New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-17
Harding Keeps
Departmental at
Work On Strike
War Bureau Report ON Dis
order at Denison. Tex, IL
Laid Before Him Without
Contents Being Disclosed
Mail Service Unimpaired
Capital Hopeful of Peace
Move i'm Conference This
Week Of Way Employees


Week Of Way Employees
WASHINGTON, July 16.--Develop-
ments in the Capitol to-day in the
railroad strike were confined TO the re-
ceipt Of reports by the three govern
ment departments which, by virtue of
their functions, are keeping most
closely in touch Of the situation.
At the White House and elsewhere
in government circles the outcome Of
the forthcoming meeting of officials Of
the Maintenance Of Way Employees
Union at Detroit was being awaited as
holding potentialitics of first import
ance. E. f. Cradle, president OF that
organization, declined to indicate last
night, when he left Washington for
Detroit after conference with Prcsi-
dent Harding, what action he would
recommend to his associates, but reit-
Grated the hope that conference would
be forced between the railroad execu-
tives and the union snop men now on
strike which, he believed, would bring
n settlement of the present tieup.
Denison Report for President
Denison, Tex, was received at the War
Department to-day and wns taken ut
once to the White House. 1t was
understood to have been from the army
inspector ordered to the scene by Sec
rotary Weeks, as q result Of the re-
quest for troops from the Federal re-
ceiver of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas
Railroad. The text Of the report was
not made public, however, and no state
ment on it or any other phase of the
strike was forthcoming from the
White House during the day.
Secretary Of War Weeks was at his
Office for short time to-day, going
over reports on the rail tie-up, but
he would not indicate their contents.
1t Is known, however, that the Secre-
tary and the President have not al
tered their policy Of immediate inter
vention by Federal troops in s,tua-
tions where the state troops are not
prepared or are unwilling to maintain
order
The Administration continued to look
to the Railroad Labor Board to solve
the problems which threaten the trans
portstion lines of the country. The
President was represented to be par
ticularly pleased with the report laid
before him yesterday by officials Of
the maintenance of way employees and
shop laborers.
Detroit Meeting of Interest
The forthcoming meeting in Detroit
of these workmen to decide upon the
question of joining with the other
strikers or remaining at work will be
watched with interest by the President
and his cabinet advisers with the hope
that action there will tend to estab-
lish way for the other strikers and
the employers to compose their differ
ences
Next to the meeting of the main
tenance of way union interest here
conferred chiefly upon the effect of the
strike upon the transportation of
mails. Postmaster General Work was
at his Office practically all day to
receive reports from postal inspectors
and to round out the departments
plans for organization of motor truck
routes to replace discontinued mail
trains.
Few reports of interference with the
mails by striking railwSS workers were
received at the Postoffice Department,
however, postal inspectors indicating
that the only serious trouble reported
had occurred on the Wabash system in
Missouri. Troops have been requested
by. the officials of that railroad, it was
said, because Of disturbances at vari-
Gus points, especially at Hannibal. Mo.
Mobilization Of motor truck units
mas moved forward with much success,
ths department. announced. Postmas-
yer General Work expressed the opin-
ion, however, that the use of motor
Vehicies would not be resorted to ex-
cept In extreme emergencies, and that
from reports at hand he was confident
the railroads would be able to trans
port the mails with but little delay.
Many Offer Trucks for Mail
From as far West as California If.
fers OF motor corps organizations and
commercial airplanes to handle mail
matter for the government have poured
IN on the department. In the case of
all offers the Postmaster General has
asked that the facilities be held in
for such aid
There is no occasion for the pub
Tic to feel disturbed over the PROMPT
delivery of the mails" DR.. Work said.
In many sections Of the country, there
has been some delay, but in no in
stance mas there been any actual inter-
ruptlon in the transportation of mail
matter. When mail cars have been
dropped from regular trains the roads
have provided passenger cars to ham
die the mails, with the result that the
department has suffered but little en-
barrassment thus far"
Possible extension OF the strike in
new direction was seen in the dis
trabution of strike ballots by the
brotherhood Of Railway Steamship
Clerks, Freight Handlers and Express
Employees to its members who are en-
ployed by the Southern Railway and
its affiliated lines. The ballots are re-
turnable July 90 at Chattanooga, Tenn.
according to information received here
last night.