The Owosso times., 1922-08-25
HARDING TO USE
ALL POWER TO
RUN TRAINS
Tells Congress of Industrial Situ-
alton Now Confronting the
Country.
UPH0LDS RIGHT TO WORK
President Declares Labor Board Needs
Power to Enforce Decisions on
Both Sides-Ask3 National
Agency - Severely Con-
demns Herrin Massacre.

demns Herrin Massacre.
Washington, Aug. 19.-President
Harding announced to congress and
the country that his administration,
having exhausted every means for a
settlement Of the rail and coal strikes,
now was resolved ito use all the pow
er Of the government to maintain
transportation and sustain the right Of
men to work."
Absent Members Called.
Telegrams to absent members Of the
house Interstate commerce committee
TO return at once to Washington to be-
gin work on bills recommended by the
President for creation Of coal agency
and fact-finding commission for the
coal industry, were sent out by Repre-
sentative MOndell, the Republican lead
er. after the Presidents address. Lead
ers plan to have these measures taken
up early next week and made ready for
speedy passage.
Accounting for his course during the
recent trouble In an address to the SEN
ate and house. the President said he
did not pro. lose to ask for any "hasty
action" by congress in the railroad
strike, but that authority should be
given to set up commission to make
a sweeping investigation into the coal
Industry "to reveal every phase of coal
production, sale and distribution"
AS another measure In the coal stu
alton the President asked for the Gre
alton Of temporary national coal
agency to purchase sell and distribute
coal In interstate shipment as an SIN
strumentality Of guarding the public
interest where private conscience Is in
sensible to public need"
Condemns Herrin Crime.
Groups who take the law into their
own hands, the President said, and at
tempt to control for their own purposes
the resources of the whole people can
only be regarded as perils to public
safety. He said neither employers nor
employees could entirely escape re-
Sponsibility for the present industrial
situation, but he condemned in par
ticular the Shocking crime at Herrin,
ILL.,"
The President said the government
was helpless to intervene, but, on the
allegation that two aliens were among
the killed, and In view Of the absence
of all provision In federal law under
which the federal government can pro-
tect aliens In their treaty rights, he
re- tn Iav
der which the government can take
hold in cases such as that of Herrin.
Country at Unions Mercy.
The President likewise committed
himself to the assertion that the Unit
ed Mine Workers organization now
has the whole country Eat Its mercy"
With special reference to the Herrin
the President said:
"My renewal Of this oft-made recon-
! rmendation is impelled by pitiable
sense of federal impotence to deal with
the shocking crime at Herrin, ILL.,,
which so recently shamed and Mortified
the country. In that butchery Of hu-
man beings, wrought In madness, 1t Is
alleged that two aliens were murdered.
This act adds to the outraged sense
of American justice the humiliation
which lies in the federal governments
confessed lack Of authority to punish
that unutterable crime.
"Had 1t happened In any other land
than our own, and the wrath of right
sous Justice were not effectively eX-
pressed, we should have pitied the CIV
ilization that would tolerate 1t and
sorrow for the government unwilling
lr unable to mete out just punishment.
at is deplorable that there are or
an be American communities where
aven there are citizens, not to speak
IF public officials, who believe mob
warfare is admissible to cure any situ-
Rtion."
In summing up the situation, the
President said:
at Is manifestly my duty to bring
TO your attention the industrial situa-
ion which confronts the country. The
situation growing out Of the prevail
ng railway and coal mining strikes Is
so serious, so menacing to the nations
welfare, that 1 should be remiss If ]
,ailed frankly to lay the matter be-
tore you, and at the same time ac-
quaint you and the whole people, with
such efforts as the executive branch
" the government has made by the
voluntary exercise of its good offices
~ effect settlement.
at is not my thought to ask con-