though the failure of the labor chiefs and the labor board to reach definite agreement at their conference Thursday is disappointing 1t is by no means discouraging and does not point with cer- tainty great railroad strike.
 We do not know from the accounts of the con ference what propositions unter-propositions were submitted or on what points differences arose. The labor leaders had seemed not strongly averse to the plan suggested by board early in the week. the translation the reductions of last July into freight reductions. and assurance that there would be no early additional wage reductions We had hoped that on that basis agreement would be reached
 In the absence of information to whether that proposal brought up in the conference we sus- pect labor board, not certain of its powers under the Transportation Act, which powers the railway executives questioning offered itself to the labor chiefs as mediator rather than as nerotator If that is so not surprising that the conference failed
 It is the theory of the railways that they do not require the the labor board to reduce wages and that their applications to the board for reductions are only perfunctorya concession to the pride of the government But the government, through the interstate commission, has undisputed power to reduce rates, and are informed that it is the intention of the commission to exercise that power.
 We stiI do not believe that there will be nationwide strike. That the the l. & G. N. win go out tomorrow seems certain, but the insist snce of the head of the trainmen that that strike be snaugurated the date fixed is itself ndica- ton that expected to have effect on negot- stions for averting the comprehensive strike called a week later. If the head of that Brotherhood be- lcved that the strike inevitable he would most likely have consented to delay of the l. & G. N. strike for week.
 frrfl11 h. ing undone that done under the laws. to pre- vent the strike that if it should fai the roads and their employees will be left in such bad odor with the public, that the government would have no trouble in securing amendatory legislation to give il an iron hand in dealing with both.
 If the worst however should happen. it would be by no means bad as it seemed week ago It would be. There would certainly be no complete tfe-up.- The mail trains sure would be kept running. The government has given assurance that trains carrying necessities would be kept nov tnx Passenger schedules would be disturbed and, maybe abolished for a time, but it would not be a national calamity. if people should be kept at home for an indefinite period. Most of us move about more than is quite necessary
 It does not appear that the situation is going ,o be seriously complicated by strike of rail- way unions outside the five brotherhoods and it Is by no means likely that all the Brotherhood men would go out stay out long. Out of the more than 5000 GOO men out of employment in the country surely enough can be found to man and run enough trains at least. after fashion.
 There would be little interference by the strikers with the operation of trains The Brother hood leaders have wisely counseled their against their presence terminals stations and railroad property So that we think little need be feared of interference. And no doubt the government would prornptlv put down any interference that might be offered