New Britain herald., 1922-08-18
Senator Watson Claims He Has Assurance From Leaders of
 Both Factions in New York
CONFERENCE OF UNIONS
 AND EXECUTIVES TODAY
Possible Basis of Settlement Would
 Give Loyal Workers First Seniority Choice, Returned Strikers Second and Would Retain New Employes As Far as Roads Are Able to do So.

Washington, Aug. 1s.-By the As soc!ated Press)-President Harding was told today by Senator watson, republican, Indiana, one Of his ad- visers in the rail strike that long dis tance telephone conversations with brotherhood chiefs and representa- tives of the railroad executives in New York had disclosed both sides hope full of settlement of the rail strike at today's meeting"
 Discussions of the troublesome seni- ority issue were declared by the h. diana senator to be based on plan which roughly would provide:
 Possible Terms
 That the men who did not go on strike go to the head of the list in seniority.
 2AThat the employees who walked out July or later be accorded Seniort- ty status second to the men who re- mained at work.
 3-That the new men taken in dur ing the strike be given a seniority ranking below the other two groups and be retained in employment by the railroads wherever possible.
 Hopeful Reports
 Senator Watson said that T. Dewitt Cuyler chairman of the association of railway executives and leader of the executives in the New York confer ence had expressed himself over the telephone early today Is quite hope full" The senator did not disclose who he talked with among the brotherhood chiefs.
 Senator Watson had another long distance telephone conversation with MT. Cuyler after the brotherhoods and executives committee went into con ference today and was informed by M-. Cuyler he said that the prospects for settlement were not so bright as they had appeared prior to the con- ference.
 The chairman Of the executives was understood to have informed the sen- ator that the brotherhood chiefs re- turning to the conference after night discussions with leaders Of the strik- ing shopmen were showing less of an inclination to accept the compromise proposal on seniority.
 On Verge of Settlement.
 MT. Cuyler was understood to have told Senator Watson that when the conference adjourned its sessions last night the conferees were on the verge" of an agreement.
 Further inquiry as to the com promise developed that is contained the proposition that the question of seniority status as between the strik- ners and the men taken on to fill their places be left to the adjudication Of the railroad labor board or to tribun- als set up between the unions and the Individual roads.
 New York, Aug. 13.-(By Associat- ed Press.) - Railway executives and brotherhood chiefs went into ses- son at 10:3o o'clock this morning in another effort to end the nationwide { shopmen's strike.
 Ringing in their ears was the state roent of Warren s. Stone head of the brotherhood of locomotive engineers, made at an earlier conference with labor leaders that the strike must be settled.
 We are optimistic that it can be dcne," said MT. Stone and other labor men re-echoed his words.
 No statement was forthcoming from of the railroads.
 Craftsmen Optimistic.
 Uptown at their hotel headquarters leaders of the striking shop crafts professed confidence in the ability of the running trades who have assum- ed th4 parts of mediators to bring about peace.
 William H. Johnston, president of the international association of ma ,hinists arrived from Washington this morning and joined the other abor leaders uptown.
 J. c. Luherson, head of the train lispatchers' organization, arrived last night, and James P, Noonan, presi- lent of the electrical workers, is ex pc cted today.
 Immediately upon his arrival, MT. Johnston went into conference with Bert NJ. Jewell president of the rail- way cmployes department of the american Federation of Labor, and eader of the shop crafts.
 Want to Cooperate. IT. q formal statement, Mir. John ton said: