The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-08-17

4
Copyright 1922
WASHINGTON, August I7.-Presi-
dent Harding means to place squarely
before the country the dangers of ma
| tional domination of basic industries by
| labor unions. Irrps~ective of whether
| the meeting in New York between the
| rail executives and the brotherhood
| chiefs who represent the shopmen brings
to an end the rail strike, the President
| feels that the issues involved in the
present crisis are too big to be suddenly
shelved with the abrupt termination of
the strike.
Mr.. Harding has not made UP his
mind to ask for specific legislation at
| this time, but he feels that congress and
| the country should know the details OF
the present controversy so as to have
the way open for thorough consideration
of the whole problem. The President s
narrative OF what has happened will
also serve a useful purpose as basis
for any action that may have to be
taken If the present emergency should
grow so serious as to require instant
seizure of the railroads, without wait
ing for congressional authority Some
OF the Presidents friends have told
him that he owes the American people
frank, explanation of what he has
tried to do and that the public should
know Just where to place the RESPONSE
bllty. On top of this are considera-
lions of Justice to the President him
self as the criticism of his course has
grown to such proportions as to make
members of congress fearful that it
would reflect unfavorably on the Re-
publican party at the polls next Novem-
ber
Has Disregarded Politics,
This phase is merely incidental as
| Mr.. Harding has proceeded along lines
that seemed to him expedient from dan
to day without regard to whether it was
politically wise or unwise. Neverthe-
less, Mr.. Harding would be the last to
deny that impressions formed by the
electorate during the strike period are
not unlikely to be developed on the ba
sis of such few facts and statements a.
have been authoritatively issued thus
far. The President alone knows the
whole story not only of the negotiations
that have gone on in an effort to settle
the strike but the issues which tprccedaC
the outbreak and which may be said to
have aggravated the labor situation and
brought it to a climax in the shopmen's
strike
Mr.. Harding could tell an interesting
story if he chose on the moves made by
the railroads TO reduce the power and
prestige of the United States labor
board and of the corresponding effect
which such tactics made upon the strik-
ers, who saw no more reason for obey
ing the labor board than did the rail
roads.
Too Much Power.
But apart from all this is the great
est fundamental fact of all which has
impressed Mr.. Harding as he has seen
the crisis grow more acute from day to
day. 1t is the power of the national la
Dor leaders to subject the country to
hardships and the corresponding power
OF tho railroad arrangements to conduct
themselves in a way that goads the
workers to take desperate measures
Shall national union domination be per-
mitted in such absolute essentials as
transportation Mr.. Harding thinks not
While the right to organize and the
right to quit work are conceded. the
right to abuse these privileges is not
conceded, Hence the President believes
regulation, is necessary in the public in
terest. The President still thinks the
railroad labor board can be made the
agency OF protection to all concerned.
The personnel of the board today NAV
not be what it should be but that does
not mean that the idea is wrong or the
plan unsatisfactory.
In the coal industry a national board
and commission analogous to the United
States railroad labor board would be
recommended The powers of congress
TO regulate Interstate commerce as pro