The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-08-30
.R0AD-N|I|lE
I AKEovER
LOOMING Up J
Harding Hesitant. About
Wisdom of Taking
Emergency Step.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright, 1922, by The Argus.)
Washington, D. c., Aug. 3d.
President Harding has unbosomed
himself in the last "a hours to his
cabinet and other callers on the
plans he has in mind for dealing
with the national emergency grow
ing out of the rail and coal strikes.
The president revealed first Of
all that while he has no fixed pol
icy and is depending more or less
on day to day developments. his
duty and responsibility in certain
eventualities is clear in his mind.
The whole situation, Mr.. Hard
ing thinks, depends on transporta-
tion. Enough hard coal will be
available because the president
feels sure the anthracite situation
will be settled in a few days. Sta
tistics laid on the cabinet table
showed that the soft coal tonnage
is satisfactory and that no short
age will develop if the coal now
being mined can be distributed
from the mouth Of the mine to the
consumer. The shopmen's strike is
interfering with transportation.
Debates Question.
Mr.. Harding has been in the
midst Of debate between two sets
Of advisers, those who favor and
those who oppose government op-
Grafton OF anything. Enough argu-
ments have been advanced by both
sides to make MIR. Harding aware
Of the terrific responsibilities which
would be involved. Furthermore,
outside the cabinet, there has been
q pressure OF tWo kpepos. one Of
witch insists that to take over
mines or railroads would be play
ing into the hands Of the unions
as they are said to want govern
ment operation because 1t means
better wages. and the other which
declares that the unions do not
want government operation be-
cause the governments method
will be virtually to uphold the en-
ployers by giving federal protec-
ton. At first glance the latter
sentence might not seem clear but
what Mr.. Harding knows is that if
he has to take over the roads, he
will have to depend upon the pres
ent railroad executives to run them
and that the men will be working
for the same individuals as they
now oppose, only under govern
ment operation the railway execu-
tives would have federal troops,
federal court authority and every
agency of the government at their
beck and call.
The president, therefore, after
listening to the pro and con of gov
ernment seizure of mines and rail-
roads, is hesitant to plunge the
government into any such venture.
To use the word "hesitant" is to
put it mildly-he is hoping against
hope that he will not have to do it.
Meanwhile, however, congress is
restlessly itching for a vacation
while the conference committee
wrestles with the tariff hill. Po-
litical advisers like Senator James
Watson Of Indiana and John T,
Adams. chairman of the Republican
national committee have discussed
with the president the whole Ques-
ton Of political consequences grow
ing out OF government operation.
Wants Power.
So Mr.. Harding came to this con-
clusion: He feels he ought to have
blanket authority to take over Ger
tain coal carriers and such mines
as will be necessary to insure 1
sufficient production Of fuel for the
nation. He promises not to use the
authority except in dire emergen.
cy and believes congress ought to
trust him to use the right sort oi
judgment as to, the existence OF
non-existence Of an emergency.
But congress never has giver
blanket authority except in time oi
war, and lately there has been q
tendency to guard jealously the
powers Of congress, somethins
which Mr.. Harding himself has en-.
couraged. Mr.. Harding realizes
that congress might not want Il
give him, this blanket power, 90 hs
hesitates to ask for it, because il
he asks and congress does no,
grant it, the effect would be to hur,
Republican members Of congress
! upon whose head the political re.
sponsibility for lack Of fuel nigh,
be thrust. The president made 4,
clear to those who discussed thu
matter with him that. for the mo.
ment he will not ask for the power
in any formal way, Congress know
informally through those who hav,
been at the White house that b,
wants it II congress sees llt Il
i grant IL. Mr.. Harding will be 4fati