The New York herald., 1922-07-16
HARDING TO DIRECT
Rail STRIKE ACTION
Executive and Legislative,
Branches in Agreement on
the Program.
TRUCKS MOVING MAI.
U. s. Already Carrying Out
Plans Though Less Violence
Is Reported.
Special Dispatch to THE New York HHIALp.
\ New York Herald Bureau.
IVA shin1fon N. e Iulx lK Il

spectol Dispatch to THE New York HnALp.
\ New York Herald Bureau.
SWashingtou, ID. c.. July IS. &
With prospects of a settlement Of
the railroad strike dimming President
Harding and the full executive and
legislative branches of the Govern
ment are prepared for decisive action.
1t was officially stated to-day that
the Government is fully prepared to
move the mails and to insure trans
portation to protect the food supply
of the people.
President Harding will probably
take direct hand in the railroad
strike on Monday. The Executive has
kept hands off as long as possible and
has given the Railroad Labor Board.
the railroads and the men a full and
free hand in all efforts toward settle
ment.
On Monday 1t Is expected that he
will move toward full and free con-
ference directly between the striking
shopmen and the railroad executives
1t is possible that suggested plan of
settlement similar to that advanced in
the coal strike will be submitted.
Motor Trucks Garry Mail.
Though efforts toward settlement in
Chicago have apparently failed, reports
to various departments Of the. Govern
ment in Washington to-day indicate a
lessening Of violence and Of interference
with the mails. Without SUFFICIENT war;
rant on these two counts. the Federal
Government will not exercise any Of its
police or military powers.
Motor truck transportation for the
mails where train transport has fallen
down has already been inaugurated by
the Post ONCE Department.. and will be
carried forward wherever necessary.
Reports to Secretary of War Weeks
we're reassuring. No regular army
troops have been ordered nhov4ds and
apparently died down. but the army Is
ready.
President Harding conferred for two
hours to-day with representatives Of the
maintenance of way employees. who are
threatening to strike, and after the con-
ference the White House Issued the fol-
lowing statement:
&c. F. Cradle. president of the United
Brotherhood OF Maintenance OF Way
Employees and Railway Shop Laborers
and Fred L. Feick, legislative represent
alive of the same organization, spoke
two hours this morning in conference
with the President on the strike situa-
ton. They brought to the President
~ to1
that the railway managers were ignoring
the decisions of the Railroad Labor
Board, and presented their objections
to the decision of the board relating to
the appeals OF that brotherhood.
The President gave the fullest possi-
BILE hearing and assured Messrs. Cradle
and Feick that they had taken the one
defensible course in presenting their
case.
Hope for Settlement.
He assured them that inasmuch as
Congress has constituted the Railroad
Labor Board for the express purpose OF
settling disputes and preventing inter-
ruptions to transportation, all decisions
must be accepted by employers and en-
ployees alike. and assured them also
that noncompliance on the part of rail-
ways had not been brought to his atten-
ton until the strike was called.
He explained that any inadequacy In
the law must be corrected by Congress,
and could not be effected by interrupt
ing railway operations.
Messrs. Cradle and Feick expressed
hope for an early settlement and de-
clared that the proper conferences would
end in such a settlement. The President
assured them that every possible con-
ference was being sought.
President Harding's assurance to them
of every possible conference was re-
garded as indicative of the action con-
templated on Monday. when he probably
will ask representatives Of the striking
men and the railroads to meet In Wash
.ington to talk directly over the confer
ence table. Representatives Of the main
tenance of way men will probably be In
vited. Officers of this union, It is un-
derstood. have opposed a walkout at this
time. but are having difficulty restrain
ing the rank and file.
CINCINNATI, July 15.--There will be
no convention of the general chairmen
OF the National Association Of General
Chairmen OF the Brotherhood OF Mainte-
nance of Way and Railroad Shop Labor
ers at this time TO decide on whether a
strike call will be issued by this organ
ization Of 10000 workers, T. c. Carroll,
president of the organization, announced
tonight on his return here from Louis
Vile.
GIRLS THUMB VALUED