Evening star., 1922-07-15
First Auto Mail
Route Opened
in Indiana.
GRABLECONFERS
WITH PRESIDENT

Appointed by
Daugherty.
Motor truck transportation of mail
was installed today by the Post Office
Department between Bedford and
Switz City. Ind. between which points
all mail trains have been annulled,
the railroads being unable to move
mail on account Of the shopmen's
strike
This decided step presages the gen.
eral utilization of motor trucks to
haul mail. in case the need develops,
the postal service having plans for
their use completely worked out, and
offers from automobile and aviation
clubs throughout the country for
every assistance.
At the same time the department
received word that troops have ar
rived at Popular Bluff, Mo-. Inspector
Cisler of the St. Louis division of the
railway mail today telegraphing Post
master General Work.
The troops came mot as the result
of rioting. but in anticipation OF
trouble caused by moving shops from
Hoxie, Ark. to that point" Mr. Cisler
reported. The Wabash railroad serv-
ice between St Louis and Omaha is
interrupted by high water. he said.
Cradle at White House.
Other outstanding local develop
ments in the rail strike situation
were:
President Harding conferred with
e. F. Cradle. head of the United
brotherhood of Maintenance of Way
Employees and Railway Shop Laborers,
who reached here today from Chicago.
Possibility Of the 100000 men repre-
sented by his union joining the strike e
was understood to be the topic of
conversation.
Mr.. Cradle refused to make any
statement before going into con-
ference with the President.
Secretary Weeks of the War De-
partment announced today that there
were no further serious developments
reported to him in the railroad strike,
and there seemed a general feeling
throughout the administration that
the situation is no worse.
More Deputies Named.
Attorney General Daugherty was said
to be appointing additional deputy
United States marshals to help in
various parts of the country
Threatening railroad employe con-
d
ming between Denison and Sherman
Junction, Tex. a strikers committee
today succeeded in delaying a closed
pouch mail train. according to a tele-
gram from Inspector Gaines. at Fort
Worth, to the Post Office Department.
the postmaster at Denison. was at
work, when the strikers approached
him and said hey would get what
others have gotten" unless he de-
sisted. He ceased work, and the train
was annulled. and the mail delayed.
Would Volunteer to Work.
II believe I would volunteer as a
baggage smasher, in case of need"
First Assistant Postmaster General
Bartlett handled baggage on a sum-
mer steamer while going through
Dartmouth College, and believes he
could do it again.
His remark indicated the temper of
the postal officials. who hourly are
throughout the country as to the
number Of motor trucks available If
the strike makes necessary a gen.
eral resort to trucks.
Two offers of assistance in trans
porting mails were received by the
Post ONCE Department today, one
from c. G. Messer Of Spokane, Wash.
proffering the use of two airplanes
of the United States Aircraft Cor
poration. and the other from the
California Motor Transport Associa-
ton, offering its services in a survey
Of available trucks in the state. The
association owns no trucks itself, but
comprises a statewide organizat ton
Of owners and operators, "and, II we
can in any manner be of service to
our government or its people. COM
mand u.s." said a telegram from Sec
retary Fred Mott.
Train. to BE Dropped.
The department was informed to-
day that beginning Monday trains Is
and 16 of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad, between Pittsburgh and Chi
cago. and trains and 10, Baltimore
and Ohio, between this city and Chi
cago. are to be discontinued.
At Toledo. Ohio, all depot employees
including porters in the mailroon al
the transfer clerks office, are on
strike, 1t Is reported to the depart
ment, and request is made for more
mail clerks to handle mail.
Postal Inspector Harris wired from
Atlanta that trains Is and 16, between
Savannah and Montgomery, and trains
II and Is. between Columbus and Al
bany, Will be discontinued today to
conserve power. but that trains
throughout the division are operating
without Interference
Conditions Grow Better.
A later dispatch from Supt, Ctsler
declared that the strike situation
around st. Louis is improving, that no
more trains have been annulled. and
that mixed trains today resumed oper-
alton. between Hannibal and New
Franklin, Mo.
Administration officials today were
hopeful that solution to the rail-
problem would be found before any
situation developed which might force
drastic action by the government, de-
spite the apparent lack of progress of
efforts of members of the Railroad
Labor Board to effect a settlement OF
the shopmen's strikes.