Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-10-22
GOVERNMENT READY
TO ASSUME TASK OF
OPERATING TRAINS
PRESIDENT HARDING PREPARED
TO ACT IN EVENT BROTHER
HOODS DEFY ORDERS OF RAIL.
WAY LABOR BOARD TO HALT
STElkg,

Washington, Oct 92-WIth the
railroad strike 'i:uet!ol thrown bac''
into the white h5us2 by .ailure CT the
Chicago conference between the rail-
road labor boar' rnd brotherhood
leaders President Harding took stepa
yesterday to prevent u transportation
tieup.
Assuming an attitude Of there ahali
DO no strike" the administration has
undertaken u program 10 be developed
as follows:
|. Railroad executives and heads o!
railroad brotherhoods summoned be-
foro the United States railroad labor
board at Chicago to explain why the
board Is being ignored by both sides.
2. Freight rates will be subjected to
sweeping reduction by the interstate
commerce commission, leaving the
strike settlement as the only obstacle
to resumption of normal business cor
dtions.
3. Presidential appeal will be made
to both factors in the controversy for
obedience to the law creating the
labor board. despite that agency's lack
OF enforcement powers on wage deci-
sions, to be followed by summons to
the white house il appeal fails.
4. Failure OF all such peace making
agencies will be followed by the gov
ernments utilization OF all Its statl-
tory powers TO prevent the strike or
subsequent tieup of the transportation
system OF the nation.
The administration plans for deal
Ing with the situation after all strike
prevention measures have failed were
discussed by Senator Cummins o.
Iowa, chairman OF the senate commit
tee on Interstate commerce and close
adviser of the President on railroad
matters.
III the railroads cannot furnish
transportation the government viii
furnish it," he said. Let there be
no doubt on that point. Transports
ton must not be paralyZed pending a
settlement OF the strike, and it will
rot be-"
II was suggested at the cabinet
meeting yesterday that the war pow
ers vested In the President, by tht
delay in the proclamation OF peace
with Germany, might be employed
but this has been frowned upon by tho
President as being unnecessary.
Revival of the board OF mediation
long since forgotten by congress II
making appropriations, also has beer
suggested Few believe. however, tina
such action would be productive o
any results.'in preventing the strik'
IL the full force OF the Esch-Cummin
act creating the labor board is help
less.
Regarding legal powers for the gov
ernment's meeting a strike the ad
ministration has no doubts. IL ha
been stated positively the goyernmen
is fortified by all law and precedent
in It's demand Tor maintenance of in
teretate commerce.
The interstate commerce commits
sion is at work on the freight rat
revision. This ruling. on which week
OF work have been done, is counte
upon as the big factor in crystallizin
public sentiment to the point wher
neither side will dare to precipitate
devastating strike.
Talk of injunctions by railroad OK
ecutives against the proposed rate re
auctions has further complicated maj
iers. The executives say reduction
would mean bankruptcy and that tn
Injunction route would constitute thei
only refuge Government officials ar
not taking such talk seriously.
There, will be no strike" was TIL
flat statement made by one high OF
eial Of the government here yeotel
day "Duhlic sentjmaut il so owe
whelmingly against the strike TIN
neither party to the controversy wou
dare to take strike producing step.