Evening star., 1922-08-19
Rate by Mafl-Payable in Advance.
NJaryland and Virginia.
All Other States.
Keen the Trains Moving!

That portion of the Presidents ad-
dress to Congress which deals with the
railroad strike situation is in the ma
ture of a report without recommends
items save on the single point OF put
ting teeth into the law creating the
Railroad Labor Board. MIR. Harding
recires the circumstances Gil in which he
was led to intervene, and to ask for
resubmission Of all pending disputes
back to the board, at first with
waiver of seniority by the railroad
executives and later reference OF
this important question to the board
itself. Both of his proposals having
been rejected, at first by the railroads
and second by the workers, the case
reverted to the point where without
law provisions compelling acceptance
of the boards findings the situation
becomes one in which it is necessary
for the government to recognize the
right of the railroads to operate with
out union interference, and to declare
the purpose to use all the power OF
the government to maintain trans
portation and sustain the right of men
to work.
Thus the administration stands pre-
pared, it would seem. to insure the
maintenance of railroad service how
ever the negotiations now in progress
!, New York between the executives
nn, union representatives. the big four
.trptherhoods acting as Intermediates
in effect, may result. 1t is indicated
that a settlement may come from THESE
sessions. based upon a gentlemen s
agreement" regarding seniority that
will practically assure work Tor re-
turning strikers in terms that pre-
serve their seniority status without
q waiver of the rules.
There will be no public dissent from
the position thus strongly stated by
the President in respect to the full en-
forcement of the laws to maintain
TRANSFORMATION and sustain the right
of men to work" That is funda-
mental principle. The railroads are
recognized as public necessities. Their
"a
the people, the supply of vital needs,
the carriage of mails and the sus-
tenance of industry.
At this moment the railroad COM
panies are within the law, and have
the right to run their lines. The law
that was enacted to secure adjustment
Of wage differences has been fiouted
by the workers. 1t matters not in this
situation that the railroad companies
themselves were at fault in their disre-
gard of certain findings. Means can
be found to bring them into line with
the law without suspending trans
portation. They cannot be compelled
to waive the seniority rules which are
fundamentally established on all lines.
AS the case stands, therefore, the
government has no recourse but to
maintain order. and where necessary
to'use it's force to prevent interfar"r"e
with the operation Of these public
utilities that are SO essential to tue
safety and sustenance Of the people.
The Presidents statement of this
matter is clear and explicit. 1t should
hasten an agreement. But if it does
not thus result at once it may be ac-
cepted by the country as an assurance
that the shopmen's strike, or any en-
larged strike. will not stop transporta-
ton. And at the proper time, perhaps
at once, amendment to the law should
be enacted to give to the Railroad La
Dor Board the power to enforce its de-
cisions by the imposition Of effective
penalties upon those who refuse to
abide by its decisions, whether rail-
E6ad companies or workers.