Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1922-09-01
Gloomy White Outlook For
Country With Virtual War
Time Regulation OF Roads
By GEORGE r. HOLMES
|, N. S. staff Corresnondent

ton OF the whole railroad system
government transportation, govern
ment experts agreed today.
II the prolonged strike of rail
way shopmen were settled next
week, which is not at all likely, the
tremendous burden placed on the
carriers by stoppage Of repairs, the
acute coal shortage and the sea
sonal movement of crops, would be
sufficient to insure months Of strict
regulation OF shipping it was said.
For all practical purposes, the
railroads OF the country today are
operating under wartime restric-
tions. The last emergency order Of
the Interstate Commerce Commits.
sion, extending its proprietary
powers TO include the western halt
Of the United States, brought the
nations entire transportation sys
ten under governmental direction
Reads Are Merged
AS in the war, the roads Of the
country are for all practical pur.
poses merged into one great trans.
portation system. with interchange.
able equipment, and with the gov
eminent debating the movement
of essentials-food and fueI-be-
fore all other commodities
Resumption of anthracite produc-
ton. which is confidently expected
next week, will throw fresh bur-
aens on the crippled carriers. An
thracite bins throughout the coun-
try are bare as result OF five
months stonpage of production and
the full priority powers Of the In
terstate Commerce Commission
will be devoted to hurrying ship
ments to meet household needs be
fore the onslaught of cold wealth
err Anthracite will get the right Of
way generally once production is
resumed. s..-
Finish Fight
Virtually all talk OF settling the
shipments strike has ceased among
President Harding's advisers. APP
parently, accepting the situation as
a finish fight between the rail
roads and the six federated shop
crafts, government officials are
now confning their discussion to
coal production and movement Of
essentials
The danger of q spread Of the
shopmen's strike to other classes
Of railroad labor, however, is clear
ly recognized by President Hard
ing and members Of his cabinet. It
IS recognized too. that dissatisfac-
ton among these other classes is
bound to grow in sine degree as
result Of having TO work with in
paired equipment and under strike
conditions
The dissatisfaction is most
marked in those unions which
have already experienced wage
cuts at the hands of the railway
labor board-the maintenance Of
way men, telegraphers, signalnlen
sWitchmen, etc, rather than in the
four powerful brotherloods Of
train operatives.
In the inner circles OF strike
movement, the brotherhoocs were
described today as being "op the
fence" as regards their policy IN
the shopmens fight
The brotherhoods are frankly IN
easy over the seniority issue-they
ars fearful Of seeing the precedent
set up that men lose seniority by
going out on unauthorized strikes"
yet their traditional policy Of aIoof-
ness from other railway labor un-
ions and their long record Of main,
tanning contracts, prevent synpa-
thetlc action.
Brotherhood policy was thor
oughiy discussed al the conference
Of the chiefs in Cleveland this
week. Despite the den!aIs made by
the brotherhood leaders, which
were described in labor circles a.
diplomatic den:a,s," it was learn
ed today from the most autho.ita.
live sources that the Cleveland
conference did discuss the project
Of giving the railroads thirty days
notice OF their desire TO negotiate
new contracts. The new agree.
ments, t was suggested, would
safeguard the interests Of the bro.
thechoods, regardless O? tie out.
com OF the shipments strike.
It was decided the matter should
be held in allegiance for the time
being until the existing situation
cleared un somewhat Meanwhile
informal conferences are in prog.
ress almost daily between hrothe-
hood heads.
Decision of the brothecacods to
serve notice on the railroads would
not mean necessarily that they
would enter the strike, t was
pointed out. Meanwhile the broth.
arhoods desired to discuss with
he roads the mater OF new agree
nlents to cover points arising out
T the strike of shopmen--such as
,0surarce that there will be no
age cutting so far as the brother.
Gods are concerned.
There will be consideration Of
ltese points between the brother,
hood leaders and the railway exc
cutives in New York. while the
brotherhood men were acting as
l.rt1 IN,