The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-05-20
HARDING RESORTS
TO QUIET TACTICS
Persuasion, Not Force to
Be Policy in Dealing
With Big Business
AVOIDS COSTLY SUITS
Two Major Steps in Restora-
tion of Business Already
Accomplished Quietly

WASHINGTON. May 19--presl-
dent Harding and his cabinet hdvis-
crs have embarked on HyAteuhtic
campaign 90 attempt TO secure
through friendly social intcrcourEo
with big business the things that
would lend TO costly litigation and
bitter feeling if attempted through
tho more spectacular and drastic
means Of lcgislation and law.
This was the frank explanation
advanced by the presidents advlserH
today for tho series OF White House
dinners TO industrial maguates md
tho conferences which members OF
tho cabinet arc holding In Washing
ton with leaders in various enter
pfiscs.
"rhc Gospel OF Understanding
II iB n further step. admlnlstrh-
tlon spoacHmcn said. In Mr.. Hard
ing'R preaching OF "the gospel OF
understanding" TO which he referred
90 often during his campaign for the
presidency.
you might call II peaceful
penetration Of big business by the
government" ono cabinet officer
raid.
Tho presidents dinner TO ~ steel
magnates at the White House last
UlkUNs i'Euilluk III M iitipi ma hii-
Outstanding being reached for tho
elght-hour day In the steel industry.
WIS one notable step In the general
plan, II was said.
Tho conference between Secretary
OF Commerce Herbert Hoover and
the producing nonunlon coal oper-
atora, resulting In an informal agree
mont 10 hold coal prices at their
normal levels, despite the nation
wide strike. was another.
Vail Men saturday Night.
Tomorrow night the third step
will be taken at the White House at
another dinner. President Harding
will entertain u score of lending rail-
road presidents and directors and 10
them ho viii address an appeal for
cooperation In drive To decrease
freight rates.
Almost daily now the interstate
commerce commission In expected TO
hand down Its long-nwaited decision,
ordering n general and substantial
reduction OF rates. That n reduction
OF rates Is imminent IL known. but
the extent to which they are to be
lowered is carefully guarded Sc
cret. II is reliably reported, how
ever, that the cuts are not TO be
30 drastic as are expected in some
quarters.
The president, II is understood.
will ask tho railway executives to CO.
operate loyalty with the government
In maintaining tho reduced rates,
ana to even 20 step further-if the
reductions fall short of expectations
St In believed he Will ask the rail
road heads TO voluntarily make suct
reductions as they can.
Want Confidence Restored.
High freight rates have been TIT
most consistently advanced cause foi
tho general business depression.
It has been further felt by Presi
dent Harding and his advisers that I
restoration OF confidence" In tn,
basic industries of the United State
IL necessary before there can be an,
return to tho general prosperity
so often referred to.
The basic industries OF the United
States arc steel. transportation an'
coal. Thus, In a single week. tn
administration has had the leader
of all these three great key indus
tries in Washington for conferenc
and the conferences have been mad
tho vehicle for remedial suggestions
both on tho postoffice business an
the government.
Politics Involved.
That there is n political aspect I
the administrations program is nc
denied. II Is ree!iged that one {
the chief campaign arguments TO b
used by tho democrats in this fall
congressional campaign Is "bn
times"
The democrats will charge tht
the return TO prosperity" promise
by the republicans in 1920 has m
been accomplished.
Therefore, republican candidat