Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-07-02
EDITORIAL DIGEST

cation Of strike causes will meet with
as much opposition as will plans for
compulsory consolidation, the Roch-
ester Times-Cnion feels Mr.. Harding
has. stimulated sound thinking on two
very important phases of the rail-
road question. And there is no
domestic matter about which 1t is
more important to be thinking at
the present time" In the view of the
Baltimore Sun (democratic). the first
thing to be decided is whether there
shall be any important legislation at
the next Congress. year ago, even
six months ago, the situation was
such as to make II appear imperas
tive that some radical action should,
be taken to prevent disaster. That
situation has changed sufficiently to
require a denomination OF the views
then held. II any alterations of the
Transportation act which will unQueS-
then, Of course, they should be made.
But until the specific nature Of the
alterations proposed is stated the
question of their desirability cannot
helpfully be debated. From this
point of view President Harding's
speech does not materially advance
the discussion"
The situation in Congress also must
be taken under consideration, in the
opinion of the Providence Journal
independently, which feels 1T now
remains for the country to manifest
it's approval Of the general policy out
lined by the President in terms that
will convince the radicals in Con-
gross that the responsible voters of
the nation. who are In the majority,
railroad batting" In general the
President has adopted the only sug-
gestion open to national approval,
but the Springfield Union. in so stat
ing, points out ''it is along these lines
that Congress is to be asked to act,
to be a slow one" Arguing that
merger methods are best, the Wall
Street Journal independently inquiries,
Does President Harding realize how
country has already been carried and
how much complete it might be, even
now. but for the Gripping regulation
to which the railroads have been sub
5ected foN the past fifteen years."
The Albany Knickerbocker Press
to feel the President was not specific
enough in his suggestions concerning
waterways transportation, and holds
that II the middle west, could get
clear view of this particular phase
of the situation the entire problem
It is the opinion of the Pittsburgh
Gazette Times Independent republic
an) that the Presidents address en-
phasized the necessity Of getting the
railroad facts" It feels there are
dificulties in the way Of mergers and
holds "the people should. in their
own interest, try to master the sub
ject SO that soundly founded public
opinion may aid in accomplishing the
sterilization the President shows
must be had" 1t also must be kept
in mind, as the Mobile Register sees
the problem, that "in the event that
railroad consolidation is accomplished
the transportation problem will still
be unsolved unless the waterways are
allowed to play the part they should
play in a coordination of all trans
portation facilities" Incidentally the
St. Louis Giobe-Democrat feels Mr..
Harding increases popular alarm "by
giving us, in effect. to understand
that consolidation with all of its COM
plications and serious obstacles 10 the
only escape from government owner
ship."