Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1922-08-18
BY GEORGE r. HOLMES.
1. n s. Staff CORRESPONDENT.

!. ~. S. Staff Correspondent.
Washington, Aug. 1S.-Under the
shadow of a great impending indus
trial crisis. President Harding went
10 Congress today, told the full
story" of the twin coal and rail
strikes, and asked that legislative
steps be taken to deal with the
present situation, and to safeguard
against a repetition of it.
The Presidents message, viSor
Gus document, dealt with both coal
and rail strikes.
In the coal situation, the President
recommends
THAT he be given authority II
create a national coal commission to
investigate the whole industry.
2-That Congress consider a.
once the creation of temporary
national coal agency with the need
ed capital to purchase, sell and dis
tribute coal which is carried in In
terstate commerce.
In the railroad strike. the Presi-
dent did not recommend any legis-
lation except insofar as it related to
the protection of alien workmen
He severely criticized both sides
in the rail dispute, carriers and
unions; he described the railway la
Dor board as entirely inadequate to
deal with the situation, declared II
would have to be strengthened, and
condemned in almost unprecedented
strong terms the acts of violence all
the way from the Hcrrin, Ills. mas
sacres to the deserton of trains "a.
desert terminal in Arizona
1T Is not my thought" President
Harding said, Ito ask Congress to
deal with these fundamental CUES.
tons strengthening the power OF
the labor heard) at this time.
mo hastv action would contribute
. the solution of the present crit.
cal situation There are statutes
! corhiddins conspiracy to hinder in
/ arstate commerce. 1t is my pur-
pose to invoke these laws. civil and
criminal against all offenders alike"
While the President asked no ac-
ton of Congress at this time, ne
affirmed the federal governments
determination to maintain Transport
tation at any cost.
Il am resolved" he said, "to use
all the power of the government to
maintain transportation and sustain
the right CT men to work"
This was Interpreted as consti-
tuting a flat and unequivocal as
sertion that if the unions quit work
on the railroads the federal govern
ment will afford every protection to
the railway arrangements in their
efforts TO keep trains moving.
The Presidents condemnation o.
both operators and of unions in both
coal and rail industries was prob
ably the most severe ever asserted
by chief executive to Congress.
The railway executives he criti-
Eed for their hard boiled attitude,
and rendered a thinly yelled warn.
ing that there is "union-bustlng"
campaign in progress in some quar-
tiers.
The government" he asserted
has no sympathy or approval for
to element OF discord in the ranks
Of industry"
The railway unions were harshly
criticized for their unyielding atti-
tude and most particularly for their
desertion of trains at desert termt-
nal points causing suffering and dis.
comfort to travellers.
1t was about the Herrin, Hi, mas
sacres, however, that the President
waxed most indignant. He handled
IL without gloves and he expressed
the wish that federal courts be en-
powered to go into the situation such
as Herrin and mete out Justice
In that butchery OF human be
Ings. wrought into madness, it is al
legged that two aliens were murder
ed the President said. This act
adds to the outraged sense Of Amer
lean justice the humiliation which
lies in the federal governments
confessed lack of authority to pun
ish that unutterable crime
Had it happened in any other
country, the President said we
would have pitied the civilization
that allowed it,"
Justice he declared, had failed in
Illinois, and there would always be
blot on the national shield be.
cause Of Herrin, His.
/ The Presidents appraisal Of the
present industrial situation as a re-
suit of the weeks of the ccal and
the rail strikes was that it is most
acute. On the one hand, he pointed
to the nations empty coal bins and
on the other to the slow strangula-
ton Of transportation by impaired
equipment on the railroads.
He recounted at length how spo-
radio lawlessness and intimidation, >"
he declared "the~e has been such n
lack Of cars Of motive power that
the deterioration Of locomotives and
non compliance with safety require
ments of the law are threatening
the breakdown of transportation"
The whole tenor OF President
Harding's address was q plea that
Congress must take steTs to pre-
vent a recurrence of the present
conditions.
There can be no liberty and de-
mocracy maintained in America he
asserted, unless there is the same
recognition given the right to work
as there IS the right to quit work"
However" he concluded "the
| legal safeguarding against like men