New-York tribune., 1922-07-18
Use of Troops :
AS Rail Guards
Goes to Cabinet
Harding to Consult Advis-
ers To-day ON Plans to
Protect Workers Where
State Authorities Fail
Texas Governor Evasive
A. F. of L. Denies Strikers
Assail Government; In
sists Bankers Dominate

From The Trtbune's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON. July 17-Although
high officials take a more optimistic
view of prospects for settlement Of
the railroad than of the coal strike,
Secretary Of War Weeks is prepared to
protect operation of railroads by use
of Federal troops in all cases where
state authorities are unable or unwill-
ing to give necessary protection. This
was made plain to-day In connection
| the shops of the NJ, K. & T. at Deni-
son, Tex. Governor Neff of Texas has
been taking an indefinite attitude. The
problem of use of troops to protect the
railroads will come up at the Cabinet
meeting tomorrow, along with the
! questions relative to the coal mines.
The executive council of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor issued a
proclamation of facts" in connection
with the railroad strike. In this it is
denied that the shop workers are EN-
gagged in a conflict az ast the govern
ment and efforts to make it appear the
government is being attacked are de-
nounced.
Railway postal service has been in
terrupted at only four places. accord
| ing to Second Assistant Postmaster
! General Henderson. These are short
lines and motor truck service has been
installed
Uncertain of the action that the
| Governor Of Texas may take in the
rail strike situation at the shops of
the NJ, X. & T. at Denison, the War
Department was awaiting Developments
to-day on its policy Of using the mill
tary forces wherever necessary to
maintain order.
Two reports have been received by
f! Secretary Weeks from Colonel Lincoln.
the. army officer sent to Denison and to
Dallas to investigate the situation and
confer with Governor Neff. Neither of
these reports, however, was final, and
| another report is expected setting
| forth what steps the Texas Executive
might take.
| Colonel Lincoln's first report said
all was quiet at Denfson, but that the
railroad shops were not operating be-
cause of lack of proper protection. In
his conference with Governor Neff
| Colonel Lincoln failed to get definite
answer a s to what the Governor would
do. In his report this afternoon to
Secretary Weeks, Colonel Lincoln said
Neff advanced the theory that the local
authorities at Denison should provide
protection, and he asked that the army
officer return later in the day to give
the Governor time for further consid-
Grafton of the question.
Secretary Weeks reiterated that the
governments policy to use troops
where the state authorities were un-
able or unwilling to give the necessary
protection had not changed. State
executives, he said, would be expected
to put down all rioting. and interfer-
ence with traffic, and if they failed the
government was prepared to take the
situation in hand Later Secretary
Weeks conferred with the President.
but upon leaving the White House he
would not disclose the object of his
visit.
The proclamation Of facts" of the
executive council of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor is intended, as ex
planned by an announcement from
headquarters, to point out the cause
OF the disagreement to show that
railroad policy is dominated by pow
erful financial interests" and to make
clear the manner in which the strike
can be terminated at any moment"
The proclamation, signed by Presi-
dent Gompers and others Of the execu-
tive council said in part:
The workers engaged in the pres-
ent struggle are in no sense engaged
| in q conflict against the government
Of the United States, and we denounce
most vigorously the efforts that have
been made to make it appear as if the
government is being attacked.
"The workers have ceased work be-
cause the Railroad Labor Board has
made an award in response to a plea
| by the railroads putting into effect
terms and conditions of employment
sought by the railroads and which
the workers are unable to accept.
THE stoppage of work can be ended
at any moment through joint ncgotia-
tion between the railroad manage
ments and the workers, and there is
nothing to prevent the railroads from
adopting this course at any moment.
The transportation act specifically
provides that both parties to an in
dustrial dispute may come together
for the purpose of reaching an agree
ment without giving the slightest cons
sideration to the Railroad Labor Board
or any of its decisions affecting con-
ditions of work and wages for services
performed"