New-York tribune., 1922-07-15
Corscripting Strikers,
Harding's Last Resort
Tells Cabinet Rail Workers viii
Be Drafted if Experienced
Men Cannot Be Obtained

FROM The 1r1bane's washington Buredx
WASHINGTON, July 14.-It was in-
timated to-day at the White House
after a meeting of the Cabinet at which
the rail and miners strikes were the
sole subjects of consideration that the
government would take over operation
of the railroads if the tie-up of traffic
became sufficiently serious to demoral-
ize business. 1t was made plain that
conscription of striking railroad work.
ers would be resorted to if necessary to
obtain experienced men to run the
trains.
Despite the failure Of the Railroad
Labor Board to reach an agreement
with the strike leaders in conferences
in Chicago to-day the President and his
Cabinet advisers are still confident that
a way will be found to end the strike
without resort to Federal operation Of
the roads.
Government Has Power to Operate
The Cabinet agreed that the govern
ment had ample power to keep the
transportation lines of the country in
operation, but it was held that the rail
strike had not yet developed to the
extent where interstate commerce was
being seriously interfered with.
Should the strike spread so that the
movement of the mails and transporta-
tlon generally was at a standstill the
President is known to feel that the
government seizure and operation Of
tne carriers could be hastily put into
effect. =
The view Of the President Is that hs
does not think it would abridge the
Liberties of any American to draft the
citizenship of the country in order to
meet any crisis. such as a general tie
up of the transportation lines. He
joins with his Cabinet, however, in be.
lieving that sthe railroad situation is
not likely to make this step necessary.
Much of the Cabinet meeting was
devoted to the hearing by the Presi-
dent of reports from his aids as to the
latest developments in the situation.
Secretary Of War Weeks and Attor-
ney General Daugherty reported as TO
plans for the use of Federal troops
and United States marshals to guard
the railroad shops and rights of way.
The former laid especial stress on the
situation in Texas, where the Inspec-
tor General of the Sth Army Corps,
whose $4,000 troops are being held In
readiness for service, was sent earlier
in the day to survey the situation at
| Denison, where several disorders have
occurred at the Missouri, Kansas &
Texas shops.
Troops Unnecessary In Texas
| The action by the Governor Of Texas
in dispatching officials to investigate
the situation at Denison has had the
| effect Of making unnecessary or at least
postponing the use of Federal troops
in that state. The Adjutant Genersl
Of Texas and captain of the Tcxas
! Rangers have gone to Denison to re-
port the situation to Governor Nef,
Secretary Weeks was advised.
| Another development in the Denlsor
situation is the report that the Biz
Four have agreed to help the shcpmen
maintain order.
From other states the War Depart.
ment has been advised that the strike
situation is not menacing. Executives
Of several railroads have reported con.
eerning their lines, but no direct ap.
peal has been received for Federal in.
tervention. These reports show tha,
bad, and that in West Virginia and
| Ohio some trouble is being expert
enced. The Louisville & Nashville /,
! having trouble moving coal. The gen
eral purpose of the striking rail work
ers seems to prevent the movement d,
! coal from the non-union fields theirs
| In some sections, not disclosed by Mr.
Weeks, the municipal authorities ar,
/ not fully cooperating with the Fed
eral officials, but are sympathetic q
the strikers. In no case where tn