The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-10-18
|Defanceon
Both Sides
Only the Chief Executive S
Influence Can Prevent
Rail Strike From Being
Carried Into Effect
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
iCopyright by lac late.ISeDte:)

Washington. oct. !7.--t.N""u,i>e infr-
railroad strike.
Both the railroads and tae employees
have deted the U".rru states railway
labor board. created hy congress for III"
very purpose OF dv".L:Ns strikes Where
the fault lies IS hard to- officials not
In daily touch wiki the situation 70 de-
eide. Tho fact is both s.des have con-
Quoted continuous propaganda de-
signed % show that thc initiative In
ignoring the railroad labor board les
with the other.
And while the QGAvra:s have grown
more intense. while some oS the rail-
roads on the one hand have goaded the
employees TO 4 strike by declaring they
were ready 10 deaf a body bow 10
uG!onism. the employees. on tho other
hand. have insisted that IL they take a
cut IN wages the rates must come down
for freight ard passenger service.
Between the two stands the public.
represented by n more or less helpless
group In the United States railroad
board. but now represented by the larger
influence and power OF the chief execu-
tive. upon whose doorstep the problem
has been deposited-the railroads con-
ndent that Mr.. Harding will force q
wage cut and the employees sure that tho
president will not dare 10 use his ex-
ecutive power to interfere N labor
controversy to their disadvantage. The
employees know. moreover. that in con-
gross the powerful agricultural bloc has
been trying for months to force \ re-
-ddction In freight rates. and that the
railroads will not escape this time With
simply . victory over their employees Il
congress takes a hand.
simple Formula.
President Harding has reduced tho
matter to = simple formula IN that ne
recognizes that the Interstate commerce
commission on the one hard. which con-
trolls the income OF railroads. and tho
United States railroad board. which han
dies . largo Item m railroad expendi-
tures-namely. waEes-have much in
common. and that combined report
from both agencies will assist in Al
Intelligent settlement OF the problem.
For months the railroads have been
insisting that they could not reduce
freight rates. They convinced most
everybody In the government that they
would bs bankrupt - July unless aid
was forthcoming from congress. but tina
aid hasn't been given. and now Octobe.
Is hero WITH railroad earnings picking
Up. TIE railroads have been maxim;
voluntary reductions n freight rates
cut NJ Harding. vino mas from the first
insisted that rates must como down
prooab.% viii no' he satisfied this time
with prom.SeS.>ot reductions. but will
find way 70 make those redu, tons es.
secti"A.
limo to Negotiate.
The !act that nearl? two weeks mus:
a.apsa before the strike order takes eS.
feet IS iooEAi upon as giving ample op.
20. Gn!'y for negotiation. Meanwhile
n" word from railroad sources Is tina,
a strike can b. fought and will no,
paralyze traff!c. General Atterbury oil
che Pennsylvania railroad Is reported az
saying that t&e strike could be beater
BY his road. /: may 10 that his EN-,
pioy~S WILL not prove as loyal 70 thc
unions IS the leaders Of the latter thin;
II VII! Re noted that the union leaders
have postponed The strike order on II.
Pennsylvania Two days beyond the date
OF the call 10 the w"~kmen on The
other roads This Is interpreted her,
as meaning that It IS hoped 70 influence
reluctant emp.oycs on the Pennsylvania