New-York tribune., 1922-07-12
Proclamation Directs All
Persons toRefrainFrOm
Interference With Inter-
state Trade Shipments
Right to Work To
Be Denied to None
Appeals to the Public for
Aid i'm Maintaining Law
and Order Everywhere
By Carter Field

" Wv, ouiy LIZ HeB~
ident Harding tonight definitely
placed all the power Of the Federal
government behind the effort to keep
the trains moving. In a proclama-
tion he warned "all persons to re-
frain from all interference" with
the movement of trains.
Interference with movement of the
mails, regarded since the time Of
Grover Cleveland as the point at
which the Federal government inter-
venes, is coupled by President Hard
ing with interstate train movement.
The warning is against interference
with the lawful efforts to maintain
Interstate transportation and the
carrying of the United States
mails"
Before this warning, in summing
up the reasons for the proclamation,
the President said: "The main
tanned operation of the railways in
Interstate commerce and the trans.
portation of United States mails
have necessitated the employment Of
men who choose to accept employ
ment."
Cooperation of all public authorities,
both state and municipal, and the aid
Of citizens as well, are asked by the
President, who declared that "these
activities" s"--that is movement of inter-
state commerce and the mails. "and
the maintained supremacy of the law
are the first obligation of the govern
nent and all the citizenship of our
country"
Must Accept Labor Board
The President rehearses the history
of the case briefly, holding that the
United States Railroad Labor Board
must be accepted by both sides, but
then deals a smashing blow at the con-
tentlon of the union officials b. declar-
ing that the men who have accepted
employment under the erms of the
decision "have the same indisputable
right to work that ot.isrs have to de-
cline to work"
This Presidents proclamation was Is
sued late tonight after a day of con-
ferences on the railroad and coal strike
situations.
The President took the position,
which was indicated last week, that the
decision of the Railroad Labor Board
was an action of the government and
must be supported by the government
1t followed reports to-day by the
| Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company Of
| interference with the movement of
| QSoc hyy tril as
| where the company had equipment and
men to move the trains, but because of
inadequate protection for its en-
ployees was unable to move the mail.
Use Of Army Inevitable
This report, made by C. w. Gallo
| way, vicepresident of the Baltimore &
| Ohio, was given out by the Postofice
| Department early in the day, together
| with several other reports showing
that movement Of the mails had been
! stopped in some instances and slowed
down in others as result Of the strike.
! The most important instance was the
putting of 5000 miles of the Wabash
system out OF operation to-day, accord
ing to superintendent of Mails S. II.
Cisler, of ST. Louis.
| Use of troops to protect the move,
ment of trains, both in interstate com-
merce and for the movement Of the
mails, was accepted tonight as newt
able il the strike continues, following
the Presidents proclamation. No off,
cial statement to this effect was made,
but no other meaning was attached to
the Presidents words by those inter-
ested here.
Following is the text of the Presi-
dents proclamation:
A PrOclau1afiO.,
Whereas, the United States Rail-
road Labor Board is an agency of the
government, created by law, and
charged with the duty Of adjusting dis
pntes between railroad operators and
employees engaged in interstate COM
merce; and,
Whereas, the United States Railroad
Labor Board has recently handed down
decisions, one affecting the wage Of
4 the shop craft employees, the other
declaring the contract system of shop
craft work with outside agencies to be
i contrary to. the intent of the transpor-
! tation act, and, therefore, that such
| practice must be discontinued; and
Whereas, the shop craft employees
have elected to discontinue their work,
| rather than abide by the decision rem
/ dered, and certain operators have ig-
nored the decision ordering abandon
ment OF the contract shop practice:
and,
Whereas, the maintained operation
OF the railways in interstate commerce
and the transportation of United States
mails have necessitated the employ
ment of men who choose to accept en-
ployment under the terms of the de-
cision and who have the same ir.dis-
putable right to work that others have
to decline work; and
Whereas, the peaceful settlement of
controversies in accordance with law
end due respect for the established
l.agencies of such settlement are essen
tial to the security and weIl-being OF
our people;
\ Now, therefore, I, Warren G. Hard
ing, President of the United States, do
n hereby make proclamation, directing
= all persons to refrain from all inter
ference with the lawful efforts to snatn.