The New York herald., 1922-08-23
RIFT SEEMS sure AS
ROADS MEET TO-DAY
Eastern Executives, Die Hards,
Lined Up Against West
and South.
14s CHIEFS TO ATTEND
Jewell Says Lorec, Backed by
Open Shop Interests, Seeks
to- sScuttle' Peace.

After two failures the Association
of Railway Executives will meet to-
day in a final effort to come to terms
with their striking shopmen. The
prospect of settlement is in doubt.
Officials of las railroads will as
semble at 10 o'clock at the Yale Club
and discuss peace proposals made last
week by the leaders of the non-strik-
ing railway unions. Their plan, 1t is
understood makes provision for the
return of the strikers with certain
seniority rights restored.
Executives Of the Eastern roads
have declared they will not listen 70
any such proposition. Some Of the
Western and Southern roads appear
! to be wavering and the question will
be Thoroughly threshed out, but an
agreement is most unlikcly--not one
chance in ten, an official said.
Next Move Up to Harding.
Should to-days meeting come to
nothing the country will turn to Presi-
dent Harding again. He has tried
twice to intervene without success. The
railroads will continue their policy OF
attempting to break the strike with non
union labor. Their shops arc now oper-
ating on 20 per cent. OF normal basis.
they say. The strikers win hope for
help from the other railway workers.
The maintenance OF way men may join
them, but the herhoods--engincers
flremen. conductors and trainmen--have
declared against participation.
The railroads yesterday gave out fig
ures to prove that conditions are stead
lily improving They say the strike will
peter out II they are left alone. but
that continual talk Of peace only serves
to encourage the strikers and retard
new men from seeking employment.
The local strike committee sent the
following message 10 b. M. jewell. pres
ident of the shipments union. In refer
encc TO remark made by l.. r. Loree.
chairman of the Eastern presidents
bunk:
"The Loree group of Eastern railroad
executives, insignificant In numbers but
hacked by the vast power of the Nor
gan Gary open shop interests. ~ making
desperate eleventh hour attempt TO
scuttle the strike settlement. Both sides
in the negotiations were pledged. as you
know. by their respective mediation
committees to refrain from comment
that might embarrass the conferees..
Last evening Mr.. Loree deliberately
violated the agreement and arrogantly
| attempted To wreck all settlement prog
| ress He gave a statement TO the press
In which he called peace talk bunk
and openly belittled the efforts of the
/ tst...e 20 ~Qa aplf n
agreement with the union mediators.
This latest move OF the die hard NH
/ nority shows that they will stop at
nothing in their campaign to break the
1 unions on their roads. We urge you per-
sonaIly to bring this matter TO the I'M
mediate attention of Government au-
| thorities in touch with the strike situa-
tion and of the union mediation COM
mittee of five for their information and
| guidance"
Lorec Not Bound.
When this message was shown to him
Mr.. Lorec said:
II am rot n member OF the committee
Of executives and they have not advised
me OF the conclusions reached. II any
| In the conference last week In New York
The facts and perhaps their recommen-
daticns will be given to the executives
tomorrow"
Samuel Rca. William Bessler and r..
T.. Loomis. presidents of the Pennsyi-
vania. Central Railroad OF New Jersey
and Lehgh Valley respectively. will ar
rive this morning on the White star
liner Majestic. If they are not In time
for the conference they will be repre-
sented by subordinates. Their roads are
considered members Of the mo sur
render group.
The PENNSYLVANIA Railroad last night
announced that any differences between
the road and Its brotherhood employees
growing out Of the shopmen's strike
would be settled through proper cham
nels." meaning that complaints of de-
fective equipment would be referred TO
the local representative OF the railroads
private labor organization and through
him 10 the proper officials OF the rail-
road.
This is the fifty-fourth day of the
strike. The Interstate Commerce Com
mission has made an investigation OF
the number and actual condition OF loco
motives and cars laid up for repairs.
This report will be published before the
end OF the week.
When you think OF writing
Think OF whiting,-Adv.