The Washington times., 1922-08-27
PRESIDENT To KEEP
HANDS Off STRIKE.
Present Policy Is to Allow
Shopmen and Railroads to
Fight II Out.
WANTS DRASTIC POWERS;
Seizure Law, However, viii
Not Be Used Unless Situa-
ton Demands II.
WANTS DRASTIC POWERS:
By GEORGE r. HOLMES,
international News Service.

President Harding has decided,
for the time being at least, to keep
hands off" the railroad situation
and let the shopmen's strike 60 to
a decision between the six federated
shopcraft unions and the railway
executives.
Accompanying this decision, how.
ever. the President desires to be
armed with authority to act in any
emergency that may arise. and to
this end there probably win be in
troduced In Congress early this
week legislation granting him power
to take over railroads and coal
mines in the name Of the people in
order to prevent public suffering.
"Ace In Hole" 49,.
The legislation will be the Presi.
dents ace in the hole" In the event
the railroads are unable to maintain
adequate transportation in the face
Of the strike, It was learned tonight
from authorized Administration
spokesmen.
The bills, II was stated, will be In
troduced by Senator Cummins Rep)
Of Iowa, chairman Of the Interstate
Commerce Committee and father Of
the transportation act, who already
has them drawn up. Following their
introduction they will be referred to
Senator Cummins' committee and
there be allowed to slumber until an
acute public emergency arises.
Wants Authority.
President Harding was Of the
opinion last night, when he departed
on the yacht Mayflower for q week.
end trip. that the emergency will not
arise necessitating the Government
taking over the railroads or coal
mines, but he nevertheless desires to
be armed with ample authority to
proceed should the occasion arise.
Accompanying the President on his
trip tonight were Senator Cummins,
Attorney General Daughtery, and
Secretary Of Commerce Hoover. three
of his advisers who have been most
frequently consulted during the in
dustrial crisis.
The decision Of the President that
he should be granted ample powers
to act in an emergency is understood
to have been reached after a mum.
Der of conferences with his legisla-
tive advisers. They pointed out to
him that Congress is expected to
finish It's work within a month and
scatter to the four quarters Of the
country, leaving an industrial crisis
almost without parallel in the coun-
try's history.
Wants Ample Powers.
Before this exodus takes place, It
was pointed out, the Federal Govern
ment should be fortified with as
surance that It can legally and con-
stitutionally act to save the public
from the suffering that transpor.
tation tie-up or a coal famine would
entail.
Administration spokesmen admit
ted last night that they were not
certain whether the authority de-
sired by the President would be
granted by Congress. 1t was point.
ed out that such a grant wonld be
tantamount to Congress leaving a
blank check behind 1t would could he
cashed at any time. and in some
quarters of Congress there Is strong
aversion to any government esizure"
Of either railroads or coal mines.
This was exemplified by yester-
days developments in the strike situ-
alton.
One Of the Presidents first en-.
gagements yesterday was with A. p.
Thorn, general counsel for the As.
ISOLATION Of Railway Executives.
After q conference with Senator
James Z. Watson qepJ OF Indiana,
however, Mr.. Thom cancelled his en-
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