The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-07-15
HOPES OF RAIL PEACE FADE;
NEGCTLATORS FAIL TO AGREE
continued from Page Ono.

| OF the Presidents prociamatlon or
the merits Of the shopmen's case,
respectively.
The President Is Of the opinion
that 1t would not abridge the lib.
critics Of railroad workers or other,
citizens to draft them into the
service Of the country for the
maintenance OF transportation.
which is deemed vital to the
preservation of the welfare of the
people. The President. however.
believes the transportation situa-
ton produced by the strike has not
approached the crisis which would
warrant such extreme action and
is confident that il will not take
turn so serious.
1t is not clear. however. in what
! manner the President contemplates
that workers might be drafted to
operate the railroads. One sugges-
ton was that the government
might take over the railroads, as
sign the army to operate them and
draft railroad workers into the
army for that purpose. 1t was on
this principle that the French gov
eminent broke a railway strike
some years ago.
Gompers, in an interview with
| correspondents late yesterday, re-
iterated his denunciation of the
White House proclamation, order
Ing noninterference with the mails
and interstate commerce.
A. F. of L. hacks strikers.
The labor leader defed the gov
eminent to attempt to make men
work through use OF force. and
pointed out that since skilled men
only can operate and repair train
equipment and since such men do
not have to work If they do not
wish to. the rail workers have the
roads at their mercy. and there is
nothing the executives can do ex-
cept to meet their terms.
The whole strength of the Amer
lean Federation OF Labor. he said.
would be thrown into the contest
in so far as was lawful, to aid the
shopmen to win the strike.
Meantime all agencies of the gov
eminent continued to prepare for
the worst while hoping for the best.
Secretary Weeks was studying
sheaf OF reports given him at the
Cabinet meeting by Attorney Gen.
eral Daugherty-report from dis
trict attorneys and United States
marshals on situations in different
parts of the country. There also
were numerous reports from rail-
road executives acquainting the
War Secretary with their respective
| problems.
Another Appeal to U. s.
At the Postoflce Department II
was stated that while further train
schedules had been reported aban-
| doned in different sections. the tie
grams from inspectors in some
| places indicated improved railway
mail transportation.
Another appeal for Federal pro-
tecton, however, reached the Post
ONCE Department yesterday from
l.. E. Faulkner. general manager Of
the Mississippi Central Railroad,
| which operates trains between
Natchez. Miss, and Mobile. Ala. and
is the only east and west railroad
serving the section between Natchez
and Beaumont. Miss. Eleven pri-
vate guards. deputized by the
sheriff, were forced to leave Hat
| tiesburg. where the shops are To-
Gated. Faulkner reported. A mob
of 400 or 500 men. he said. made
them leave before they could begin
work.
We have asked the governor of
our State for protection" Faulkner
said. and as yet have received no
assurance of any State protection.
| The only course now left to us is
Federal protection which we must
have Immediately IL we are to op-
crate our passenger trains carrying
United States mail and our freight
trains carrying interstate COM
MERGE"
Reports from the St. outs district
indicated an improvement in that
section. with the Missouri, Kansas
and Texas Railroad restoring pre-
viously abandoned trains.
From Atlanta reports stated that
four trains between Tampa and
Venice had been discontinued ito
conserve motive power" while dis
continuance Of two trains between
Bedford and Swift City, Ind, and two
between Cincinnati and Parkersburg
was reported from the Cincinnati
district.
Further offers of automobiles and
aeroplanes together with an order
from Postmaster General Work to
postmasters throughout the country
to ascertain the number of govern
ment owned trucks other than mail
trucks in their sections available for
mail transportation. contributed to
the governments preparedness plan.
The Bureau of Aeronautics of the
! Navy Department advised that 1853
seaplanes and 240 navy pilots could
be Immediately available for mail
transportation.
| Plans worked out in the Bureau of
Aeronautics covered the feasibility Of
operating seaplanes as mail carriers
along the entire coast line of the
United States and it was stated the
interior could be reached by sea-
plane mail routes via the net work
of inland waterways.