Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-10-15
CONFERS WITH
PUBLIC GROUP
IN RAlLCRISIS
President Arranges for Con-
ference Between Board and
Commerce Commission.
WANTS EARLY ACTION

WASHINGTON, Oct 15-News thesl
the railroad brotherhoods' chiefs at Chi1I
cago have announced the beginning Of
a Nationwide railroad strike on Oct. so.
galvanized official Washington into action
today.
Within an hour after dispatches from
Chicago had been carried to the White
House 1t was announced that President
Harding had summoned to the White
House the members Of the United States
Railway Labor Board for conference.
The annOun cement in Chicago By ".
G. Lee, president of the Brotherhood of
Railway Trainmen that a strike would
begin on Oct. 80, came as a distinct
shock to official Washington.
officials We're chary of comment, but
the impression prevailed that the Ad-
ministration would act before permitting
a nation-wid industrial warfare to be in
aug rated on the eve of the International
armament conference and while the move
ment Of winter fuel is at its height
1t would be embarrassing extremely
for the Administration, it was pointed
out, to have industrial warfare break
out just when the distinguished states
men of the world are gathering IN
W aoHAhS tOu 70 DISCUSS remedies IOr Tu-
ture international strife.
The members Of the board called to
confer with President Harding are of the
public group-Judge R. NJ Barton of
Cincinnati, chairman; Former Governor
Ben W. Hooper of Tennessee and Wal
lace W. Hanger.
1t IS understood the labor group and
the management group of the board will
not be called for the present.
Judge Barton. Hooper and Hanger
called at the White House at Ii o'clock
to see the President. None Of them would
comment on the situation
ARRANGEs CONFERENCE
WITH TWO POWERS.
After comforting for few minutes with
Judge Barton and his two colleagues In
the executive Offices, the President, ac-
companied by the cOnferees. left the White
House and walked two blocks down Penn
sylvania avenue to the Offices of the In
terstate Commerce Commission, where the
members Of the commission had assem-
bled for conference.
After spending ten minutes cIoseted
with the members Of the labor board and
the Interstate Commerce Commission, the
President returned TO the White House
alone, leaving the members together.
To all outward appearances the Presi-
dent shut the two committees together
In a room and asked them to work out
solution for the. rate wage contro-
versy which has brought the Nation
trembling on the verge of a disastrous
rail strike.
Returning to the White House the
President caused the following statement
to be issued:
-
Messrs. r. NJ. Barton, chairman; @.
Wallace, W. Hanger and BENJAMIN
W. Hooper. constituting the public
group Of the United States Railway
Labor Board, came to the White
House today for a conference with
the President.
Later the President went per-
sonally with them to the offices Of
the Interstate Commerce Commission
for continuation and expansion Of
the conference. ~
EARLY SETTLEMENT
URGED BY HARDING.
"The purpose of the meeting was
broad consideration Of the possi-
bility of an early adjustment Of rail-
road rates and wages, in the expec-
tation that it would contribute to
the industrial revival"
The Railway Labor Board created In
the Cummins sEsch act, comprises nine
members, in three groups Of three each,
The public group is named by the Presi-
dent, the labor group is named from a,
list nominated by the railway labor orr
ganizatiOns; and the management group,
from a list OF nominees named By Eailwa0
executives.
ONE MAKES RATES;
OTHER SETS WAGES.
The board is authorized generally %
deal with the labor. wage and working
conditions that concern the employees Of
the railroads and is given. in some direc-
uons rather broad powers. In asking
the members of the public group to meet
him the President was moved by the de-,
sire to accomplish what be hopes may,
be important results as early as possible.
Recognizing that the labor group and
also the managing group are in the ma
ture Of things parrisans Of the respective
elements which they represent, the Presi-
dent felt It was unnecessary to invite
these groups because their attitude would
necessarily be partisan I'm any cOnsidera-
tion Of wage questions. The labor group
could be expected to advocate maintenance
Of the highest possible wages, while the
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