The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-08-25
| Next Move Now
In Rail Dispute
Up To President
By DAVID LAWRENCE
(Copyr!ght BY The lntell:gencer)

washington. Aug. 24.- The next
next move in the rail strike IS president
Hardings
The collapse OF meditation on the
mart OF the brotherhood chiefs and the
rail- executives leaves the situation eN-
civ rhere II was when Mr.. Harding
yy.,ded 10 an impulse and allowed the
disputants TO try settling the Sle'Ne
themselves This effort has failed ana
the effect OF II has been 70 strengthen
the belief OF the rail executives that
they have the shopmen ION the run
and that by persisting 10 the END 'neF
will crush the resistance OF the union
leaders and force an adequate surrend-
er. 49,
There Is no question that the shop
man have been placed in the position
OF begging for reinstatement. The un-
apfroity OF the executives in rejecting
theIr pleas Is directly attributed TO
feeling that by showing a united front
AZ this time the rail executives would
be delivering a body blow at future
strikes.
VIII shovrsn Give upT
But will the shopmsn surrender: VIII
the brotherhods allow crushing ae-
feat 70 be administered to unionism :
Many Of the rail- executives think IL IN
ey!table and are secretly rejoicing over
the outcome. They are hoping MI
Harding will DO nothing at this ume
10 spoil what appears TO them most
favorable situation.
unfortunately there are signs OF a
determination on the part OF the shop
men 20 carry matters to the extreme and
IN involve. insofar a. they can. the
o,her railway organizations. Already
,ba interstate commerce commission, In
m official report 70 the president has
reno-+ad on the defective equipment on
American railroads. and the trainnen
have on more than one occasion used
that as an excuse for refusing 10 run
traInS. Their mistake was IN stopping
traffic abruptly and without warming
To the passengers The question OK
whether the brotherhoOds will announce
n complete walkout on "A specified date
pnlsss tho shipments strike Is settled
IA quite another phase or the matter
I-hey could II they chose use the inter,
x,ate commerce commission report ana
ihe continuance of the shopmen strike
ls an excuse for such tacucs.
VIII rot Permit rteup.
President Harding. however, Will not
permit transportation 10 De teG up
gls message to congress contained the
sIgnirgcIeut statement that he posses
sed power under existing statutes to
nrevent interference with transportation
and there Is every reason 10 oehe'S
Mr.. Harding would use the power oS
securing the Indictment and arrest OF any
n.rsons suspected of giving orders tC
lie up transportation.
Mr., Harding. however. is being urSeo
20 try his hand again at mediation
The proposal Of the rail executives to
Mr. Harding a week ago was much more
favorable TO the strikers than was th'
renly handed the brotherhoods in Ne"
work on Wednesday. AS the negotta
tjons drag out. the executives teelint
tbs strength Of their position and theil
greater powers OF endurance. are COINS
hack 70 their original position OF Tres
band in dealing with the seniors,. -"es
ton.
Think Strikers Erred
Under these circumstances many peo
pIs in the administration circle are o.
the optnion that the strikers made (
strategic error when they declined Mr.
Varding's last proposal, and that the!
would have been better Off under /
than thay are today, That's one rsasor