The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-10-16
Rail Men Vote to Strike;
Roads Announce Wage Cut;
Harding Takes Leadership
Labor Board Members and
|. c. c. Representatives
Meet in Washington to
Talk OverAdjustment


WASHINGTON, Oct l5.-President
Harding today assumed active leader.'
ship in the governments efforts 10
settle differences between the rail
roads and their employees and desig-
mated as the best available agencies
to avert a serious labor complication
the public group of the railroad labor
board and the membership of the In
terstate commerce commission.
The president brought together
three public representatives on the
wage board and the full membership
OF the commission in a meeting of the
readjustment OF railroad wages and
rates.
The railroad board members, Chair.
man Barton. G. Wallace Hanger and
Ben G.. Hooper. came to Washington
at the presidents urgent request and
went with him to the offices Of the
Interstate commerce commission where
the members of the commission were
all waiting. The president remained
in the conference for 10 minutes and
then returned TO the White House,
where u statement was issued dcclar-
ing his move was part of a general
effort az realignment Of the railroad
situation.
No Mention Of Strike
No specific mention of the threat.
ened strike was made in the state.
ment although ii was indicated that
the condition precipitated by the vr-
tual decision OF the employees unions
had brought Mr.. Harding's plan TO a
head. 1t was assumed that the strike
proposal formed the principal topic
of discussion at, the conference.
Chairman Barton OF the board and
Hooper, made Il hurried trip here
from Chicago at the presidents re.
quest. The third representative Of the
republic. Wallace W. Hanger. has
been in the capital on other business
and joined the other two in their visit
to the president. II was not revealed
what particular plan they have in con-
temptation. but it was expected that
the president might make some pub
lie announcement relative toe
| threatening strike. He has given the
situation close attention and has IA
millarlzed himself with the fight be.
tween the employers and the EN-.
ployes
While the labor board members
were in conference with the presi.
| dent William II. Johnston. president
Of the international association of ma.
chinists issued n statement in which
nc declared that III the trainmen and
other operating employees 20 out on
October %. the machnists ana the
railroad employees in group two, which
includes all the shop crafts. will "a
with them at the same time"
This would result, he declared "in
the greatest railroad tieup In his
tory"
Mr.. Johnston added that he had nc
doubt that group three which in
cludes the maintenance Of way and
clerks and other unions. viii also go
with the transportation and shor
crafts.
WASHINGTON, Oct. l5.-The public
group of the railway labor board ant
the fun membership of the Interstate
Commerce Commission by personal di
rection of President Harding joinet
forces today in an effort to avert the
threatened serious railroad labor com
plications.
Summoned to Washington by th'
president, the three members repre-
senting the public on the labor boarC
were escorted by Mr., Harding him
self To n conference with the members
of the interstate commerce commission
which was unfinished at the end o
the day, and left open TO resumption
Monday.
silence was maintained by all par
ties TO the conference even in th'
face OF the strike call issued late 1t
the day at Chicago. but the purpos'
of the meeting was said In Whit
House announcement to be consldera
ton OF the possibility OF an earl!
adjustment of railroad rates an,
wages"
"Tho president has been impress
ed that n somewhat anomalous situa
ton surrounds the relations of tn
Interstate Commerce Commission an
the railway labor board" the stotemen
added. The commission had very larg
powers through its control of rate
20 determine what the revenues OF th
roads should be while the railwa
labor board. through its authority Il
the matter OF wage drtcrminntio
| has n very large power IN dcterminin
the largest item of railway cxpend
lures"
r The president was therefore. in
pressed with the dcsirpbiltv OF gel
|, ting these two highly potential bodie
together and reaching something lik
| definite understanding hetwee
them.