The New York herald., 1922-09-02
Engines Made Useless.

agents and employees in any manner
from hinderng or obstructing rail-
roads engaged in interstate commerce;
from conspiring, confederating or ar
ranging to injure the railroads, or
from lettering or unnecessarily being
in the vicinity of railroads.
The suit was filed a few minutes
after the arrival from Washington Of
Attorney General Daugherty an d
Assistant Attorney General Black
burn Easterling. Guarded on both
sides by Secret Service agents. the
Attorney General walked into the
courtroom with his assistant and Dis
trict Attorney Cline.
Following the reading of the petition,
Attorney General Daugherty made his
statement to the court, outlining the
position OF the Administration in respect
to the continuance of the strike.
Daugherty's Statement.
The United States Government
through the Attorney General" he said
in order 10 carry on the functions of
the Government, has filed this bill OF
complaint and now asks for temporary
restraining order against all OF the de-
ferdants. 1t Is with great regret that
! am compelled to institute this proceed
Ing on behalf of the Government. Con-
sidering existing conditions and the
welfare OF the people OF America, there
is no other course. and under the cir
cumstances have not the slightest fear
or doubt of the Governments position.
When the parties interested in the
dispute decided by the labor board
found that they could not by negotia-
tions between themselves agree upon
any plan by way of adjustment Of their
differences. at the request of both sides
an appeal was made to the President of
the United States to contribute his good
offices to bring about a settlement. No
man. officially or unofficially, in un-
dertaking to bring about an adjustment
which would prevent the necessity OF
this proceeding and prevent possibly
more severe action on the part of the
Government. ever displayed more
marvellous patience, a more deep-seated
interest or conscientious application to
any task in the interest of any people,
thar the President of the Nnited States.
The President at one time, after
many conferences with the representa-
tives OF both sides. and when he hoped
4 and believed he had assurances from
both sides involved In the dispute that
made the proposition to the executives
of the railroads and the officers of the
Federated Shopcrafts. which was ulti-
mately rejected In part by the railroads.
In Peoples Interests.
THAT proposition was made because
the President knew that two strikes
one which practically prevented the pro-
duction OF coal in this country and the
other which materially crippled trans
portation and interstate commerce,
causing hardship and loss and suffering
to the people. were in progress. and
his first consideration was In the peo-
pies interest and the public welfare.
After the rejection OF the first proposal
the President made a second PROPOSE
ton. acting as mediator. The FEEDER
ated Shopcrafts, through Its representa-
tives, the defendants named In this
bill, rejected the second proposition.
Negotiations for a compromise have
since continued between the railway
executives and officers of the shop
crafts with frequent conferences by both
with the President, and all without
avail.
In the meantime the equipment Of
the railroad companies is so materially
affected by acts of vandalism and In
attention that the service OF the COM
panies is generally seriously impaired
and In some instances the railroads
have abandoned the running OF trains
altogether.
"On August IL the President Issued
a proclamation calling upon the de-
PENDANTS and their associates to return
to the service. to observe the decision
OF the labor board and in any event
not TO Interfere with the service and
not TO interfere with men who are will
Ing to enter or continue In the service.
Repudiated Board.
The railroad labor board IL an
agency of the Government OF the United
States. In this particular contest both
parties submitted the difference in dis
pute to the regularly constituted Gov
ernmental authority to hear disputes
and render decisions thereon. The rail-
roads were willing to comply with the
decision which was the cause of the
strike. but the defendants not only re-
pudiated the decision but repudiated the
labor board and its authority and holds
the labor board and the Government OF
the United States in contempt.
Il do not appear here as a representa-.
tive OF the railroads; I appear here by
virtue Of law requiring me to do so.
representing the Government of the
United States and the people OF the
United States. The Government of the
United States will nevr lift its hand
against or touch a torch to the welfare
OF labor in It's legitimate pursuit or TO
dny Il what IL In entitled to. The
United States could not have been de-
veloped but for labor. without that
which labor produces the people OF the
United States cannot be prosperous,
achieve, and In fact, they cannot live.
Tomorrow II viii be said by some
persons, more malicious than truthful,
that this proceeding is intended as
death blow to the unions. and. mas
much as faisehood travels twice as
fast as the truth. let me to-day start
the truth on it's way In advance-that In
my Judgment this movement Is neces-
sary for the protection and the preser-
walton of the unions themselves.
There are many VINO believe. on ac-
count of the arrogance OF certain Off
cials OF labor unions. that the unions
themselves should be destroyed. l do
not think they should. but think they
should be corrected and restrained. IL
the acts Of violence and murder are
Inspired by tie cnions. then Il Ia time
for the Government TO call a halt No
organization or association. no matter
Row well organized or how powerful
Il may be, can hold It's Constitution or
Its law supreme over the Government,
the constitution and the laws of the
United States OF America.
mo union or combination OF unions
can, under our laws, dictate to the