The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-24
May Mine Soon I'm Illinois.
(Rv The Associated Pressl

springfield, ILL., July s. fheIeWeu
activities at coal mines in central IL
linois. where forces of workers started
this morning to put mines in shape for
operation together with official
call for a meeting OF the executive
board of the Illinois mine workers at
st. Louis, Mo-, next Wednesday, was
taken this morning as the first hope
fII indication :hat the end of the coal
strike in Illinois may be in sight.
Washington. Jul. 24.-The seven
teenth week of the national coal strike
and the fourth week of the equally
menacing railroad strike began today
with the government holding in re-
serve its trump card-assumption of
federal control of the country's trans
portation and distribution system un-
der the authority vested in it by the
emergency clauses of the transporta-
tiou act.
whether the card will have to be
played. II will be the crucial week"
of the tense industrial situation. ac-
cording to government officials and
before it ends. the government may be
in control once more of the whole
vast structure of interstate transporta-
ton
This Week Is the Test.
This week will determine, according
to administration leaders, whether the
railroads are able to function by them
selves and it will also the great ex-
pertinent of trying to produce coal
with volunteer workers from mines
that have been shut down since the
great strike began four months ago.
Study of the complicated situation
has convinced government officials
that the menace of a, coal famine can
be got around if the problem of trans
&c nTwaa k,r.
met.
The nonunion fields are capable of
producing approximately 5000, 600
tons weekly under ordinary circum-
stances. BY speeding up production
methods to the extreme limit, it is fig
ured that this amount can be in
creased another two million tons or q
total of 100000 tons. as against the
about 100000 tons. The voluntary
mining in union territory, under troop
protection. is expected to make up the
balance.
But Can They Transport 1t?
Therefore. according to members of
the cabinet, the question Is one almost
wholly of transportation.
And this will be met, they asserted,
by the federal government assuming a
sort of general dictatorship over the
railroads of the country when it be-
comes apparent that the roads and
the striking shop craftsmen are not
going to settle their differences ami
cabiy.
Should this become necessary-and
tomorrows CO binet. meeting is ex-
pected to decide whether it will be or
not-the interstate commerce commits
sion Will become a miniature railroad
administration. 1t viii have the duty
to pool the nations transportation. 70
direct common use OF terminals. to
shift cars from one road to another.
to decide, thru its control of cars. what
sections of the country are to get coal
and how much-in short, the tempor-
airy merger of all the various roads of
the country into one great systen
with unified direction.
Harding Has the Authority.
Attorney General Daugherty. il Is
understood. has Informed Mr. Harding
the authority for such a movement
exists in the transportation act and no
further Legislation is needed.
Under the rough plan as drawn up
the present management of the various
roads would continue to manage their
properties, but take their orders from
the interstate commerce commission
That the gravity OF such a step is
fully realized by the president is in
, dicated by the slow approach that is
beng made to the adoption of such a
policy