The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1921-10-21
HAS LOST ITS POWERS
In the Present Impending Rail-
way Strike the Lack of In.
fluence of the Labor Board
has been Felt, the Admins.
tration Regrets this and
Would Restore Power.
(By David Lawrence).
Copyright, 1921, by The Daily
TimeS,)

TimeS.)
Washington, Oct4 19.-President
Harding has determined to make the
III. S. Railroad Board so important
that when it hands down a decision
saying either side in controversy is
wrong, the full weight of public opin-
ion will bring the necessary pressure
to bear to compel obedience to the
mandate of the Board.
This was the original idea of Con-
gres in creating the Railroad Labor
Board and the first challenge to the
power of the Board has developed.
Executive influence has saved what
might otherwise have been a steady
collapse of the whole structure erect
ed by Congress. Mr.. Harding has
made it clear that he wants the Rail-
way Labor Board to go ahead and
call both sides to task.
Mr.. Harding's course will un-
questionably prevent strike for
neither the railroads nor the labor
leaders would be able to compete sue
cessfully against formal decision as
to who was right or wrong. Both
sides privately will admit that.
The President feels that the U. S.
! Railroad Labor Board should act
sternly with any organization which
flouts its decisions. He approves Of
the summons sent to the railroad
brotherhood chiefs to come to Chi
cago to talk things over informally
and make it clear that he wishes the
Board will also call in promptly Of
ficials of the Pennsylvania Railroad
who recently defed the decision Of
the Board.
! Mr.. Harding believes the Railway
Labor Board will succeed only if it
plays fair with both sides and that it
must be just as ready to chastise a
big institution like the Pennsylvania
railroad as a railway union. Mr..
Mr.. Harding isn't showing any par
tiality to either side-he isn't act
ually interfering in the details Of
the controversy. He keeps on point
ing out that Congress has created the
Labor Board to settle disputes and
that both sides must toe the mark
and obey that board. Mr.. Harding has
confidence in the integrity and homes
ty and fair-mindedness of the Board
and believes public opinion will fol-
low its decisions.
! The Railway brotherhood chiefs
called strike in advance of a deci-
sion by the Board. They took action
largely because the railroad announc-
ed that they would seek a second cut
+, in wages. But there's vast differ
ence between request for a cut and
the actual granting of the same. Mr..
Harding feels that the calling of a
strike is largely a misunderstanding
"a fear of something that may or
may not materialize. The President
is confident that when the Labor
Board formally calls upon each side
to behave, there will be no more
flouting Of the authority of the Rail-
way Board. The labor chiefs have
been watching to see whether the
Labor Board had any real power be-
hind it. When they saw the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad ignore the decisions
of the Board, they were prompted to
do likewise. The remedy for the sit
uation In the opinion Of the Admins
tration is to get back to fundamentals
to make both sides respect the
Board. II that isn't accomplished
chaos comes once more into the rail.
way problem and no improvement
will have been made over the situa
tion in 1915 when the Adamson Law
was forced through Congress to aver
. strike. But with the Railway Labor
Board made equal in Importance t
(Continued on Para ~