The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-11-02
SEEK PLAN To END
LABOR TROUBLES
PRESIDENT HARDING AND HIS
CABINET ARE CONSIDERING
MANY SUGGESTIONS.
ACTION BY CONGRESS LIKELY
AboIishine Of Railway Labor Board
and Enactment Of Legislation Like
Canada's Industrial Disputes inves-
tiqation Law Proposed.
BY JAMES p. HoRNAoAV

BY JAMES y. fONNROhN
Washington. -President Harding and
members Of his cabinet are giving
careful consideration To many sug
gestiuns as to now the country may
obtain larger measure Of freedom
from labor troubles. II is the pres
ent intention Of the President. II L.
well understood. to discuss some nf
the more pertinent Of these sugges
tions in his address to congress In
December. There Is apparently
general demand throughout the coun-
try that congress shall write into the
law Of the land some new plan for
settling disputes between capital and
labor. II is a question whether much
can be done with the subject nj the
short session which will begin in De
ccmber and end on March !. In some
quarters there is already talk Of an
extra session next spring, which would
be devoted entirely to the subject Of
industrial peace.
There is somewhat insistent de
mand that the administration shall
favor legislation providing for com
pulsory arbitration. but II Is reason
ably certain that the administration
will not lend its Endorsement to such
~ program. Even II the executive de
partmpnt should advocate compulsory
arbitration. il is a question, IL Is as
serted, whether congress could be per
suaded tn follow the leadership of the
President. As the situation presents
itself NJ this time two outstanding
proposals are being considered.
I. The repeal of the provisions Of
the transportation act Of 1920. under
which the railroad labor board was
created.
> The enactment Of legislation pro
viding for some such plan as is in
operation in Canada-the enactment
Of an industrial disputes investigation
law.
Stands by the Labor Board.
Thus far the Harding adminis;ra
ton has not indicated that II has lost
faith in the railroad labor board. To
the contrary, the President has said
publicly on several occasions during
the last two months that he felt that
the board had justified its existence.
Supporters of the railroad labor board
not only would not like Ii abolished,
but would like to see its powers broad
ened and see II removed to Washing
ton and set down alongside the inter
state commerce commission. II is
certain. however, that the board will
be real issue before congress when
that body proceeds to the consldera-
ton Of legislation relating to indus
trial disputes
When the transportation legislation
was before congress early In 1920,
many good things were said about the
Canadian plan for settling labor trou'
bles. but the organized workingmen In
the United States were not ready at
that time To accept the Canadian law,
and so congress dropped that plan and
set UP the railroad labor board. The
situation has undergone change. Or
ganized workingmen in the United
States, and particularly organized rail
road employees. are now very gen
orally inclined to look with favor on
the Canadian plan, so 1t Is asserted.
Canadian Law Liked.
/ one of the arguments now being
put forth in support Of Canada's law
| is that the shopmen employed in Can
/ ada by International railroads-rail
roads that have part of their mile
age in the United States and part In
! Cnnada-did not strike when theiI
union brethren in the United State.
! quit work. The international rail
roads of Canada reduced the wage,
/ of their shopmen, but instead of strlk
ing the shopmen applied for boards
of inquiry and Cancellation under the
| Industrial disputes act. This ma
chinery has thus far prevented any
walkouts on the Canadian railroads.
Under the Canadian law board Is
I appointed for each individual dispute
/ II consists Of three members, one
named by the employees directly con
| cerned. one by the company, and the
! third, IL these two shall fail TO agree
J
these boards are not compulsory. After
the award under the Canadian law
has been made. either side may re
fuse To accept it. But II is asserted
that the law has maintained industrial
peace throughout Canada since II was
enacted; and the law has OF cours,
had It's trial through the after-the-wal
reconstruction period-a period thai
has produced many labor troubles II
/ Canada and elsewhere.
II is certain that when congress con
venes, either In special session In No
yember OF In regular session In DE
cember, there Will be flood Of bill
proposing ways for settling strikes
The administration Is obviously am
bilious TO have program Of Its own
program that will appeal to tn
country and to congress. II Is witt
this In mind that the President Is tax
ing counsel from week to week witt
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