The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-10-18
GOVERNMENT IS
WATCHING RAIL
STRIKE CLOSELY

Washington. oct. 1.-THE govern
nent through rs Various departments
besaa today survey OF me situation
as developed by the cali e railroad uH-
ion leaders FOR a general stv:He begin
ming October so.
officials from President Harding down
10 departmental bureau chiefs and Sc
ere service agents were known 10 De
va, ching the situation closely mean
while hoping that some means might
he found for avertirg paralysis or
The nations transportation system.
Tho whole range OF possibilities was
regarded by officials as So neeulous a
the pre.en. time as 20 mako l. prac-
teal to awa., Developments before
taking action.
Hold Further Conference.
Chairman Barton and the ";her public
rear.sen,a;iyes on no railroad Labor
hoard conferred today wI:h chairman
cummins Of the senate Interstate COM
nerce commission. Several remedies
were understood 70 have been suggested
but II MAS said that no conclusions had
been reached.
Senator Cumm!ns IS Of the opinion that
congress can make no morO unN the
executive has exhausted every possible
means Of avecting a strike. There was
some d!ecusslon today Of bringing w
tho anti-strike bill sponsored by SeRa-
tor Poirdexter. Republican. Washington,
but II was said there would De no I'M
mediate action by congress.
Nails Must Move.
Postma ster General Hays IN the only
public statement issued up 10 moor. de-
cla-ed the mails will be moved.
Il am sure tho parties to the contro-
yersy will not permit developments
which Will interfere with our present
service" said Mr.. Hays. This Is no
tine for statements from this depart
ment 4 time may come for action: ]
sincerely trust that It Will not. II II
does there will be action. Tho mails
will DO moved"
Secretary Hoover. who. II IS cons!d-
cred will nguve largely In any action de-
cided on by the government, called az
tho White House early in the day. but
President Harding was not at the execu-
1.-Two offices and the commerce secretary
left without seeing tho president.
Harding May call confsrSnes.
While House and other officials de-
clined TO comment on reports that the
president might call the railroad union
! chiefs to Washington for conference.
Postmaster General Hays retrained
, from discussing plans OF his depart.
strike Mr.. Hays was understood To
, have conferred with postotfice official S
| In various cities by long distance iele
, phone. but the INFORMATION he received
was not disclosed.
Army Trucks Available.
/ About 10000 army trucks. most OF
! them now IN storage at corps area de-
! pots over tho country would be avail
! able for transportation use In tho event
OF a complete railroad t!e-up. IL was
i learned at tho War department. SO far
! the department. however. has not been
called upon for any estimate OF IT.
! transportation facilities or what army
; personnel could do N the way OF emer'
, gency train operation, Many OF the
! motor trucks have been formally trans
| ferred TO otner government departments
! notably the pepart mert Of Agriculture
but have not been Withdrawn from army
! storage depotS by tho departments.
1t was emphasized ~ the War depart
ment however. that there had been nc
! official discussion OF any proposal "
! connection with tho strike within tn
! department and that such cnns!derati TO:
: as had been given vas q result OF ohic'
; routine requiring preliminary study II
| order that reports az TO what the army
! could do would be quickly forthcoming
| II called Cor by Secretary Weeks