The Washington times., 1922-07-12
j. s. PLANS
FORCE IF
NEEDED To
MOVE MAIL
President in Accord With Pro-
posaI to Use Military in
Emergency.
By GEORGE X. HOLMES.
international News Service.

international News service.
Orders to Federal troops
at strategic points to hold
themselves in readiness for
duty in carrying out the
terms of President Harding's
proclamation in the rail
strike crisis are understood
to have gone forward from
Washington early today.
The use of troops-if need
eds regarded as the next
step after the Presidential
proclamation that United
States mails shall not be in
terfered with and that in
terstate commerce shall be
unhampered.
President Harding and his Cab
met advisers are not convinced
that the use of Federal troops
will be necessary to compel re-
spectator the proclamation, but
in the situation which the White
House itself described as ACUTE"
the Government desires to have
everything in readiness for cop
ing with any emergency.
There is a devout hope on the
part of President Harding and
members of his Cabinet that the
use of Federal troops will not be
necessary, as the situation, they
concede, would undoubtedly be
aggravated by the appearance of
regulars. There was evident to-
day, however, of a grim determi-
nation on the part of Govern
ment officials that the proclama-
ton be enforced, if not peace
fully, then by the army.
Up to Public Authorities.
President Harding's proclamation
puts the duty of insuring mail de-
liveries and uninterrupted inter-
state commerce, first of all, up to the
governors of States and other au-
thorities, II was said today. The
proclamation calls upon "all public
authorities, State and municipal -
to uphold the laws and preserve the
public peace"
As interpreted here today, the
Presidential proclamation virtually
proclaims the strike of railway
shopmen as a strike against the
Government.
In the very first paragraph,
President Harding called attention
to the fact that the Railway Labor
Board "is an agency of the Govern
10 ad ct
ing the disputes between railroad
operators and employees engaged in
interstate commerce.
To Protect Workers.
Therefore, it follows, the shop
crafts have refused to abide by the
boards decisions, and maintained
operation of the railways in inter
state commerce and transportation
Of the United States mails have
necessitated the employment or
men who choose to accept employ
ment under the terms Of the deci.
sion, and who HAVE THE SAME
INDISPUTABLE RIGHT TO WORK
THAT OTHERS HAVE TO DE-
CLINE TO WORK"
IL is a plainly implied guarantee
made vacant by striking sh0plnen
will do so under the protection OF
of the United States Government,
according to the general interpreta
ton placed upon the wording in all
quarters today.
Administration officials said
frankly today the proclamation
could be regarded as a formal pre-
liminary" to the use of troops
should they be needed to guarantee
to the country against paralysis of
transportation.
In taking this course, officials
said, President Harding took the
only step open to him in an un'
precedented situation. Heretofore,
strikes on railroads have been di-
rected against the employers alone,
but the present strike embraces,
in part at least, a strike against
an agency of Government that is
charged by law with the adjust
ment Of Industrial disputes.
Officials were careful today TO
point out, however. the fine dis.
tinction that the Presidents action
was not directed. specifically 10
! "enforcing" the decisions of the
Railway Labor Board, but rather TO
insuring the prompt dispatch OF
mails and interstate commerce. The
law does not give the Executive
| power to enforce the boards de-
cisions. but II does give him power
/ TO keep the mails moving.
This distinction, finely drawn - 4
may be, accounts for the emphasi,