The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-07-13
All Agencies
In Readiness
To Move Mail
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
tCopyrtsht by Tho rnts;nSe

WASHINGTON. July l2-ReGuests from
ell parts OF the country are reaching the
government asking for the appointment
nf hundreds OF deputy Tarshals 20 as
sist In the enforcement Of the rederal
laws which make II ar oftease for any
one 10 interfere with the mails or inter-
state commerce.
President Harding's proclarat!on.how-
ever. doesn't make II matter for the
department OF justice merely but FOR
the war department. and all other agen-
c!eS which can command a respect %or
the law.
Ths use OF federal troops IS inevtta-
Die President Harding and his adVis-
ers are loath 10 use them as they would
rather have the civil branch OF the gov
ernment carry out the law processes OK
.he government but the inadeQuacy o.
civilian officers such rs rarshals ana
deputies Is already apparent.
The government Is apprehenstve that
the situation will grow worse Chiefly
because strikers in the past have To.
understood the laws which they are N!o-
iat!ng. Most OF the leaders seem TO be
under the impression that moving the
mails Is essential but X other trains
are stopped or delayed there Is no PEN
atty. The opposite Is true. For the
laws OF the United States are just as
explicit with reference 10 the movement
Of passenger and freight trains as mail
carriers.
No Arrests Yet
No warrants have gone forth as yet
10 arrest leaders or strikers but in the
1894 strike such a step became neces-
sary as there was Wholesale disregard
Of rhe law and wreckiHg OF trains. Per-
haps the best exposition OF the law
which the strikers are confronted with
was given by Judge Ross In his famous
charge 70 the grand Jury In Los Angeles
Just rwenty-e!Eht years ago this month
in connection with the Deos strike. He
said:
a railroad which Is a link IN through
l!ae OF road FOR the transportation Of
freight and passengers into another
state from other states and from that
state 70 other states IS engaged in the
business OF interstate commerce. and
every organization or conspiracy in re-
stratnt OF such trade or commerce IS by
stature declared TO be Illegal. and all
persons so combining and conspirinE are
by law guilty OF the commission OF
crime. Congress has passed laws to reg
ulate such commerce, and has provided
punishment IN a certain prescribed way.
watching Conspiracy.
The same Judge added reference TO
the conspiracy statutes which make any
one convicted OF a conspiracy TO break
the laws Of the United States liable 10
fine OF $4,000 or TO Imprisonment for
not more than two years
The Harding administration is about TO
apply the same broad principles OF law
in securing the uninterrupted passage
OF trains from state 70 state. The mar
shaIs and deputy marshals IN the past
have called for tropps to help them out.
Telegrams from all parts OF the United
States indicate that grave apprehension
exists in many railroad centers as 10
whether the marshals can cope with
the situation. Federal troops are being
eld in readiness for service.
Experience Of 1894.
Experience in the 1894 strike has
shown that the delay In sending federal
troops resulted IN many disorders and
that the local athorities were promptly
ooeyed Just as soon as the troops ar
rived. The federal government is not
anxious TO use IT'S army 70 run the rail-
roads or 10 protect strike breakers but
the paramount need OF transportation Is
forcing the government into exactly that
position. And the proclamation by the
President is paving the way for broad
federal action. II may become neces-
sary to proclaim martial law in specific
sections Of the country through this as
a rule has waited the appeal from gov
ernors OF the states. In order. however.
TO enforce the federal laws troops may
be sent anywhere in the country with
out reference to the presence OF state
militia or the attitude OF the state Off
c!als,
Crisis In "a Hours.
Within the next tweHty-four hours
the crisis in the strike situation may
be expected but present Indications are
that the use OF federal troops alone Will
lllay the fears OF the workers who are
ready 10 run trains but who think the
strikers will do them violence.