New-York tribune., 1922-08-12
White House Believes Coal
Issue Settled and Expects
Men Back in Anthracite
Field Inside of Week
Shop Leaders Hold Out
Say Acceptance by Roads
of Presidents Plan Will
Be Disregarded by Them
By Carter Field


practically solved and that the anthra-
Gle suspension would be settled within
a week was made at the White House
to-day.
No threats Of additional strikes will
result in the government Withdrawing
troops from any particular places, 1t
was announced with emphasis after the
Cabinet meeting.
mo strike can prevent this govern
ment from having the forces Of law
and order protect life and property
wherever they are endangered n
spokesman for the Administration said.
This related 10 the various threats
by unions not on strike, in some in
stances the "Big Four" brotherhoods,
that they would not continue work un-
less troops were withdrawn. lnsistence
by other unions on the withdrawal OF
troops has been particularly strong at
Joliet, H., where troops were sent
after severe disorders had inspired
fears that there might be a repetition
Of the Herrin massacre in the same
state.
Union for Rejection
On the railroad strike, while spokes-
men for the shopmen, conferring here
with representatives Of other unions,
still give the strongest intimations IN
private conversations as TO their un-
willingness even 70 consider the Presi-
dents latest proposal, the actual pro-
eeedings at the meetings were shrouded
with the strictest secrecy.
News from New York 70 the effect
that the railroad executives might ac-
cept the Harding proposal with some
notifications on the seniority plan 10
the disadvantage of the strikers and In
favor of the old men who had remained
Loyalty at work, was scoffed at BY union
leaders here. They are not even will
ing to accept the Presidents proposal
fat, they said, much less with m0difica-
tions which make il even less accept
able TO them.
Praises Anthracite Group
Intense satisfaction at the attitude
which the anthracite operators have
shown was manifested by President
Harding at the Cabinet meeting. II
was said afterward that the Presi-
dent had characterized them as the
"best scouts" with whom he had to
deal in the whole strike situation. The
President is said TO have commented
at the Cabinet meeting that the anthra-
cite men had been willing TO arbitrate
or to do anything else they were called
upon to do by the Administration from
the very first, and that there would be
no diflculty In adjusting the troubles
in the anthracite fields II the soft coal
problem were not complicating the stu
alton.
President Harding, incidentally, is
growing resentful of the criticisms
which have been heaped upon him in
some quarters for not taking hrmer
action. He Is not willing 10 take the
advice that he should SHOW his teeth" "
or "brandish a big club" He told
some OF the Cabinet members that he
would rather do something than make
loud public threats.
The sixteen "big men" Of the com
bined railroad labor organizations ad-
journed late to-day after an al day
session with Bert NJ. Jewell, and the
other leaders Of the striking shop
crafts men, which failed 10 bring forth
anything concrete on the attitude they
will take toward President Harding s
latest proposal for ending the strike.
A continuation Of the meeting to-mor-
row is expected, according TO warren
s. Stone, head Of the engineers, who
took n prominent part in the discus
sions, 70 develop formal action. Little
doubt is entertained by the union chiefs
that, after the general meeting has
threshed out the situation, the SIX
shopcrafts heads will vote 10 reject
question OF seniority rights to the
Railroad Labor Board.
Discussion Is General
The conferees refused 20 divulge
what passed. 10 was learned that
the discussion was entirely general, as
IL was known that there is no sympathy
among them for the Harding proposal
and that much Of the talk centcred
about the conditions responsible for the
sporadic walk-outs by the train service
men who are not actually on strike.
After the meeting the impression
gained strength that the big Four
brotherhoods, which comprise the train
operating crews, will make some force
ful concentrations 20 the government
and at the same time formally announce
10 the country that IL may expect gen.
eral abandonment Of trains because OF
defective equipment.
A powerful group in the conference
is demanding, il was said, that the re,
lection OF the proposal be accompanied
by a long review of the various moves
that have been made since the begin
ing Of the strike and formal declara-
tion. which may 60 80 far as 70 ques-
tion the sincerity Of the efforts to set
tie Il. Should they succeed In this, II
IL declared IL would be the signal for
Tightening up the effectiveness OF the
strike"
Regardless Of the course followed by
the labor conferences. there seems lit
tie doubt that both the striking shop
men and other workers are preparing to
put still further pressure upon the gov
ernment and the rail executives. Mr
Stone. in saying that there will not be
any "sympathetic strikes" by other
branches OF railway employees. declared
that the spontaneous walk-outs by indi.
vidual train crews may be expected e.
Increase hourly.
Rolling Stock Called Menace
whenever and wherever the mems
| lives are endangered, either by the
armed guards or by defective equip
ment, there will be refusals TO take
out trains and abandonment Of trains,
said Mr.. Stone. lie said the cases Of
harassment Of workers by guards
whose trigger finger may not be any
too steady" are increasing. and that
the situation with regard to condition
Of rolling stock "is 50 alarming that
the whole country would demand some
thing drastic be done II the real facts
were known.
at is safe 70 say that one-half Of
the locomotives now being operated
are being run in violation OF law, and
this estimate does not include any