The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-18
Complete Text of President
Harding;s Message Today

feet the industry and therein find a basis
for righteous relationship, we shall be faced
with a like menacing situation on next
April j, on the expiration of the wage con-
tracts which are now being made.
The need for such investigation and in
dependent consideration is revealed by both
operators and mine workers in the pro
vision In the Cleveland agreement rs re-
Gently made. The government will EIadly
cooperate with the industry under this
program so far as it is the public interest
so to do; but have an unalferabIe convic-
ton that no lasting satisfaction or worth
while results will ensue until we may
have government commission independent
by the congress to search deeply, so that
it may advise as to fair wages and as to
conditions Of labor and recommend the
enactment of laws to protect the public
in the future.
Price Control Necessary.
The most total exhaustion of stocks of
coal, the crippled condition Of the railways,
and might grow worse in our great cities
due to the shortage of anthracite, the suf-
ferlng which might arise in the northwest
, thru failure to meet winter needs by lake
transportation, all these added to the pos
sibility of~putrageOus price demands, in
of the government to restrain them. make
IT necessary to ask you to consider at
distribution and prices.
The administration has sought to re-
full distribution Of such coal as has been
available in this emergency. There were
no Iegal powers Tor price control. There
has been cordial cooperation in many
fields, a fine revelation of business con-
science stronger than the temptation to
have been Instances of fiat refusal I re-
joice to make grateful acclaim to those who
preferred to contribute to national well
fare rather than profit by n nations dis
tress.
Recommends Coal Agency.
eff it may have your approvaI, 1 rec
porary national coal agency, with needed
capital to purchase, self and distribute coal
I do not mean that all Interstate coal shall
be handled by such a federal organiza-
tIon; perhaps none will be necessary, but
it will restore its capital to the public
treasury and Will be the instrumentality of
guarding the public interest where private
This proposal does not relate to any
possible employment in intrastate ship
trfb1Sior, ~ FTstra1nt ana eg4itaDle DIS
sponsibility for the states own govern
ment In such voluntary activities as have
been carried on thus far, the federal gov
eminent has endeayored to re-estabIish the
authority and responsibility in the states
which was undermined in the necessary
Capitalization OF authority during the world
war
the beginning of July by the strike of the
federated shop crafts in the railroad ser
made by the railroad labor board, directly
affecting approximately 400, 600 men. The
Justice OF the decision is not 1Or discussion
here. The decision has been lost sight of
in subsequent developments. In any event
it was always possible to appeal for a re-
hearing and the submission of new evidence
and it is always assumption that a govern
ment agency OF adjustment deciding I'M
Justly will be quick to make right any
1.-The railroad laboT board was created
by congress for the express purpose of
carriers and their mpioyes, so that no con-
troversy need lead to an interruption in
interstate transportation.
1T was inevitable that many wage dis
putes should rise Wages had mounted up
war upheaval, likewise the cost of trans
portation so shat the higher wages that
might be paid. 1t was evident that some
ReRdiustuents should follow. 49,
Naturally these readjustments were re-
neither advocated or opposed. It only held
that the iabor board was the lawful agency
mites and IFS autboritv must be sustained.
as me law eontemplates. This must be So
whether the carriers or the employees ignore
its decisions.
"UnhappiIy, a number of decisions Of this
board had been ignored by the carrier. In
only one instance, however. had a decision,
challenged by carrier, been brought to
the attention Of the department of Justice
and this decision was promptly carried to
the courts and has recently been sustained
or the executive had no knowledge of the
ignored decisions in other cases, because
they did not hinder transportation. When
these failures of many of the carriers to
abide by decisions Of the board were
brought to my attention, could more fnir-
tho they had a remedy without seeking to
paralyze interstate commerce
board is inadequate. Contrary to popular
impression. II has little or no power to en-
force its decisions. 1t can impose no pen
cisions. 1t cannot halt n strike. and mani
testify CONGRESS deliberately omitted the
enactment Of compulsory arbitration. The
decisions of the board must be made en-
fOrceable and effective against carriers and
no perfection OF 1t by congress Mt this mo-
ment could he helpful in the present threat
enedal paralysis of transportation.
Settle out Of Court.
Happily. it is always lawful and oft
of court, So in desire TO serve public
welfare, 1 ventured upon an attempt at
the striking employees and the chairman of
the Association OF Railway Executives,
in wri@hg on the same day, a tentative
knowing that some of the carriers had
offended by ignoring the decisions or the
board and the employees had struck when
felt it was best to start all over again,
resume work, all to agree TO abide faith
real tribunal of peace in transportation
and everybody serve the public. The bar
seniority. BY the workers. these rights are
held to be sacred and unsurrendered by
strike. By the carriers, the preservation OF
seniority is the weapon of discipline on the
one hand ana the reward of faithful en-
plOyes on the other 1t has been an al
most invariable rule that when strikes have
been lost, seniority and its advantages have
been surrendered; when strikes have been
settled seniority has been restored.
IN the tentative proposal which spon-
sored. it was provided that everybody
should go to work. with seniority rights
unimpaired !; that there should be no dis
elimination by either workers or carriers
against workInen who did or did not
strike / realized that the proposal must
carry a disappointment to employees who
had inherited promotion by staying loyal
the job and to such new men as had
sought Jobs, looking to permanent en-
ployment. but l wanted a fresh start and
maintained transportation. and appraised
the disappointment of the few to be less
than the impending misfortune to the ma