The New York herald., 1922-08-16
AXE TO MEET HERE
Executives to Hear the
Brotherhood Chiefs
Shop Strike So
luton.
CLEAN OF HOPE SEEN
Conference Has Better
Chance Than Peace
\ Proposals. \
LINES STILL OBDURATE
Loree Declares They Have Vir,
tually Won Contest With
Shop Men.
LINES STILL 0BDURATN

The railroads have accepted the In.
vitation Of the big Four" Brother
hoods to meet their leaders and dis
cuss terms for settlement of the rail
shop crafts strike, according to an
nouncement last night by Robert s.
Binkerd. assistant to the chairman oces
the Association of Railway Executiyes,.
T. De Witt Cuyler. chairmsn OF the
association. received telegram yes
terday from the brotherhood chiefs In
Washington requesting appointment
of a committee to confer with them in
an effort to accomplish what Presi-
dent Harding has twice failed to do.
Mr.. Cuyler replied to Warren S. Stone,
president of the Engineers, by long
distance telephone. The meeting will
be at o'clock tomorrow in the Of
fees of the association. 81 Broadway
The same committee which went to
the White House Saturday and saw
the Pre- sident will be authorized to
represent the railroads, Mr.. Binkerd
said. This committee consists OF Mr..
Cuyler. chairman: Howard Elliott.
Northern Pacific; Hale Holden. Chi
cago. Burlington and Quincy; ]. Krutt-
schnitt, Southern Pacific. w. L. Ma
pother. Louisville and Nashville: w.
w. Atterbury. Pennsylvania; c. II.
Markham. Illinois Central. and A. H!
Smith, New York Central
Railroad officials were wary Of dis
cussing the chances Of settlement. but
II was apparent they had more faith in
the olive branch OF the brotherhoods
than in the peace efforts OF the Admin
istration. 1t was pointed out that tho
Big Four virtually have taken the mat
ter into their own hands and are de-
ssr7nined to end the struggle between
their employers and the shopmen.
II was said the leaders OF the train
service unions were approaching a point
where IL was difficult to hold their men
In line unless the shop strike was set
tied soon. The sporadic strikes on tho
Santa Fe and other Western lines. the
restlessness of the maintenance OF way
men and the occasional outbreaks of
violence have impelled the brotherhood
The executives continue TO express
confidence in ultimate victory, even ir
the strike is fought to a finish. Before
II was announced last night that tho
Big Four had taken a hand in the dis
cussion they said President Harding's at
titude indicated clearly he was through
as a mediator.
.President ont of IT."
"The President has grasped the situa-
ton" L. r. Loree, president of the Della
ware and Hudson. said, "as a result
of the information laid before him by
the committee OF executives who met
with him Saturday. ] believe from hts
action OF yesterday In refusing to ar
range n meeting between the roads and
railroad unions to discuss strike settie-
nent, as requested by the labor leaders
in Washington. that he has plainly indf-
Gated he will take no further action.
This leaves a final settlement to be-
made direct by the roads. the strikers
end the other unions that have indi-
rectly been drawn into a discussion OF
the seniority dispute. This is as 1t should
be. and will work to the best advantage
OF all and OF the country at large
Mr.. Loree IS chairman OF the confer
ence OF Eastern railroad presidents and
has been leader OF the "die hards
throughout the negotiations. Other ex-
ecutlyes declared they would welcorge
a conference with the brotherhoods *
only to convince their men they are
rot engaged in union batting and
open shop warfare.
At the same time these officials made
Il plain they did not intend to modify
their terms as conveyed TO President
Harding on Saturday. They believe
they have won and several predicted
the end Of the strike In two weeks II
they were "let alone" Now that they
are 70 meet the Big Four leaders to-
morrow most OF the railroad presidents
believe the strike Is as good as over.
strike Committee silent.
They expected word yesterday from
Grand President Cradle Of the main
tenance OF way men. $4,000 OF whom
have asked leave TO Join the shopmen's
walkout When no answer came union
chiefs decided Mr., Cradle was marking
time with an eye on the meeting between
the executives ana the non-striking
brotherhoods.
Railroad officials now believe they
have little TO fear from the way men
The local strike committee was silent yes
terday for the first time since the strike
started July 1. the usual daily bulletin
being omitted.
In contrast railroad chiefs talked
freely. Mr.. Loree. as spokesman for tho
Eastern ones, satd
THE end Is In sight. There are mora
men on the payrolls in the shops to-day
than there are on strike. That IL sig
nficant.
''The majority will rules in this coun-
try. The majority Influence also II a
potential factor In the determinati@o OF
labor controversies. Against these fpfces
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