New-York tribune., 1922-08-20
Mediation Connmitteealo alor
Roads TO PreseY' Hpn.
ference Agreemes Ind
Ask Authority to Ign
Unions Claims of
Victory Are Denied
Executives Angry Over
Publicity ON Runored
Seniority Concessions

The committee of railway chiefs
which has been ccnferring with the
Big -Four union leaders as n1ediators
in the negotiations for settlement
of the railroad strike is to meet the
14S members Of the Association Of
R.lilway Executives at the Yale Club
Wednesday morning, when the pro-
posals for bringing the walk-out to
close will be voted upon.
The plan to be submitted to the
railroad heads is the one practically
agreed upon between the union medi-
ators and the railway representa-
tives at the two conferences las.
week, revolving mainly about the
question of the restoration of senior
ity rights TO the strikers. 1t is un-
derstood that the union leaders
stand pat on the proposals and that
# the rail chiefs agree to make peace
on this basis the strike will be over
VIII Ask Authority to Sign
The railway committee, it is ex-
pected, will ask the executives assoeia-
tion for authority TO meet again with
the union nediators and sign q peace
agreement on the basis proposed. II
the executives approve, there probably
will be another conference between the
mediators and railroad chiefs within
forty-eight hours, and the details nee.
essary for peaceful settlement of the
controversy agreed upon. There Is no
question that il the railroad heads
agree TO the proposals, the strike viii
be over, as the medistors have the nu-
thority to sign peace upon the terms
submitted at the last two conferences.
Should any obstacles arise, however,
over the present plan, more conferences
among union men probably would
follow.
The reticence of both the union
chiefs and railroad heads has left the
exact nature of the proposition for a
settlement doubtful. In some quarters
it was said to provide for the imme-
diate return of strikers with seniority
rights unimpaired. In other qusrters
it was said to provide for return of
the strikers as rapidly as they could
be absorbed. with their seniority ulti-
mately to be settled with satisfaction
TO all. In either case, Ii was said, new
recruits were to be retained, as extra
men would be required in the shops st
the end of the strike to repair bad
order cars.
Publicity Angers Rail Heads
Considerable ill feeling was mani-
fas I'D
yesterday over the publicity given the
plans Of settlement, the union chiefs
regarding the proposals of the nlsdi-
ators as a surrender of the railway
executives in the matter of seniority
rights. 1t was stated in certain au-
thoritative quarters that the action CT
union men in giving out information
respecting the plans may have an un-
favorable effect en- the railway chiefs
and result in blocking an agreement.
The railroad chiefs charge that The
union leaders violated q soiema
agreement" msde at the conferences
last week providing that nc details, pre-
dictions or discussions be made publ!c
of the plan evolved One official IN
close touch with the conferences said
that there was not zone iots of truth"
in the published reports of the railroad
conferences.
"If the union leaders ere really en-
deavoring in good faith to bring about
settlement of the strike" he ssid,
"they are on the road 10 defeat thelr
own ends by giving to the strikers and
the public amy such nslsinforrnation ss
to the status of the settlement moves
and plans. Such information ss was TIA
the morning papers viii only serve 80
give false hopes to the strikers"
Nevertheless, the optimism. shas4n By
union leaders at the close OF Fridays
conferences was still noticeable yestSr-
day Bert NJ. Jewell, president of the
Railway Division of the American
Federation of Labor, departed for
Washington yesterday without making
any comment on the situation. Other
union leaders said however, they wero
sure that their insistence that the men
be restored to their jobs with full
seniority rights would be accepted By
the railroad lenders. They were EN-
phatic in declaring that no peace could
be had on the so-cslled ''gentlemenss
agreement plan wherein the men
would be restored to their rights
gradually and ultimately, with .
greater regard for merit. in any event,
reopening their case before the Rail
1
of the wage question.
Strikers Repeat Claims
r. Dewitt Cuyler, head Of the Asso-
citation of Railway Executives, ~
turned to his headquarters in Phiia-
! delphia.
| David Williams, secretary Of thr
| Central Strike COMMITTEES. issusd 9
| statement yesterday in which he az.
serted that the railroads were press.
ing for settlement becnuse they has
not been able to keep their equipment
| in repair with unskiiled strike.
breakers. ssThe result is,'' he says, .'ss
/ the President said la his message D:
Yesterday, threatening the breakdown
| of transportation The strike nauui
| be settled and settled immediately.
| According to a survey Of the Lahal
Bureau Inc, the movement of crop,
and business prosperity generally /,
| seriously threatened by conditions as
the railroads, says Mr.. Williams. IN.
box car shortage has begun to be felt
he adds. while the surplus Of goo.
order cars, which existed at the bextn
ytfx.se x>f a.. ~..... a - -