Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-10
RAIL STRIKE move
may BRING PEACE
grotherhoods' Stand Puts Pres
sure on Executives to Ac-
cspt Harding Offer
PRESIDENT IN HARD ROLE
py CLINTON w. GILBERT

stsfy Correspondent Evening Pebble Ledger
Copvrioht. 1929. bv Pubic Ledger COMPANY
washington. Aug. 1O.--The position
which the railroad brothcrhoods have
taken in the strike, It is hoped here,
will lead the railroad executives to nc-
cent President IIarding's recent pro-
rosnl to refer the seniority dispute to
the Railroad Labor Board.
On the other hand, the shopmcn have
crown more confident. Their disposi-
tion will be to reject the proposal un-
less the leaders of the brotherhoods also
privately put pressure on them 10 COM
promise and settle tho strike. Every
thing waits upon tomOrrow's confer
ences. Until they have taken place
the Administration will have no definite
nrogram. 1t is still waiting patiently
for the moment when the President can
intervene firmly and effectively to end
the dispute.
For the meeting Of Congress next
week the Administration has no legis.
iatiye program. And It is difficult at.
This writing to see how the President
can make any concrete suggestions. He
may merely lay the whole subject be-
fore the other branch of the Govern
ment. Or he may ask specifically for
authority to take over the coal roads.
Presidents Role Difficult
The Presidents position is one of
great difficulty. Much criticism>h has
been heard of his failure to bring the
strikes to an end. But watching him
with n critical eye, do not see how
he could reasonably have been expected
10 accomplish more than he has.
Both sides to the strikes were. as I
have often pointed out, determined upon
4 fight to the finish The most influ-
entail employers in both coal and trans
portation were bent upon breaking the
unions and they carried the rest of the
organizations with them. The union
leaders we're determined once for all to
put an end to the open shop movement.
Where issues were as vital as these ap-
peared to be in the minds of the leaders
on both sides compromise was virtually
impossible.
The Administration may have been
willing when the coal strike began to
see a fight to the finish. A good supply
OF coal was in existence. consumption
ducing more than half Of the coal re-
quired by industry. 1t seemed. whether
the Administration thought 80 or not.
the most favorable moment for test of
strength that would settle one way or
the other the dispute that had been
threatening the country for several
years.
Wanted Issue Settled
There was every probability that be.
fore pinch came one side or other
would get tired of the fight and would
yield and there was a certain advantage
to be gained from n test of strength.
Sooner or later 1t must come, for both
sides had been preparing for it for
years.
Until it was decided. labor disputes
would be increasingly difficult of solu-
ton. But when the shortage of coal
approached ard the fight was as grim
as ever and when that very moment was
apparent that the public would suffer
seriously If there were to be a fight to
the finish. The Gituation is that the
Administration desires to prevent fight
to the finish, and that both sides are
determined upon having one.
The difficulty of the Presidents no.
sltion is that he has the most obstinate
strikes In the history of the country
to deal with. The public expects him to
90 something to end the strikes. Other
Presidents always have. Yet he has no
power. The nation has no policy with
respect to labor. 1t has not defined the
position of organized labor. 1t Is prob
ably itself divided on whether organi-
cations should be recognized and col
lective bargaining upheld or whether
capital should be supported in its drive
Tor the open shop.
Public Not United
Even the effort the President made
TO settle the seniority issue did not unite
public opinion throughout the country.
Even newspapers and public men here
usually sympathetic with labor took the
ground that the contracts of the rail.
roads with their new employees must he
upheld first of all. On the other hand.
much more conservative papers sun
ported the Administration.
mus the President had the most oh.
t'nate of strikes to deal with. He
the Executive of country which
mas no policy with regard to labor, hut
Insists on treating disputes between EN- :
ployer and employed as a private mat =
.er IN which 1t can intervene ns n
friendly intermediator and which there =.
!cre has given him no power. More
over, public opinion has been slower
10 m form than at any other similar crisis.
mus IN spite of all the President has
seen able to do. the strikes remain
nghts to the finish. The finish NAV
soihe at any time, out Of the Cleveland
conference OH coal and out of tomor-
row conferences on the railroads.
me meeting Of Congress is not Iikely
srIatly TO expedite their end. The
G;''E ~ contribution the legislative branch
% Hkely TO make IL q resolutinp ,,,, -