The Washington times., 1922-08-26
sEIZU RE
OF ROADS
PROBABLE
Strike Deadlock Makes U. s.
Control Stronger Llkeli-
hood Than Ever.
By GEORGE r. HOLMES,

SOnIfOuptu ~ every bufn Will
the failure of efforts TO peace
fully settle the railroad strike,
President Harding today fell back
on his original plan for dealing
with the national menace.
II Is this: Z
The railroads viii be given
every opportunity TO demonstrate
their ability 10 mantain efficient
service without the unionized
shopmen, and II they fail, then
the President win ask Congress
for specific authority 10 take over
those roads unable to fulfill their
obligations to the public.
Bill Is Ready.
Senator Cummins Rep) of Iowa,
the father Of the Railway Labor
Board, had q bill in his pocket to-
day granting the President this
power. II VIII be introduced In the
Senate and House when n be-
comes apparent the Government
must abandon Its pacific attitude.
In substance and form the Cum
minis bill has been approved by
President Harding and Attorney
General Daugherty. It will be kept
on file in Senator ,Cummins' hip
pocket for emergency use, and the
belief prevailed today Il win be
many weeks yet before the need
for IL becomes apparent. Much can
happen-many conferences can be
arranged in that time.
For the present, at least, the Ad-
ministration is planning no new
peace moves in the railroad contro-
versy. II was stated officially at the
White House today. The situation,
30 far as the Government is con.
cerned, is back where II was some
weeks ago when the AdmInistra-
tion's efforts at peaceful adjustment
failed-first by rejection on the part
Of the railroads, and, second, by re-
lection on the part OF the unions.
The abrupt discontinuance of ne
gotiations In New York is expected
to aggravate the strike situation as
II affects other unions. Ten days
ago the country was filled with spo.
radio, individual strikes by members
Of the brotherhoods and affiliated
unions, and transportation was In a
decidedly chaotic state, with trains
stalled at desert junction points and
in division yards.
When the brotherhood chiefs be-
gan acting as mediators between the
executives and the striking shop
crafts leaders, they persuaded their
disgruntled members to return to
work, overlooking disagreeable con.
ditions. In order not to embarrnss
the negotiations.
with negotiations now ended, and
conditions OF equipment no better
than they were, II was freely pre-
dicted in labor, quarters today that
there will be a recurrence Of the In
dividual and sporadic strikes by all
classes Of railroad labor throughout
the country.
Equipment Deteriorates.
Labor spokesmen assert that the
mechanical condition of the roads Is
steadily becoming worse, despite the
claims of the executives to the con-
trary. and they declare there is no
law which will compel men 10 take
out unsafe equipment, contracts or
no contracts.
Against these claims OF the labor
spokesmen, officials of the Associa-
ton of Railway Executives informed
the International News Service to-
day that the condition of equipment
is steadily becoming better. and that
working forces In the shops are
growing steadily.
Working personnel In the shops,
now, ~ was asserted by spokasmen
for the executives, vary from so
per cent OF normal on the roads
hardest hit by the strike, TO S5 per
A.. Il.