New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-08-09
PresideniPreparesAppeal
10 House, Which Meets
Aug. Is, Believing His
Peace Plea Has Failed
Wants Legislation
Against Walk-Outs
Demands Teeth in Labor
Board Law; Union Heads
Insist Contest Go On
BY Carter Field

By Carter Field
WASHINGTON, Aug. s.-Author-
ity TO seize and opernte such rail.
roads as may be necessary-prob-
ably only the coal carrIers-will DO
asked Of Congress by President
Harding Immediately after the re-
turn 10 Washington Of the House OF
Representatives on August IS unless
in the mean time tho coal stfike
should be settled.
This was learned to-day from q
member Of the Presidents Cabinet
after an earnest discussion Of the
situation by the President and his
official advisers. Decision 10 ask
this authority followed the pro-
nounced conviction at the Cabinet
meeting that the move made by the
President TO settle the railroad strike
had failed, evidence increasing that
both sides will reject il.
No Seizure Of Mines
The President feels, It was said,
that IL the coal strike should be set
tied no step which he regards as so
unsound economically as government
operation Of railroads would be nee
essary. Government operation OF
the coal mines, from the present atti-
tude Of mind of the Administration,
is not even being regarded as a pos
sibiIity.
As a preliminary 70 what Il Is said
President Harding will ask Of Congress
In dealing with the strike situation, the
Chief Executive to-day requested Re-
publican Leader Mondell 70 call back 10
Washington, when the House recon
yenes next Tuesday, every member pos
sible. Instead Of marking .ime with
three.day recesses until 80 Senate has
caught up with the lCgi..itiye program,
as has been contemplate, the Presl-
dent urged in his letter that full
attendance be retained In order 20 take
any necessary action with the least loss
Of time.
The President has felt from the first
that II the railroad strike could be
settled the coal situation would work
out without further government inter
ference. For that reason be has
worked chiefly with a view 20 settling
the railroad strike, while Secretary a
Commerce Hoover has bent all his
energies. with tho full approval Of tbs
President, 20 providing the best possl'
bic distribution Ot what coal can %
obtained and the establishment OK
rationing system.
As far as government operation o.
tho coal mines Is concerned, Il has
been mentioned at Cabinet meeting,
but the President Is not even sure it
tho men would be willing 10 work
should the government take over the
mines.
Seeks Antl.strike Legislation
Even II the coal strike should b.
settled By the present negotiations a.
Cleveland, Il was asserted, the Presi-
dent would still 90 before Congress
and demand additional legislation for
the prevention Of strikes. A Cabinet
member declared tonight that the
President would ask this legislation
and put on all the pressure he could
command 20 drive II through, even II
there is not a man on strike anywhere
in the United States when he makes
the appeal.
The President made II clear AZ the
Cabinet meeting that he does not ever
again want either 90 face such A situa-
tion as the present or have any sue
cessor Of his in the White House face
il. Teeth. the President is said 20 hayo
told the Cabinet members, must he
rut In the law creating the Railroad
Labor Board. Teeth must also be inelud-
ed in legislation for the arbitration Of
other Industrial disputes.
There must be a way, the President
believes, TO settle these disputes be-
tween employers and employees with
out making the public suffer. The old
fright 20 strike" idea was all right.
ono Cabinet member said when the
battle was ehiehy between the employ
er and the employee, but conditions
in the labor world have changed until
now almost every big strike is aimed
not at the employers az all. but at
the public, and depends for It's mearsrs
Of success entirely on tho extent 20
which IL succeeds In freezing OF starv.
ing the public. Such freezing or stary.
ing wins the fight for the men, because
tho government is then compelled 20
intervene on the side Of the strikers.
Congress Neutrallzed Law
II was recalled with some bitterness
By Administration officials that when
the Eseh-Cummins act was passed
containing the provision setting up the
Railroad Labor Board the House of
Representatives extrae~i the teeth
which the Senate had put in that meas.
use. II those teeth had been left In, IL
was pointed out, the Railroad Labor
Board could have compelled the ac-
ceptanee Of its decision. and there
would have been no walk-out BY the
shopmen.
No matter how sharp a sting might
be put into the law, II Is admitted,
such a thing as the "outlaw" strike OK
1920 could be avoided. On the other
hand Administration officials contend
that Il would be simple enough 20
bring enough pressure 10 bear, by In
junction, tying up Of funds, preyen-
tion OF strike benefits and BY other
means. There are no difieultles In tho
way Of imposing penalties on corpora
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