The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-07-21
u. s. MAY DRAFT
RAILWAY WORKERS
harding BELIEVES COMPULSORY
PLAN FEASIBLE.
AFFAIRS NOT AT CRISIS POINT
Measures Until All other Means
Have Been Exhausted.

Washington, d. C.-While the ad-
m~inistration is determined TO main
tain adequate transportation aud
might in extreme emergency &C so far
as to take over the railroads and
draft workers TO operate the systems,
the White House takes an optimistic
view of the situation, following re-
ports that the strike Of railway, shop
crafts employees is close to settle
ment.
The president is of the opinion that
It would not abridge the liberties OF
railroad workers or other citizens to
draft them into the service Of the
country for the maintenance Of trans
portation, which is deemed vital to
the preservation of the welfare of the
people. The president, however, be.
lieves that the transportation situa'
ton produced by the strike has not
approached the crisis which would
warrant such extreme action and is
confident that il will not take a turn
30 serious.
Mr.. Harding expressed his views at
some length at the meeting OF the
cabinet, which was devoted almost
exclusively to discussion OF the rail
read strike. 1t is not clear, however,
in what manne he contemplates that
workers might be drafted to operate
the railroads. One suggestion was
that the government might take over
the railroads, assign the army to
operate them and draft railroad work.
ers into the army for that purpose. 1t
was on this principle that the French
government broke a railway strike
some years ago.
That the strike Of railway shop.
crafts employees is close to settlement
was announced by Secretary of Wal
Weeks as he amerged from the White
House following a conference with
the president.
"Our information" said Secretary
Weeks, "is that the strike is near its
end. The dispute appears to be close
TO settlement, the question of restor-
ing strikers to their places with sen.
iority rights unimpaired being the
only issue on which the carriers and
the union now are in disagreement.
This would seem to give basis Of hope
for complete agreement, ending the
strike before many hours have
elapsed"
Samuel Gompers, president OF the
American Federation OF Labor, con
firmed the report received at the
White House.
81 have the identical information"
he said, 1.-THE union and the railroad
executives are negotiating directly
and are close TO agreement. IL a
settlement is effected. as | believe il
will be shortly, it will be done with
u the participation of the railway
labor board-with the labor board the
fifth wheel on the wagon"
Secretary Weeks ordered Maj.
Gen. Hines, commandant OF the Eighth
corps area, to send an inspector gen
eral to Denison. Tex, where strike
violence and lawlessness against the
Missouri, Kansas and Texas railway
has been reported. The object OF the
secretary in taking this step is to
obtained unbiased reports concerning
conditions at this important railway
point and TO ascertain whether the
need for federal troops there exist.
y All corps urea commanders are hold
ing troops in readiness FOR my erer
gency which may deveIop, the war
secretary said. though Ia GecffueG to
state that direct INSTRUCTIONS had been
sent from Washington 10 this effect.
IL