The New York herald., 1922-01-17
RAIL PEACE PARLEYS
ASSURED BY HOOVER
Roads Executives and Brother
hood Heads Are to Meet
Next Month.
Special Dispatch to THE NEW YonK HEnALp.
New York Herald Bureau,
q, Washington, ID. c., Jan. l6

Special Dispatch to THE NEW YonK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c., Jan. I6.
Railway executives from all big
roads and representatives of the four
railroad brotherhoods will meet in a
series of round table conferences early
next month in an attempt to end all
differences.
Arrangements for the conferences
were made to-day at a joint meeting
of Secretary of Commerce Hoover and
officials Of the roads and the unions.
Preliminary plans will be made Satur-
day at meeting of railway executives
In Chicago.
The conferences We're characterized
In statements by both sides as long
step in the direction Of peace between
the railroads and their 100000 em-
ployees. A
Dissatisfaction has been high among
the men for many months and became
most acute few weeks ago when the
Railroad Labor Board at Chicago hand
ed down decisions looping s50O.0oo,O ,O00
from the wages or the men. Although
the union chiefs withdrew their gen.
eral strike orders the men have felt
dissatisfaction since.
A friendly adjustment of differences
now standing would increase the effl-
cheney of the railroads in handling all
transportation problems. It was ex-
plained here to-day. The roads also
would he able to handle freight more
promptly and operate at lower costs.
reduction in freight rates, long de-
manded by the publ anL characterized
as necessary by President Harding and
o,her officials, will be more easily
brought about by a friendly under
standing between the rail officials and
their employees.
Secretary Hoover Initiated the series
ot conferences here with the sole view
q effectng ultimately a reduction in
freight ratcs. That the reductions must
De general Mr.. Hoover has made clear
to both railway executives and union
chiefs
The cecision to hold the round table
conferences was characterized officially
as not a victory for either side, bu,
rather step In the direction of peace
Among the railroad executives whe
attended to-day's conference were
Thomas De Witt Cuyler. chairman Of the
Association OF Railway Executives
more and Ohio; w. w. Atterbury vice.
president of the Pennsylvania w. l.
Mapother. president of the Louisville and
Nashville; f. d. Underwood, president
of the Erie, and Hale Holden, president
of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy
Representing the unions were Warren
S. Stone, president Of the Brotherhood OF
Locomotive Engineers; W. G. Lee presi.
dent of the Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmen; President Sheppard Of tn,
Order of Railway Conductors and Tim
othy Shea. head of the Brotherhood OF
Firemen.
"The central idea of these discussions
Is to allow the machinery set UP by the
Railroad Labor Board to be the means
the law intended to compose any DIFF
fcrences arising between the roads ant
their. men," Mr.. Hoover said. Sub
stantial progress is being made towart
that end. The railroads and the brother.
hoods are taking a helpful attitude"
Mr.. Hoover expressed disappointment
that he should have been singled out fol
attack by J. r. Luhrsen Of Chicago
president Of the Railway Train Dis
patchers. To the secretary was showr
published interview with Mr.. Luhrser
in which the latter charged that Mr.
Hoover In his conferences is endeavor.
ing to set up q super-railroad labor
Board.
'Mr. Luhrsen has an erroneous i'm.
preston of the purpose Of the discus.
sions we have begun or he could moi
have made such a statement as II
attributed to him." said Mr.. Hoover.