The New York herald., 1922-07-11
STRIKE THREATENS
MAIL BREAKDOWN
Federal Troops to Be Called
Out if States Are Unable
to Move Trains.
FORCES ARE AVAILABLE
Military in Position to Act at
Once-More U. s. Mar
shals to Serve.
FORCES ARE AVAILABLE

Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HmALp.
New York Herald Bureau
Washington, ID. c.. July 10.
The railroad strike situation as
sumed a more threatening aspect to-
day. Reports reaching Federal agen-
cies indicated that the situation was
getting beyond the control of the local
authorities In the disturbed areas, that
United States mails and interstate
commerce in general already were be-
ing seriously interfered with, threat
ening breakdown which may compel
military action by the Federal Gov
ernment. .t
II the steps taken by States and the
Department of Justice to-day--namely,
the mobilization Of State troops and
the swearing in of deputy marshals
for protecting the mails and railroad
shops-do not prove sufficient to cope
with condition admittedly ugly"
the Administration must reach an i'm
mediate decision regarding the use of
Federal military forces to run the
mails and provide the necessary pro-
lection.
No orders were issued to the War
Department or the Navy Department.
But 1t has been understood that the Ad-
ministratior would not hesitate to use
cssary in the public interest. Requests
from various quarters reaching the De-
partment OF Justice and the Post Office
Depa rtment called for Government aid
and stated that mails had been inter-
fered with and their movement delayed
in Instances. 1s- ~ s','si -s--. --- o. --r
Forces Are Available.
With these reports growing more dis
turbing every minute and with the ultl-
natum OF the executives expiring and
the shopmen refusing to return, officials
here were frankly concerned, but the
determination of the Administration to
come to grips with strikers and to take
the first overt act as the signal for q
showdown remained unchanged through
out the day. 1t is Understood that there
is ready to hand whenever the Admin
istration wants to make a military move
a complete list OF, detachments from
military centers that are qualified by
training to operate trains and which
would be available at a moments notice
from the War Department
The determination of the Government
TO keep the mails going and to prevent
interference with interstate commerce
was restated by Attorney General
Daugherty after a conference with
President Harding, In which he outlined
the entire situation to the Executive.
TltVf Las H.. .
torney-General announced that law and
order must be preserved, property and
life, protected, He repeated the assur-
ance given by the Administration before
that interference with the mails and in
terstate commerce would not be per-
mitted.
The Attorney-General submitted to'the
President kilograms that had reached
the Post Office Department, urgently de-
manding Federal protection and declar-
ing the mail service was being hindered
His statement was as follows:
After investigation and upon request
of Federal Judges and United States
marshals. I have in the last few days
authorized the appointment of number
OF deputy marshals at various places
from Chicago west and southwest. to
protect property and life and to pre-
vent interference with the transportation
of mails and interstate commerce. This
policy will be continued wherever justi-
fled and required.
order Must BE preserved.
Law and order must be preserved.
property and life protected. transporta-
ton of the mails must not be interfered
with. interstate commerce must not be
interrupted. The Presidents fully ad-
vised and has the situation In hand
Prior to his conference with the Pres
ident the Attorney General conferred
with Alfred p. Thorn. representing the
Association OF Railway Executives. who
on behalf OF the managers OF Western
roads in the disturbed areas asked for
Federal protection. Mr.. Thorn. afterward
visited the White House. where he re-
peated his plea for aid from the Gov
ernment in keeping the trains moving.
kilograms reaching the Post office
Department early In the day from four
different points contained pleas for aid.
These were submitted TO the President
and the Department OF Justice.
Wiring from st. Louis. J. f. Taussig,
Continued on Page Two.