The Washington herald., 1922-07-19
SENATOR KINGS
STRKEPLANUP
CONFERENCE
Borah, Walsh and Com
pers Will Discuss Pro-
posal With Him.
DETAILS ARE HELD
IN STRICT SECRECY
May Be Placed Before Presi-
dent as Alternative
Measure.

The first concrete plan for coping
with the strike situation, evolved
by members OF Congress. will be
discussed today at a conference to
be attended by Samuel Gompers.
head of the American Federation OF
Labor; Senator Borah, chairman Of
the Senate Labor Committee; SEN
ator Walsh, Massachusetts,, and
Senator King. Utah.
King, who Is author of the plan.
declined to give any intimation of
its features. He has already gone
over II with Gompers and the other
two Senators. Later, II the plan
seems feasible, and President Hard
ing's measures do not appear likely
to have an immediate effect. King
will lay his suggestion before the
President.
Il cannot divulge the plan now
said King. Il am not sure yet that
1t will prove satisfactory. In fact.
its details have not been worked
out completely"
Looks to Future.
The King plan, the only move thus
far made in Congress. is a mani
festation of a general desire by
House and Senate members to do
something, providing it would not
embarrass President Harding. The
virtually unanimous disposition or
the legislators is to stand behind
the President, for the present at
least, and let his measures have the
fullest test
At the same time there Is a real
fzation that once the immediate
crisis has been safely passed Con-
eress ought to do something to pre-
vent its recurrence. Ideas for per-
maneat solution of the coal-rail Ia
Dor problem vary from mild gov
ernment supervision. such as is now
provided in the Esch-Cummins rail-
road law, to drastic measures ap-
proximating government ownership.
II is unlikely. however, that any
legislation will be offered for the
present.
White House Denies Rumor.
There has not been thus far the
slightest intimation that the admin
istration desires any help from Con-
gress. Reports that the President
contemplated recalling the House
were branded as utterly unfounded
by the White House yesterday.
If Federal troops are used. or IL
State troops are called out under
Presidential authority to suppress
insurrection. additional money prob
ably would be needed to pay them.
But Senator Wadsworth. chairman.
of the Senate Military Affairs Com
mittee. said he had received no word
from the War Department that any
extra money would be asked.
In general. the attitude of those
administration members of Con-
gress who are in town was ex-
pressed in a fervent hope that
President Harding would adhere to
his vigorous policy and take all
possible precautions to prevent dis
orders. While legal experts in
Congress realized that the admin
istration faced some legal barriers
to complete freedom in the use of
Federal troops before they are
actually needed, 1t was pointed out
that IL complete cooperation is es-
tablished with the various States.
the slightest sign of impending
trouble could be made the signal
for prompt Federal action.
Senators Indorse President.
The government Is ready TO use
its utmost power" said Senator
Pepper. OF Pennsylvania. in whose
State the operators believe they
have the best chance of breaking
the force of the mine strike. The
government. however. will not, en-
ploy extreme measures" he added,
unless the situation makes them
Imperative. But in all events Con-
gress will steadfastly support the
President-with necessary appropri-
ations or anything else"
Senator Capper. of Kansas, leader
of the farm bloc. declared yester-
day that "The Presidents course,
thus far. has been privately praised
by nearly all Republican Senators
and by many Democrats" He be-
lieved the Senate would back the
President. putting aside party lines,
in any legislative showdown re-
sulting from the Industrial emer-
gency.