The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-07-19
MAY TAKE
over THE
RAILROADS
Government Will Use
All the Force Neces-
sary to Insure Ser
vice on Railroads

Washington, July 14.-While op-
timism to the outcome Of the rail-
road strike was reflected at the
White House today. there was fur
ther evidence that the administra-
ton intends to keep a firm grasp
on the situation and that every
force at the command Of the gov
ernment will be utilized to insure
maintenance of necessary inter-
state transportation.
Members of the cabinet who met
with President Harding in the reg
ular Friday session placed their
main reliance on the ability Of
Chairman Hooper of the United
States railroad labor board to find
a solution toathe problem.
The meeting was understood to
have been devoted largely TO dis
cussion Of the rail and coal strikes.
The president was said to hold
the view that. should government
operation Of the carriers become
necessary. it would not abridge the
liberty of railroad workers to be
drafted for service in the positions
in which they have had experience
Whatever discussion occurred
along this line, however, was said
to be on a strictly hypthetical basis,
there being no evidence that fed
eral control would be forced by
developments of the strike.
Cabinet members brought to the
meeting voluminous reports on the
various phases in which their port
folios were directly interested. At
torney General Daugherty had with
him numerous kilograms bearing
on the situation at points where
disorders have developed, and re-
ports on the organization of special
forces of deputy marshals. POST
master General Work was said to
have reported the bulk Of the mail
movement as yet unaffected by the
strike. although number Of trains
have been discontinued. Messages
reaching the postoffice department
during the day. however. indicated
the anxiety of railroad officials and
in some cases of postal inspectors
over the situation at certain rail
centers. including Dennison, Tex
arkana, Marshall and Fort Worth,
Texas. and Hattiesburg, Miss.
Further request for federal pro-
lection reached the war depart
ment from Dennison. where the
federal receiver Of the Missouri,
Kansas & Texas railway was un-
derstood to hold the view that all
trains would have to stop within
three days unless protection was
given the shopmen working on
vital repairs to rolling stock.
Possible use of federal troops to
protect railroad employees remain
ing on their jobs were viewed in
union circles as tending to ag-
gravate the situation. This view
was expressed by ]. P. Nooman,
president OF the International
Brotherhood Of Electrical Work
ers. who charged that mail trains
were being withdrawn deliberate
" by the railroads to force govern
ment action. President Gompers
Of the American Federation OF
Labor. .also declared there was no
justification for use of troops. par
ticularly, unless and until request
ed by the state authorities.
Decision on whether federal
troops would be sent to preserve
order at Dennison apparently was
being withheld at the war depart
ment until the inspector general Of
the Eighth corps area. ordered to
the scene today. had reported on
the situation at THAT railroad CEN
ter.
Early in the day a report from
the receiver to Secretary Weeks is
understood to have indicated that
Governor Nef of Texas intended to
take no action. The message from
the receiver was not made public
but was said by Secretary Weeks
to have confirmed his previous re-
port on Interruptions to traffic due
to acts Of violence by strikers or
strike sympathizers.