Evening star., 1946-05-25

make no comment at all on the con-
ference The brotherhood leaders
also refused any comment as they
hurried out another exit from Mr.
Byrnes' Office.
1t was assumed that Mr.. Byrnes
had called the strike chieftains te
his Office to impress on them the
devastating effects of the railroad
strike on the United States position
in world affairs.
Mr.. Byrnes had dealt with the
railroad union leaders during pre-
vious strike threats when he was
war mobilization director.
No Hint on Proposals.
No hint came from the White
House on the nature of the Presi-
dents impending proposals, but key
Democratic lawmakers reported that
under consideration was a drastic
act empowering the Government te
penalize all striking against enter
prises under Federal control-a
move that would cover both rails
and coal.
In his address the President gave
but single sentence to the turmoil
in the mines, where a truce ends
at midnight.
Il do not speak tonight of the
situation in the coal mines of the
Nation, for the men are now al
work and negotiations for settle
ment are now taking place between
the Government and the union,
he said.
Obviously aroused, President Tru.
man took the story of the rail tie
up to the country in a speech that
was decided on only late in the
day after conference with cab.
met members and other advisers
AS the broadcast was announced
from the White House at the end O.
day in which the rail negotiation.
had proceeded futilely, Speaker
Rayburn disclosed that the Presi.
dent would go before the joint ses.
sion this afternoon.
"Strike Against People"
At the same time, further to point
up the administration view as tt
the seriousness of the situation, the
White House said the President was
canceling a speech scheduled at the
opening of the Governors Confer.
ence in Oklahoma City Monday.
Mr.. Truman told the Nation the
rail strike was a strike against the
Government-which seized the lines
a week ago-and against the 140,-
100000 people of this country.
He ended on this note:
"The railroads must resume oper-
alton. In view of the extraordinary
emergency which exists, as Presi-
dent of the United States I call
upon the men who are now out on
strike to return to their jobs and to
operate our railroads. To each man
now out on strike, I say that the
duty to your country goes beyond
any desire for personal gain.
If sufficient workers have not
returned by pm. tomorrow, as
head of your Government I have NO
alternative but to operate the trains
by using every means within my
power. shall call upon the Army
to assist the Office of Defense
Transportation in operating the
trains, and I shall ask our armed
forces to furnish protection to every
man who heeds the call of his coun-
try in this hour of need"
Patterson at White House.
In this same connection, Secretary
of War Patterson, who was at the
White House in the afternoon, was
asked about the possibility of bring
ing in former CT railworkers fol
emergency duty. He responded
that "it is possible" but stressed al
the same time, that this was an "if'
proposition, with which the Wal
Department had nothing to do.
The Presidents declaration about
the use of the Army also served tx
recall that at the time he signed the
bill extending the draft until July
l. he criticized its provisions and re.
marked that it was so loosely drawn
that men who already had served In
the war could be reinducted.
In anticipation of possible Army
employment, Gen. Dwight D. Eisen-
hover. Chief of Staff, came hurryine
hack to the Capital from a briei