The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-18

The full text of President Harding's
sDcech will be found on page OF
The State Journal.
washington, Aug. 1S.-Under the
shadow of a great impending indus
trial crisis, President Harding went to
congress today. told the full story
of the twin coal and rail strikes ana
asked that legislative steps be taken
to deal with the present situation ana
to safeguard against a repetition OF
The Lresident's MESA ge. a vigorous
document, dealt with both coal and
In the coal situation. the president
recommended:
/. That he be given authority to
create a national coal commission to
investigate the whole industry.
2. That congress consider at once
the creation of a temporary national
coal agency with the needed capital
to purchase, sell and distribute coal
which is carried in interstate com
merce.
In the railroad strike. the presi-
dent did not recommend any legisla-
ton except in so far as it related to
the protection of alien workmen.
Labor Board Inadequate.
He severely criticized both sides in
he described the railway labor
board as entirely inadequate to deal
with the situation, declared II would
have to he strengthened, and con-
demned in almost unprecedentedly
strong terms the acts of violence all
the way from the Herrin, III, massa-
ere to the desertion of trains at desert
terminal points in Arizona
1T is not my thought" President
Harding said, Ito ask congress to deaP
with these fundamental questions
strengthening the powers of the labor
board) at this time.
NO hasty action would contribute
TO the solution of the present critical
situation. There are statutes forbid
ding conspiracy to hinder interstate
commerce. It is my purpose to in
woke these laws, civil and criminal,
against all offenders alike"
While the president asked no action
of congress at this time. he affirmed
the federal governments determtna-
ton to maintain transportation at any
cost.
7 am resolved" he said. "to use all
the power of the government to main-
tain transportation and sustain the
right of men to work"
This was interpreted as constituting
a flat and unequivocal assertion that
If the unions quit work on the rail-
roads, the federal government will af
ford every protection to the railway
mana gements in their efforts to keep
trains moving.
Condemned BoTn Sides.
both employers and of unions in both
coal and rail- industries was probably
The most severe advanced by chief
executive to congress.
The railway executives he criticised
for their hard boiled" attitude and
rendered a thinly veiled warning that
there is a ''uniOn-busting" campaign
in progress in some quarters.
The government" he asserted,
has no sympathy or approval for this
element of diScnTd n n
industry
The rail unions were criticised for
the unyielding attitude and most par
ticularly for their desertion of trains
at desert points, causing suffering and
discomfort to travellers.
1t was about the Herrin massa cres,
however that the president was most
indignant. He handled without gloves,
eral courts be empowered to go into
the situations such as Herrin and
mete out justice.
Outrage, He Says.
"In that butchery of human beings.
wrought in madness, it is alleged that
two aliens were murdered" he said.
This act adds to the outrag sense
of American justice the humiliation
which lies in the federal governments
confessed lack of authority to punish
that utterable crime.'
Had it happened in any other coun-
try the president said, I'VE would
have pitied the civilization that al
lowed it."
Justice, he declared, had failed in
Illinois and there would always be a
blot on the national shield because of
Herrin. III.
The presidents appraisal of the
present industrial situation result
of weeks of coal and rail strikes was
that it was most acute.
On the one hand. he pointed to the
nations empty coal bins and on the
other to the slow strangulation Of
transportation by Impaired equip
ments of the railroads
He recounted at length how spo-
radio law,essnesS and intimidation
have kept men away from work.
-, der these conditions OF hinder