The Washington herald., 1922-07-24
WILL AVOW CRISIS
Government DictatiOn of
Lines Regarded as
Pest Solution.
DAUGHERTY SEES
STRIKE CONSPIRACY
Believes Shopmen and
Miners Have WalkOut
Agreement.

The Interstate Commerce Comnlis-
sion il expected to issue declaration
OF the existence of an emergency
In the meaning Of the transportation
act as the first step toward govern
ment control of the movement Of
coal.
Such a declaration. when issued by
the Commission. under provisions OF
the Cummins-Esch law. means sus-
pension of existing rules as 10 rout-
ing, pooling of terminal facilities and
short, virtual government control Of
the mechanical operation of the rail-
roads of the country.
Preliminary steps in connection
with putting into effect the control
of railroad facilities SO vested in the
Interstate Commerce Commission
were taken at a conference between
Aitchison OF the /. c. c Final steps
man McChord and Commissioner
Aitchinson OF the I. c. C Final steps
await further conferences today.
DauEherty Sees Conspiracy.
This governmental action is the re-
suit of recognition of what is believed
by legal officers of the government
to be a conspiracy between rail and
mine strikers to prevent the trans
portation Of coal being produced in
nonuion fields.
Attorney General Daugherty has
unofficially declared his belief in the
existence of a ''conspired or inspired"
relationship in the twin strikes. but so
far he has been unable to obtain suf-
Arfanf prnnf 70 he o~fn nrnNnaA
ings against the alleged conspirators.
Coal production, according to the
weekly report issued yesterday, Is
failing rapidly even In the hon
union mines. 1t has become next TO
impossible 20 obtain empty cars at
the operating mines and. II is stated.
long and inexplicabie delays have
been encountered by loaded cars
through terminals on their way to
distributing points. The Interstate
Commerce Commission will endeavor
to relieve this congestion by much
the same method employed during
the outlaw strike of 1920.
Seek Separate Agreements.
Attempts to break the railway
shopmen's strike will be made this
week through separate negotiations
between several OF the great rail-
road systems and the men. The
Baltimore and Ohio will make an
effort to this end tomorrow and the
Southern Railroad has annuonced its
willingness to grant employees their
seniority rights.
Meantime. however, evidence
grows that the shopmen's leaders
are making the Railway Labor Board
their big issue. Privately, officials
both of the shopmen and the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, declare
that in the long run the continue
tion of the labor board will prove
the major question"
The Railway Labor Board always
has been a thorn in the side of la
Dor. 1t has come in for repeated
denunciations by President Gomper.
of the A. F. of l. and threats oi
setting up a similar board for hand.
ling problems arising in the mins
industry has been vigorously as.
sailed by labor leaders.
Hence, the solution which Presi.
dert Harding is expected to move
or this week may eliminate tho
board from the picture and. as la,
Dor leaders view 1t. IF the boarC
plays no part in settling the strike
IL cannot survive except as a purely
ornamental organization"
Failure of the board to effect q
settlement of the present strike ha,
led to a general belief that wher
the basis of a final agreement IL
reached between the shopmen ant
the roads it will be arrived at will