The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1922-05-19
BY GEORGE R. HoLMEs

[sTAFF CORRESPONDENT /. N. sERVIcEJ
WASHINGTON, May 10. Presi-
dent Harding and his cabinet ad-
visers have embarked on a syste-
matte campaign to attempt to Sc
cure through friendly social inter-
course with big business" the
things that would lead to costly
litigation and bitter feeling II at
tempted through the more spectac-
ular and drastic means of legisla-
tion and law.
This was the frank explanation
advanced by the presidents advis-
ers today for the series OF White
House dinners to Industrial mag
mates, and the conference which
members OF his cabinet are holding
In Washington with leaders in va
rious enterprises.
GOSPEL OF UNDERSTANDING
Tt Is a further step, administra-
tion spokesmen said. in Mr.. Hard
ings preaching of the gospel of
understanding" to which he refer-
red to often during his campaign
for the presidency.
You might call 1t q peaceful
penetration of big business by the
government" on cabinet officer
said.
The presidents dinner to forty
one steel mngnates at the White
House last night, resulting in an
Z . ~ hat
reached for the 12-hour day IN the
steel industry. was one notable
step in the general plan, 1t was said.
COAL OPERATORS CONFERENCE
The conference between Secretary
of Commerce Herbert Hoover and
the producing non-union coal op-
orators. resulting In an informal
agreement to hold coal prices at
their normal levels despite the ma
ton wide strike. was another.
Tomorrow night the third step
will be taken at the White House
at another dinner. President Hard-
ing will entertain a score of Lead
ing railroad presidents and direc~
tors, and to them he will address
an appeal for cooperation IN q
drive to decrease freight rates
Almost daily now the Interstate
Commerce Commission is expected
to hand down It's long-awaited de-
cision ordering a general and sub
stantial reduction of rates. That
a reduction OF rates is imminent Ia
known, but the extent to which they
are to be lowered is carefully
guarded secret 1t is reliably re-
ported, however. that the cuts ara
not so drastic as are expected in
some quarters.
ASKS COOPERATION
The president. 1t is understood
will ask the railway executives to
cooperate loyalty with the govern
ment in maintaining the reduced
rates. and TO even go a step far
ther-if the reductions fall short
of expectations. 1t is believed hs
VIII ask the railroad heads to vol
UNFAIRLY make such reductions as
they can.
High freight rates have been this
most consistently advanced cause
for the general business "depres-
sion"
The basic Industries of the United
States are Steel. transportation and
coal Thus In a single week. the
administration has had the leaders
of all these three great key indus
tries in washington for confer
ences and the conferences have been
made the vehicle for remedial sug-
gestions, both on the part Of bush
ness and the government.
aBAD TINES BUNK
That there is political aspect
to the administration program Is
not denied. 1t Is realized that ons
Of the chief campaign arguments
to be used by the Democrats this
falls congressional campaign IL
bad times" The Democrats viii
charge that the return TO prosper
ity'' promised by tho Republicans
in 1920 has not been accomplished
Therefore. Republican candidates
and spokesmen everywhere are go
ing to bear heavily in coming
months on the general theme thai
the depression is ended and thai
the famous general prosperity IL
standing on the country's thres'
hold.
12-HoUR SHIFT GOING
Republican spokesmen also VIII
use the promised abolition of ths
IL hour shift in the steel industr,
as campaign argument to labor.
The American Federation of La
Dor has fought for years to securt
the abolition of this long shift. Z
was one of the announced causes
of the famous strike in 1919.
What the labor leaders have fail
ed to accomplish in years OF effort
President Harding has APPARENT.
in three and one-haE
hours around the hospital Whlt
House dinner table, And this fac
will be pointed out to labor By Re
publican leaders as proof that tn
party is the friend
labor" and not the foe. as charges
by the Democrats