Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1922-07-31
Confidence I'm Cabinet
Circles That Strikes Will
Be Ended This Week
BY GEORGE r. HOLMES,
I. NJ. S, Staff Correspondent.


Washington, July 31.-While the
opposing forces in the railway strike
gathered in Chicago and New York
today for tomorrow's important
decision of peace or war. evidence
es multiplied in Washington that
the administration considers the
rail strike as good as settled.
Ben w Hooper. chairman OF tbs
railway labor board. had an hours
conference with President Harding
at the White House. discussing the
immediate situation. as he describ-
ed it and as soon as the eonference
was over. Hoover announced he was
leaving for Chicago at once to make
preparations for the board for work
that it will be confronted with IN
August
Washington. July 3t.-Confidencs
prevailed generally in cabinet cir
cles that this week the seven
teenth OF the naticn wide coal
strike and the fifth Of the railway
strke-will see the passing OF tbs
grave Industrial crisis which has
kept the country In ferment or un.
certainty and anxiety.
Tomorrow Is expected to see ths
windup of the paralyzing railroad
strike, with the executives OF 148
railroad systems meeting in New
York and leaders of 100000 striking
shopcraft workers meeting In Chi
ciago to vote upon acceptance OF
President Harding's peace proposals.
Leaders Accept Peace Program.
Acceptance OF the peace program
by labor will be prompt. leaders
already have agreed to 1t. In thes
meeting of the railway executives
the acceptance will not be SO prompt
but It is none the less certain, ac.
cording to administration spokes-
men in a position to know.
The President believes THE plan
is based upon justice to both sides
and he is quite willing, 1t is said,
to rest his case with public opinion.
Big Break In Tieup.
While the outlook in the national
coal strike was not SO encouraging
today, administration Spokesman
expressed the belief that this week
would see "a big break in the tie
up.
This confidence was based large-
~ upon information prevailing today
In labor quarters that the end OF
the week will see an interstate
joint conference between the min
ers and those operators who are
anxious to renew operations in their
idle mines. The belief prevailed
that this conference would be held
in Cleveland.
Want Renewal OF Dealings.
Among the coal operators, as
among the railroad executives, there
Is a sharp division between the bit
ter enders and those who for vari-
GUS reasons, are inclined more to
moderation. The Pittsburgh group
are classed as the "die hards" with
some support from Indiana, while
the operators from Ohio and Illinois,
are, generally speaking. inclined to-
ward a renewal OF dealing with the
United Mine Workers.
President Harding Ia taking no Of
fetal cognizance of the coal strike
negotiations, but his advisers are
quietly doing all In their power to
further such conference and they
believe that before the week Is out
there is an excellent chance OF a
truce meeting being arranged for
Cleveland
Confidence that the rail strike
would be settled to the satisfaction
of the administration and that this
would be followed by a satisfactory
adjustment between the coal opera
tors and miners, possibly with the
efforts on the part Of the govern
ment was expected today by Scores
tary OF Labor Davis.
Davis was Of the opinion that theS
view Of A. O. Wharton, labor mem
her OF the railway labor board that
the plan said to have been submit
ted by President Harding to both
parties to the rail strike would be
accepted, represented the sentj
ment in labor circles. ii