The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-19
WHY OF DINNERS
Harding Explains That Bust
ness ParIeys for Real Good.
Principle of Understanding Is
Practiced by Government.
SAVES GOING TO COURTS
Each Conference Usually Ends
i'm Complete Accord.
REIMBURSEMENT of Big Business
Is Planned by President.

Washington. May 10 President
Harding and his cabinet advisers have
embarked on systematic campaign
to attempt to secure thru friendly
social intercourse with big business
the things that would lead to costly
litigation and bitter feeling If at
tempted thru the more spectacular
and drastic means Of legislation and
law.
This was the frank explanation ad-
vanced by the presidents advisers to-
day for the series of White House
dinners to industrial magnates and
the conferences which members of his
cabinet are holding in Washington
with leaders in various enterprises
Further Step in Understanding.
1t is a further step, administration
spokesman say. in Mr.. Hardings
preaching of THE gospel of under
standing" to which he referred so
often during his campaign for the
presidency.
You might call it a peaceful re-
generation of big business by the gov
eminent" one cabinet officer said
The presidents dinner to fOrty-one
steel magnates at the White House
last night. resulting in an informal
understanding being reached for the
twelve-hour day in the steel industry.
was one notable step in the general
plan, it was said.
The conference between Secretary
of Commerce Herbert Hoover and the
PRODUCING nOn-QnlOn coal operators
resulting in an informal agreement to
hold the coal prices at their normal
levels. despite the nationwide strike,
was another.
Railroad Dinner Saturday.
Tomorrow night the third step will
lie taken at the White House at
another dinner. President Harding
will entertain a score of leading rail-
road presidents and directors and to
them he Will address an appeal for
cooperation in a drive to decrease
freight iates.
Almost daily now. the interstate
commerce commission is expected to
hand down its long awaited decision
ordering a general and substantial re-
duction of rates. That a reduction of
rates is imminent is known, but the
extent to which they are to be lowered
is a carefully guarded secret 1t is re-
liably reported. however, that the cuts
are not to be so drastic as are expected
in some quarters
The president, it is understood, will
ask the railway executives to cooper
ate Loyalty with the government in
maintaining the reduced rates, and
even to step farther-if the reduc-
tons fall short Of expectations it is
believed. he viii ask the railroad
heads TO voluntarily make such reduc-
tons as they can
Aids Basic Industries.
High freight rates have been the |
most cons SIentiN advanced cause. Tor 1
the general business depression.
1t has been further felt by Presi- !
dent Harding and his advisers that a /
restoration of confidence" in the |
basic industries OF the United States /
is necessary before there can be any |
return TO the general prosperity so I
often referred to
The basic industries of the United I
States are steel. transportation and |
coal Thus. IN a single week, the ad- |
ADMINISTRATION has had the leaders of /
all these three great key industries in 4
Washingto for conferences, and THE /
conferences have been made the /
vehicle for remedial suggestions both I
on the part of business and govern /
ment