, 1922-07-27

mines could be reopened peacefully
rather than by methods which might
result in violence" Nestos asked
President Harding to use such means
MS he deems consistent to persuade
The United Mine Workers of America
to settle the North Dakota problem in
that way.
President Lewis of the mine work
ers was not disturbed. apparently. by
the PRONUNCIATION of the Presidents
plan. He said that an immediate re-
suit of any attempt to operate mines
by %non-union labor would be the quit
ting of the maintenance workers,
which would mean the speedy flooding
of the mines. This would reed no
strike order.
Lewis added that there were more
men out han when the strike started
sixteen weeks ago and that they
woul continue to refrain from work.
in peaceful and orderly fashion"
That heir methods are not always
peaceful vas demonstrated at Clifton
vile, w. Va, where IL large band of
marching strikers from Pennsylvania
encountered IL sherin's posse and
killed the sheriff and -four other men.
TOR several days it looked as if the
L shipments strike might be settled
amicably through the negotiations in
stituted by Chairman Hooper Of the
labor board. Assurance was given.
specifically to the maintenance of
way men. that the board would grant
re-hearings ON wage disputes, and it
was believed this not only would keep
those worker from going out but also
would be made applicable to the other
disaffected unions. Moreover. Presi-
dent Cradle of the maintenance men
said Senator Cummins, who is chair
man of the Interstate commerce com
mittee of the senate, had advised him
that che is going to hold hearings i'm
mediately on disputed points of the
transportation act, principally to ascer-
tain how the law may l.e amended so
that the living wage principle would
be made lear and so that every en-
ployee would be guaranteed u living
wage"
All this looked very auspicious, and
then up jumped the question of senior
ity and put the negotiations on the
blink. The shopmen Insisted that If
they returned to work their seniority
rights must be restored, and the car
riers fatty refused to yield to this de
mnnd. Both sides set forth their
arguments on this point. which have
been heard before In many Il strike,
and as both stood firm. Chairman
Hooper issued a statement saying that
the negotiations had had no result
and are nOw at an end" Added to
the seniority barrier to peace was
Jewell's demand for Il national board
of adjustment.
Though il was believed the strike
Of the maintenance of way men would
be averted the numbers Of the strikers
were increased by several thousands
in various parts OF the country. There
We're many disorderly Incidents, but
non of great moment. The govern
ment's determination that the mails
shall not be iuterfered with had its
effect and Attorney General Daugherty
said they We're delayed in only n few
localities. He added: 1T appears,
however. that there Is "A relationship
between the rallroad situation and the
coal strike. Whether this relationship
Is c%onspired or inspired I do not care
to say nj present. me thing Is Ger
tain the fault Is not all on one side
This lends strength 10 the belief. ex-
pressed In Washington, that the policy
the government will follow in dealing
with the railway situation depends
largely on the results Of its action in
relation to the coal strike.