The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1925-09-10
WASHINGTON LETTER

Washington, Sept 9-Behind the
scenes in Washington there is very
little evidence of concern over the
coal strike, which is the only real
problem at hand. The indifference of
the public and Federal Government is,
undoubtedly, source of concern to
the warning groups in the coal indus
try. Talks with chief officials here
this week shows that they are more
interested in obtaining seats for the
Forthcoming World Series and more
sanguine of settling pennant scraps
than the wage controversy. =
The only hope of arousing the Gov
eminent in the coal strike is change
for the worse in weather conditions,
but at present Washington, in COM
mon with other sections of the coun-
try, is enjoying balmy weather, and
operators and miners are the ones
who are really chilled by the pros,
poets. The indifference has reached
stage where nobody has seriously
suggested calling an extra session OF
| Congress, as is usually the case IN
nation wide labor disturbances.
There is possibility that with the
public Government unmoved by the
strike, the operators and miners, like
other group of unruly school boys
when they receive no consideration of
their wrongs, either fancied or real,
will return to normal. The proposals
Regarding naturalization of the mines
is just "talk."
The coal controversy has also re-
vived interest in railroads and their
future in legislative matters. 1t IS
stated that President Coolidge Will
discuss the administration OF the rail-
road program with various senators
and congressman when he returns to
Washington within a few days. With
the administration influence back of
the proposal, consolidation of rail
roads will become more of reality
| than heretofore. 1t is easy to pro-
pose Federal control or operation Of
railroads and mines, but there is al
ways a legitimate doubt as to just
how far the Government can go under
the Constitution. The phrase with
out due process of law" has provoked
more head-scratching and doubt than
any other legal verbiage because the
American public will no longer be
buncombed with legislative panaceas
(which will eventually be upset by the
Supreme Court.
/ Legislators are rather chary Of
proposing public ownership of rail-
roads because of the obvious failure
of Federal control during the war
and after-war periods. Then, too,
the political platform of the so-callea
third party, which had many planks
tending toward Socialism, was dis.
carded by an overwhelming vote last
fall. This lesson is still fresh in the
minds of certain groups in Congress.
The country will read much of the
debate in Congress this winter. re-
gard;ng railroad legislation. The pub
lie does not understand the magni-
tude of the problem, and few men
even in public life have a working
knowledge of railroad affairs enabl-
| ing them to discuss the matter intel
| ligently. Critics of Congress some
times grow cynical and state that no
body expects an intelligent debate in
the Upper and Lower Houses. How
ever, the majority Of the people have
faith in the ability of the Congress as
whole, not particularly upon indi-
viduals, to settle matters satisfactor-
lily.
! The President and Congress in their
! efforts to relieve the railroad prob
lem, find themselves up against diff
culties. The advantages of intergra-
ton of transportation lines are OBJ
vious. Some railroads only want to
acquire profitable lines, which would
vitality affect the transportation sys-
tenn of the country because it would
4 ,,oaoY fba. ,uoo lar roadc Sarvino sec
tions poor in resources, or undevelop-
4 ed, would be isolated.
| There is certain evidences that the
] large groups of citizens would be in
clined to disapprove railroad CONSOLE
dations because of it's tendency to-
wards monopoly and the fear of mad
equate facilities. 1t is obvious that