The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-07-20
HINT AT FEDERAL
TRAIN OPERATION
President Harding Holds Rail
Workers Can BE Drafted il
Government Takes Roads.

washington.-It was intimated AT
the White House after a meeting OF
the cabinet az which the rail and
miners strike were the sole subjects
of consideration that the government
would take over operation OF the rail-
roads II the tie-up Of traffic became
sufficiently serious 10 demorallze busl-
ness. II was made plain that con-
strlption Of striking railroad workers
would be resorted to II necessary TO
obtain experienced men 10 run the
trains.
Despite the failure OF the railroad
labor board to reach an agreement
with the strike leaders in conferences
In Chicago the President and his cab
met advisers were still confident that
a way will be found 10 end the strike
without resort to federal operation Of
the roads,
The cabinet agreed that the gov
ernment had ample power to keep the
transportation lines Of the country In
operation, but II was held that the rail
strike had not yet developed to the
extent where Interstate commerce was
being seriously lnterfered with.
Should the strike spread so that the
movement OF the mails and transporta-
tlon generally was at standstill the
President is known to feel that the
government seizure and operation OF
the carriers could be hastily put into
effect
The view of the President is that he
does not think II would abridge the
liberties Of any American to draft the
citizenship OF the country in order to
meet any crisis, such IS a general tie
up OF the transportation lines. He
joins with his cabinet, however, In be-
lleving that the 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 lnspec-
tor general Of the Eighth Army Corps,
whose $4,000 troops are being held in
readiness for service, was sent to sur
vey the situation at Denison, where
several disorders have occurred at the
Missouri, Kansas & Texas shops
The action by the governor OF Texas |
in dispatchlng officials to investigate |
the situation at Denison has had the |
effect OF making unnecessary or ut |
least postponing the use of federal |
troops in that state. The adjutant gem
eral II Texas and captain of the |
Texas Rangers have gone to Denlson |
to report the situation to Governor
Neff, Secretary Weeks was advised.
Another development in the Denison
situation is the report that the Big
Four have agreed to help the shopmen
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
cerning their lines, but no direct ap-
peal has been received for federal in
These reports show that
In Oklahoma are relatively
bad, and that in West Virginia and
Ohio some trouble is being expert
enced The Louisville and Nashville
IS having trouble moving coal The
general purpose of the striking rail
seems to prevent the move
nent Of coal from the nonunion fields
here. In some sections, not disclosed
~ Mr. Weeks. the municipal authori-
les are not fully cooperating with the
federal officials, but are sympathetic
o the strikers. In no case where the
Guard has been called out,
Mr. Weeks said, has any disposition
developed among the state troops 10
wink at any illegal acts Of the strik-
RS