Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1922-08-26
ROADS MUST MAKE
GOOD OR TURN over
TO GOVERNMENT
CumminS Has Power On Hip
For President.
BY GEORGE r. HOLMES,
|. NJ. S, Staff Corresnonden+

eu NJ every TURN WIN the fdllure or
efforts to peacefully settle the rail-
road strike, President Harding to.
day fell back upon his original plan
for dealing with the national men
ace, 1t is this:
The railroads will be given every
opportunity to demonstrate their
ability to maintain efficient service
without the unionized shopmen, and
If they fail, then the President will
ask Congress for specific authority
to take over those roads unable to
fulfill their obligations to the pub
lie.
Senator Cummins. Republican, of
Iowa. the father OF the railway la
hor board, had a bill In his pocket
today granting the President this
power. 1t will be introduced in the
Senate and House whenever It be-
comes apparent that the govern-
ment must abandon its pacific atti-
tude and haul out the dusty "hig
stick" to protect the public from
the suffering Of TRANSFORMATION and
coal famines.
Something On Hip.
In substance and form Tho Cum.
Minis bill has been approved by
President Harding and Attorney
General Daugherty. It viii be kept
on file in Senator Cummins' hip
pocket for emergency use, and the
belief prevailed today It would be
many weeks yet before the need for
it becomes apparent.
Much can happen many confer
ences can be arranged in that time
Senator Cummins is of The opin-
ion that Congress would readily
grant the authority asked In this
belief he differed VITA many Gena-
tors and representatives, who are
inclined to question the constitu-
tionalilv OF the measure.
No New Peace Plans.
For the present at least, the adj
ministration Is planning no new
peace moves in the railroad contro-
versy, 1t was stated at the White
House. The situation, so far as the
government IS concerned Is back
where it was some weeks ago when
the administration efforts at peach
full adjustment failed-f'rst hy re-
lection on the part Of the railroads,
and second BY reflections on the
part Of the unions.
Both Sides Want To Fight.
apparently both sides want to
fight 1t out" said one official today.
'If they can do it without running
the country into ruin perhaps it
would be a good thing to let them
Try it."
The abrupt discontinuance Of no.
gotiations in New York is expected
to aggravate the strike situation as
it effects other unions. Ten days
ago the country was filled with spo-
radio, individual strikes by mem
bers OF the brotherhood and affll-
lated unions, and transportation
was in decidedly chaotic state
with trains stalled at desert june
ton points and in division yards.
When the Brotherhood chiefs be-
gan as medators between the exc
cutives and the striking shop crafts
leaders, they persuaded their dis
gruntled members to return to work,
overlooking disagreeable conditions,
in order not TO embarrass the ne
gotiatiOns.
With negotiations now ended
and conditions Of equipment no bet
ter than they were, it was freely
predicted in labor quarters today
that there will be a recurrence Of
the individual and sporadic strikes
by all classes Of railroad labor
throughout the country.
While labor leaders agreed that
there is no danger Of a general
railroad strike" they nevertheless
asserted privately that the solidarity
of railroad labor is such that the
ten standard railroad unions not now
on strike will never permit the six
shopmens' organizations to be
broken up" by the executives in
the present struggle.
Labor spokesman assert that the
mechanical condition Of the roads Is
steadily becoming worse, despite the
claims of the executives to the con
trary, and they declare there is no
law which will compel men To take
unsafe equipments, contracts or no
contracts.
Against these claims Of the labor
spokesman, officials OF the Associa-
ton of Railway Executives informed
the International News Service to-
day that the condition Of equipment
is steadily becoming better and that
working forces in the shops are
growing steadily.
Working personnel in the shops
now, it was asserted by spokes men
for the executives, vary from 50 per
cent Of normal on the roads hardest
hit by the strike, to s. per cent
normal in those least affected.
Meanwhile, the governments fig
ures on the mechanical condition Of
the roads, demanded by the Senate
three weeks ago, were held up to-
day by Chairman McChord, Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission
The report will be made to the SEN
ate next week, it was said at the
commission today. 1t is expected to
reveal that the railroads generally
over the country are operating with
from 40 to so per cent of their roll
inc gtock innafrad in qtaat ar small