New-York tribune., 1921-10-25
No Strike Idea
Gains Support
In w ashing,tos
Observers Believe Ground
Rapidly Is Being Cut
From Under brotherhood
as Small Unions Rebel
Roads to Yield TO Board
Decision to Obey Rulings
Expected to Place Big s.
i'm an Awkward Position


WASHINGTON, Oct. 24.-The opin
ion gained ground in Washington to-
day that the nationwide railroad strike
called for next Sunday never will ma
terialize. In all the government de-
partments dealing with the situation
it is felt that the ground is steadily be-
ing cut out from under the five unions
that have voted the walk-out.
While the Administration, if it is
necessary, will use every power of the
government to keep trains moving. es
pecially food and fuel trains, it is now
believed that if the strike develops the
roads can run their trains up to a
high percentage of normal. If that can
be done the government simply will af-
ford such protection as may be needed
against violence, but will steer clear of
government operation.
Attorney General Daugherty, in CON
ference with the district attorneys from
New York, Chicago, Indianapolis, Cleve-
land and Buffalo, worked out plan
for concerted action and harmony of
effort to prevent paralysis of rail
traffic if the strike should occur He
afterward intimated that means of
combating the strike with legal meas
ures had been discussed. He reiter-
ated his belief that there would be no
strike, but said his department would
be prepared for any emergency.
Daugherty Interprets Law
"The department probably would con-
cede," said Mr. Daugherty, that the
men have the right to strike, that they
even have the right to strike in groups.
But it would not say they can strike
in groups throughout the country with
! out violating the conspiracy laws by
antag agonizing-" the government of the
United States
"The department would not concede
there would be no violations of the
conspiracy statutes for a great body
of men all over the country to agree
to paralyze it's transportation facii-
ties. The department would say they
could strike peaceably; but, when it
comes to the governments interests
and the interests of the public in these
facilities, the government has the
power, right and duty to see that the
| owners of the railroads give the Amer
lean people the service they are en-
titled to.
more people are interested in the
transportation facilities than they are
IN the controversy, regardless of who
is right or who is wrong. This con-
| ference was for the purpose of obtain
ing concerted action and harmony of
effort to the end that the railroads
may give continued service without any
interruption andean order that the pub
lie may be served
Government Powers Ample .+
"It is the duty of the department to
provide for the transportation of pco-
! pie who travel and the Transports
tion of food and fuel with winter com
ing on. The government has the power
and ample authority 1t will be prompt
/ and as reasonable as it can be, but
( these arteries of commerce must con-
tlnue to serve the people. Property
must be protected, life preserved and
order maintained, and the government
IS big enough to see that these are ac-
complished."
High authority to-day declared the
railroad executives, when they 20 be-
1ore the Railway Labor Board for the
lolnt conference with union heads
Wednesday, will announce their pur-
pose fully to abide by the decisions and
rulings of the board.
The Senate interstate Commerce
Committee to-day began hearings on
the Capper bill, intended to restore the
powers of the state railway commits
sions over intrastate rates and to
repeal the six per cent provision which
is generally known as the guaranty.
Representatives of the Association of
Railway and Public Utility Commits
sloners were present in force. They
nave just returned from the annual
meeting of the association at Atlanta.
Repeal of Guaranty Advised
John <. Benton, counsel for the as
sociation, was the only witness heard.
He did not complete his argument,
and will resume at meeting of the
committee tomorrow. Mr. Benton
urged that the powers Of the state com
missions be restored and that the
guaranty be repealed.
1t is the view OF Senator Cummins.
chairman of the Senate Interstate
Commerce Committee. that the law as
it stands gives the Interstate Com
merce Commission no authority to 20
into the states and institute new in
trastate rates, and that all it does is
to give the commission power, in cases
where discrimination is caused BY a
! rate within state lines, to order that