New-York tribune., 1922-07-31
Dispute Wisdom of Plan,
but Will Yield TO Hard
ing's View of Industrial
Crisis Menacing Nation
Public Appeal to
Explain Attitude
Board TO Grant New Pay
Hearing; President to
Center on Coal Strike
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON, July 30.-The
railroad executives at their meeting
in New York ON Tuesday viii accept
the Presidents compromise plan 20
settle the shopmen's strike, II was
learned on high authority here to-
night. They will flle vigorous pro-
test in yielding, and will make an
announcement 10 the public saying
they do not believe tho Presidents
solution to be wise, but that in view
Of his statement 10 them as TO tho
effect on the industrial situation OF
the country If the strike Is prolonged
they have decided 10 surrender.
Chairman Hooper Of the Railroad
Labor Be n was summoned By Pres
ident Harding tonight for a confer
ence, at which It Is expected the
President viii inform him that in
the compromise plan, which there is
now every evidence will be accepted
by both the executives and the union
leaders, a rehearing Of the shop
mems case for retention OF their for
mer wage scale is included.
Victory Offsets Criticism
The President, II Is said. has been
informed by the executives Of their in
tention 70 accept his compromise plan,
and also Of their determination 20 Ale
a vigorous public statement Of protest,
giving their reasons. Mr.. Harding, II
is learned, Is entirely agreeable 70
ouch q statement eritieizing his own
Judgment, and feels that the victory
won for the authority OF the Railroad
Labor Board more than makes up for
such extraneous features.
The President will insist upon both
sides solemnly pledging themselves TO
obey future rulings Of tho Railroad
Labor Board. and, with this precedent
for the settlement OF labor disputes, hs
will then be in stronger position 70
30 forward in his work for a settle
ment Of the coal strike, TO which no
will begin deyoting all his attention the
moment the railway strike is finally
settled.
Chairman Cuyler, Of the railroad ex-
ecutiyes, will lay before their meeting
on Tuesday the Presidents plan, and
will state the Presidents reasons for
urging adoption. In so doing, 10 10
learned, Nr. Cuyler will not urge that
Il be rejected, although that would DO
his own inclination viewing the sltus-
tion purely on It's own merits without
reference TO the situation in the whole
country as pointed out by the Prsss-
dent.
Expect Atterbury 10 Yield
Other railroad executives, who per-
sonally have favored crushing the shop-
mems strike at this time, have decided
not 70 oppose acceptance by the execu-
tiyes, but 10 yield TO the Presidents In
sistence and take their case 10 the
public. Among these, 10 was admitted,
was General Atterbury, yice-pres.dent
of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
While It could not be learned to-
night whether l.. i. Loree, president OF
the Delaware g. Hudson, had decided TO
permit the adoption by the executives
OF an acceptance Of the plan with for
NAL protest, 10 Is expected here to-
night that he will follow the lead OF
Mr.. Atterbury, Mr. Cuyler and others
Of the rail chiefs.
At any rate, acceptance by the exscu-
tives is assured, and there has been no
doubt since the Presidents conferences
on Thursday that the railroad shopmen
would accept provided the executives
could be induced to agree 20 the settle
ment
The railroads In yielding 10 the
President, do not accept bis contsn-
tion that the Industrial situation In
the country demands "A prompt settle
ment Of their dispute with the strikers.
Many Of them frankly take the posi-
ton that the country will be just as
we'll served for the present, and much
better seryed IN the long run. II they
are permitted TO go ahead and break
the shopmen's strike. They profess
TO be much afraid Of the precedent Of
yielding az government insistence. and
assert that the present case Is not far
rem moyed from the Adamson act.
However, they will announce In their
public statement after Tuesdays meet
ing that they have decided 10 yield
TO the demand OF the President out
OF their respect 20 the orderly proc
es.es OF government and the necessi-
ties Of tho industrial situation as
stated by the President. though they
will flatly declare their own view that
the President Is not accurate in his
diagnosis OF the industrial situation as
demanding anv such "surrendei."
Board May Get Problem
Some Of the executives believe the
Presidents solution Of the seniority
issue is not as simple as he thinks and
that IL may lead TO some difficulty,
which probably will result In the whole
matter being taken up by the Railroad
Labor Board. For instance, IL was
pointed out that there are complica-
tions involved in some Of the roads
having called pensioners back>to work
because Of the strike.
As 10 the question Of men taken on
while the strikers were out, the Prcsi-
dent has learned from the executives
that this will not be serious problem,
as the roads expect TO be able 70 pro-
vide work for every man who went 20
work under a promise that his feb
would be permanent and would not
terminate at the end Of the strike.