The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-08-02
RAILWAY EXECUTIVES REJECT PLAN
TO SETTLE RAILROAD STRIKE

Chicago, Aug. 2.-Chiefs of the
striking rail employees today voted to
accept the Presidents proposals for
ending the rail strike. They appoint
ed committee to draft the text of
the acceptance and forward IS 10 Pres.
ident Harding Immediately.
Washington, Aug. "A careful
study On the railway executives reply
refusing to accept the Pres dents plan
for the settlement Of the shopmen's
strike so far as it dealt with seniority
issue was expected today to precedc
any further movement by the execu-
tivcs in the strike situation. Tho GOV
ernment, it is known, views the rail-
road strike as serious in effect only
because Of the present stoppage OF
coal production.
New York, Aug. l (By the Asso-
ciated Prcss) Railway executives of
the nation today firmly but courteous+
ly rejected the program advanced by
the Harding administration for the
settlement of the rail strike Willing
to accept conditionally two sugGes-
tons put forward by the White House
that both sides abide by wage de-
cisions Of the railroad labor board and
that law suits springing out of the
strike be withdrawn-the heads of
148 roads declared emphatically that
it was impossible to reinstate strik-
ers with unimpaired seniority rights,
the third provision the president
plan.
After being told by Robert S.
Lovett of the Union Pacific that there
was no moral or practical reason for
budging from their position, the
executive: disbanded, caught the first
trains for their respective headquar-
ters and indicated that they were 60
ing ahead and would operate their
roads with forces they had assembled
since the shopmen walked out or
July l.
The decision not to yield on the
question CT seniority was made known
to the White House by telegraph after
the rail heads had listened to 20
minute address by Secretary of Com
merce Hoover who, as direct repre-
sentative Of the president, told them
in effect that the administration held
sthesseHto -'t>y5 Question 5of /. minor inn.
portance in comparison With that -
upholding the railroad labor board.
This action VS. taken in the face Of
letter from President Harding ad-
dressed to T. Dewitt Cuyler, chair
man of the American Association o.
Railway Executives, cmbodying "th"
| terms Of agreement, as [ understand
them, upon which the railway. mar
ayers and united shop crafts workers
are to agree preliminary to calling ot
the existing strike"
President Harding had closed hls
letter with these two sentences:
II need hardly add that | have
reason to believe these terms will be
accepted by the workers. If there is
good reason why the managers can
not accent, they will he obligated 70
open direct negotiations or assume
full responsibility for the situation"
In addition Secretary Troover had
urged upon the executives at their
1 meeting when the text Of the
/ Harding letter was read, that settle.
ment of the raj stlike vas imncra
I tive in view Of the ccmplicating cor
citions introduced by the coal s'rlli..
/ 1t became apparent from the Ter>
opening Of today's conference that the
seniority question would be the wedge
which would divide administration md
railway executives. After setting
forth the reasons why they held this
on insurmountablc obstacle, the rail.
road chiefs ordcd their reply TO
rr,-iLor. T~ard.nr g fo,io"'r:
~ i curmi-+o: .h0t :tc ctriric~
torrror cmr.oycH; car -: :" "ivc-s
rrcforarca ~ cr.p.-T?c: :: crci'rt
II tho ccrTico- wi-ho": 3circ Tiolcrcc
: 70 ovor: pr;rc;Tic ~ right ncG j":.
rlco irToiTcG ir -ri- matter ard With
o::.t tho ~ror1ost nrncon II faith OF the
part Of the r:l.YcaG- to the men a.
present in their scr g. Under these
circumstances IT. becomes apparent
that the railroads can not consider
any settlement of the prCSent strike
which does not provide protection N
their present employment, both tr
the loyal employees who remained II
the service and to the new employees
"a