Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-08-11
.AntiStriIic Legislation

III to this time President Harding has
- had only one definite policy i'll the
railroad strike situation. lie has stood con
sistently and firmly upon the proposition
that the Railroad Labor Board. a govern
ment agency, must be recognized and its de-
cisions enforced. Upon all other issues he
has wobbled. temporized and compromised.
All efforts on the part OF the govern
ment at mediation have failed. The strike
MIL go on. Business will continue TO suffer.
The country at large will continue to face
y grave Transportation and fuel emergency.
With this in view the President has asked
the House, when that body roconvencs
hfter "a ntnety-day recess next Tuesday, to
remain- IN continuous session and await
recommendations which he will make
1t is well understood that these recon-
mendaticns will include the enactment of
hnistrike legislation in some form that will
rc-enforfe tho power of tho Railroad Labor
Board. .Tha, board enjoys no actual power.
II has jurisdiction over railway wage dis
putes; I-may hear and determine all wage
questions that may arise between the men
and their employers. but after that is done
the board is through Its DEGREES may be
ignored pr houted just as they have been
b.! the executives and the men alike.
When .thc Cummins-Esch act was pend
ing before Congress a move was made to
include penalties in that section creating
the boaTa The House refused to follow
Gu the senate side the Interstate Commerce
Committee definitely proposed an antstrkc
provision. Tho Senate itself rcpudiatcd
that proposal and the measure went upon
its final passage without a syllable in it
cndowing the Railroad labor Board with
authority 10 enforce It's decisions.
Congressional sentiment then was set un-
alterabll- against antistrke legislation. and
there mo reason 10 assume now that this
sentiment has changed Ii is true that a
great iIdustrIul crisis has been precipitatcd
by the shnpmoms strike and the country has
witnessed The sad spectacle OF helpless
Governiuent agency seeking 10 maintain its
dignity in tn" face OF repeated challenges
from interests over which il was presumed
10 eXerGIse control
But with confessional election just
ahead II is "a, least doubtful If enough
courage can be summoned by the House
and senate 10 make possible The passage
OF measures against which nll organized
labor in the country will at once array IT.
self Their" IS nothing in the behavior OF
Congress during the past decade TO en-
courage hope % sHu' consummation
Should Congress Jake under considera-
ton, oc-ey"n ii it should eventually pass.
an anrl+rrinc law as applied 10 railroad
employee, low is that 10 remedy tile cyst
ing SITUATION: SUCH measure could not
be made rc'rnUrtiyo Il may be n 5aincd or
II u. Were made retroactive. nobody takes
# for granted aa, it would drive me men
now -on strife back TO their jobs
In.any event weeks on perhaps months
hiasp elap5c before ,Ac House uud Senate
could or woul. aot upon tho Presidents
program. And ii the strike continued
through tha' period conditions throughout
the Gountry would inevitably grow progress
sivelt worse 1t all sound Important ana