Evening star., 1922-07-15
HARDING THREAT
FR|GHTENS BOSTON
Fear Consequences if Roads
and Mines Are Seized
in Strike.
TOPIC IN STORE AND SHOP
All Branches Of Business and In
dustry Involved, Is Belief
in East.
BY n. o. MESSENGER.
tstaf Correspondent of The Star.

tStaf Correspondent Of The star.)
BOSTON, July 15.-Business. finsn-
cial and conservative elements of this
great community are highly agitated
over published reports from Wash
ington that President Harding Cen
templates the possibility OF taking
under government control the mines
and railways, in case Of emergency.
Disquietude was occasioned Thurs
day by suggestions that Congress-
might take the initiative in this di.
rection il the strikes were not soox
settled.
All day yesterday, in looking into
the political prospect here which
brought the writer in contact WITH
men in political. business and financial
circles, the superabsorbing topic Of
conversation was the strike situation
and the attitude of the administration
at Washington toward it. The sug-
gestion that Congress might take the
first step and authorize the seizure
and operation Of the mines caused
grave alarm.
The prevailing opinion as expressed
was that the government should first
exercise its sovereignty and protect
the mails and interstate commerce by
whatever forceful means were found
necessary. Capitulation to either side
of the strike controversy was declared
unthinkable as long as the govern
ment at Washington still lived. In
some quarters the opinion was voiced
that more important, indeed. was the
governments declaration and exertion
of its sovereignty than the speedy
transmission OF the mails.
News Rapidly Spread.
Early last evening came the report
OF the Presidents attitude toward pos
sible seizure and government control
and operation. The news spread with
amazing rapidity and soon was the gen.
eral subject of discussion.
TIE report reaching Boston declared
President Harding considers that he
has power as chief executive OF the
United States to operate coal mines In
An emergency. II was said today at the
White House" The report went on 10
say that while there was no statement
as to whether the executive considers
the present such an emergency. the eX-
istence Of power had been definitely de-
termined in the minds Of responsible
officials. and il was added that the
President was willing to take the risk
of impea chment to serve the public
welfare.
That suggestion created profound
impression and seemingly served to ac-
centuate the thought that possibly the
President was contemplating taxing
over the mines and roads. 1t is known
here that a number of kilograms were
sent to President Harding, Secretary
Weeks and Senator Lodge vigorously
deprecating any such possible action.
1t may be that the community has not
r1a ivy,r nf
Presidents mind and intention and is
unduly alarmed, but IT might be in
teresting for Washington to know
what this part of the country thinks
about the case as 1t is understood at
this hour.
What Strikers Want.
The Boston Herald, commenting edi-
torialy. says this morning. in part,
"If President Harding persists in his
purpose Of taking over the railroads
and the coal mines, and having the
government run both-as he inti-
mates that he will do unless a settle
ment is speedily reached-he will be
giving the strikers exactly what they
have been looking for. They want
the government as an employer. The
reasons for this need no diagram.
They have been for years trying TO
force the railroads into public owner
ship. and they would like to have the
mines put under the same control
because it would mean their control
If the government can operate in
safety railroads and coal mines. 1t
can equally well insure their opera
tion under private control: in each
case it will require the use of fed
eral troops and the display of the au-
thority of law. If the President, in
stead of surrendering to violence, will
only instruct his Attorney General to
seek indictments of the union leaders.
who are interfering with interstate
commerce. he will be accomplishing
exactly the same result, and showing
at the same time that a democracy
may be stronger than organized labor
IF the President now surrenders.
as he seems proposing to do, it will
be the end of our democracy and the
beginning of sovietism. He should in
stead. before ii is too late. reflect on
the example of Grover Cleveland. in
similar circumstances, who has gone
into history as one of our great Presi-
dents. He kept the faith. He main
tanned order. He moved the United
States mails. Mr.. Harding in this
crisis should not surrender 10 the
doers of violence by giving them ex-
actly what they had hoped by vio-
lence to accomplish