The New York herald., 1922-07-13
HARDING IS PRAISED
BY ALLBUT GOMPERS
Labor Chief Says Proclama-
tion Is Glorification of
Strikebreakers.
ALSO HE SEES WALL ST.
Senators and High Officials
Say Strike Is in Hand, and
Emergencies Met.
ALSO HE SEES WALL ST.

New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. c., July 12.
Twelve national unions affiliated
with the metal trades department of
the American Federation of Labor
to-day took action supporting the
strike of railway shop men. These
unions agreed they would quit work
in any shop where they were COM
PEELED to do repair work on locomo-
tives or cars from railroads on which
there was a strike of the shop men.
The action taken is expected to pre-
vent the railroads obtaining car and
locomotive repair work outside their
own shops.
Announcement of the action taken
by the metal trades unions followed
a declaration by Samuel Gompers.
President of the American Federation
OF Labor. against the proclamation in
the railroad strike issued last night
by the President.
In a statement Gompers declared that
the Railroad Labor Board and the Pres
ident OF the United States were both
guilty of glorifying strike breaking. the
most despicable employment in Amer
lea. He defended the actions of the
strikers and stated that eventually the
railroads must be managed for service
by the Government instead of by Wall
Street for profit.
President Harding's proclamation call
ing on all citizens to observe the law
and forbidding interference with the
malls and with interstate commerce
brought laudatory comment. however.
from every official source Members OF
the Senate were free In praise of the
action taken and promised support In
any legislation deemed necessary by The
President.
Sec situation in Hand.
Administration officials are convinced
that the railroad strike situation Is in
hand. They are prepared. however. to
move the mails and move food and
other essentials wherever 1t becomes
necessary.
No step has been taken toward the
actual ordering out of Federal troops
and none will be taken except In ex-
treme emergency. but Secretary OF War
Weeks said to-day "the army is ready"
In explanation of the action of the
metal trade unions the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor issued a statement
sa ying:
THE American Locomotive Works. to
which many of the struck railroads
have sent their locomotives for repairs
since the strike started July 1. are spe-
officially affected by an order effective
Wednesday morning stopping all re-
pair work on locomotives from struck
roads. In the plants of this company
there Is enough work on new locomo-
tives to keep the workmen busy and
there will be no cessation from work
unless attempts are made to force the
men to do repair work.
support for the railroad shopmen in
this manner includes the cooperation Of
the boilermakers, electric workers, pipe
filters. plumbers. machinists, black
smiths, molders, pattern makers, sheet
metal workers. coppersmiths, painters,
carpenters and helpers.
Sees Work stopped.
Since the Big Four brotherhoois
have already refused to repair work
formerly done by the shopmen 1t is ex-
pected that repair work on locomotives
will be at a standstill.' said y. +.
Beres, secretary treasurer of the Metals
Trades Department. Nine out Of ten
locomotives need some kind OF repair
work after every trip. and 1900 out Of
the 70. 900 locomotives In operation In the
country need general repairs every
month. At this rate IL will not be long
before transportation is tied up through
out the country.
THE following letter was mailed to-
day to all local metal trades councils by
A. J. Berres, secretary treasurer Of the
Metal Trades Department OF the a. +.
of L.
For the information OF the council
and it's affiliated local organizations.
we are quoting a telegram which was
sent to the Metal Trades Councils In To-
calities in which the American Locomo-
tive Company has plants. which ex-
plains itself.
tionals affiliated with Metal Trades De-
partment to notify their local unions at
all points where American locomotive
shops are located 10 give notice 10
local arrangements that repairs will not
be done on locomotives coming from
struck roads. becoming effective
wednesday morning. July r. Notify all
representatives OF local organizations
'This action was taken upon the
earnest solicitation of the organizers
affiliated with the railroad department
of the American Federation OF Labor
many of whom are also affiliated with
the metal trades department Every
assistance that can be given TO the
shopmen now on strike on all railroads