The New York herald., 1922-07-23
TO ACT THIS WEEK
Harding Confers With
Hooper, Weeks and
Senate Leaders Of
Both Parties.
STRIKE A TEST CASE
President Is Anxious to
Have Labor Boards Find
ings Upheld. =
ROADS STAND DECRIED
Administration Is Not Im-
pressed by Their Failure to
Grant Concessions.
ROADS STAND DECRIED

Special Dispatch to THE New YoRK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. c.. July 22
new move looking to the speedy
settlement of the railroad strike which
the Administration regards as the
most critical part of the industrial
situation islexpected early next week
as result of the conference to-day
between President Harding and Ben
w. Hooper, chairman of the railroad
labor board, who was summoned to
Washington to give to the President
1T first hand the main factors in the
dispute and the obstacles to an agree
men between the warning factions.
At the same time the President dis
cussed the situation with Chairman
Hooper he called into consultation
leaders of both parties in the Senate
with the object of reaching an under
standing for the elimination of parti-
sanship of any kind IL it becomes
necessary to ask for emergency or
permanent legislation with regard TO
any aspect OF the industrial situation.
Senators Cummins Ia.). Watson
! (Ind. and Kellogg (Minn.) who will
assume responsibility for whatever iegis-
lation Is deemed necessary. were invited
to the conference with Chairman Hooper.
as was also Secretary OF War Weeks.
Immediately after the conference on
the railroad strike the President re-
ceived Senator's Underwood (Ala.) and
Pomerene (Ohio). with whom he dis
cussed the railroad and the coal situa-
ton as well as the facts brought to his
attention in the conference with Mr..
Hooper.
Hooper Goes to Chicago.
The conference on the railroad strike
lasted from 10:30 A. NJ. until after
luncheon time. Chairman Hooper remain-
ing with the President for luncheon Mr..
Hooper left Washington tonight for Chi
cago. and although no announcement of
the ADMINISTRATORS policy was made
or any statement as to the course OF
action decided on at the conference IL
was indicated that another effort would
be made by the railroad board to obtain
an agreement between the railroad ex-
ecutives and the leaders OF the striking
shops crafts.
The President has taken the stand
that the board is speaking for the Cow
ernment, and no definite move by the
Administration for conferences between
the executives and the strikers is ex-
pected until 1t has become apparent that
the resources OF the board have been ex-
hausted.
The belief on the Presidents part
that the board and not the Adminstra-
ton proper should for the moment at
least handle the controversy does not
mean that the weapon OF moral sua-
sion" will not be used to get the execu-
tives to give way on the main factors
that are preventing a settlement
namely. the restoration OF seniority
rights and pension status.
Those acquainted with the Presidents
viewpoint declare he is not at all i'm
pressed with the position taken by the
executives TO the effect that promises
made by them to the men taken on to
replace the strikers make II impossible
TO restore seniority rights on which the
union leaders insist.
"MoraB' Issue Not Justified.
The executives. II is believed in Ad-
ministration circles. have made
moral issue OF this matter which Ia
not justified. for the reason that this
number of men taken on Is said TO have
been too small to Interfere with the res
toration process.
Mr.. Hooper refused TO discuss the de-
tails OF his conference with the Presi-
dent. as also did the members Of the
Senate called into consultation the si-
lence maintained indicating that inn
portant moves were afoot which Il Is
not yet considered feasible to disclose.
"All can say" said Mr.. Hooper. Ifs
in substance that have gone over tho
whole situation very thoroughly with the
President, undertaking to give him ths
history of the controversy and every
phase OF II down to the present time
Naturally, do not feol at liberty 20
discuss the details talked over by tho
President and myself"
What the President IS seeking particu-
larly to do is to ascertain exactly who
is responsible for the failure to accept
the findings of the board or TO acquiesce
In its suggestion for the reopening of
some OF the points In issue. He is par
ticulariy anxious that the boards au-
thority should be firmly established and
regards this as n test case.
Should the board fall II Is apparent
that the President and the Senatorial
leaders must reach the conclusion that
the machinery for tho settlement OF labor
troubles on the transportation systems
has broken down. II is understood that
this phase OF the matter and the ad-
visibility OF overhauling the machinery
was discussed at the conference to-day
That the President should call in
leaders prominent in transportation mat
ters on both sides OF the Senate was
taken to Indicate that he wants to leave
nothing undone to have harmonious ac-
tlon when the time for legislative action
comes.