Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-08-11
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD

oV GOVVAn0 v
NJ QUOTATIONS for the ending of
IN the railroad strike were at least
temporarily halted again last week
when the plan of President Harding
failed of complete acceptance. Opt
mlstic prophets of immediate peace
were COMPOUNDED.
AS expressed by himself, the Pres
ident's plan comprised these stipula-
lions:
Frst-Railway managers and work
men are to agree to recognize the
validity Of all decisions of the rail-
road labor board and to faithfully
carry out such decisions as contem-
plated by the law.
Second-The carriers will withdraw
all lawsuits growing out Of the strike
and railroad labor board decisions
which have been involved In the strike
may be taken, In the exercise Of recog-
nized rights, by either party to a rail-
road labor board for %rehearing.
Third-All employees now on strike
to be returned to work and to their
former positions with seniority and
other rights unimpaired- The repre-
sentatives Of the carriers and the rep
resentatives of the organizations espe'
cially agree that there will be no dis
elimination by either party against
the employees who did or did not
strike.
The railway executives were the
first to act on these proposals. They
accepted the first; agreed to the sec.
ond with the understanding that the
strike be first called off and that the
representatives Of the strikers pledge
themselves and the strikers against
violence in any form against the men
now at work and the property of the
carriers; declared 1t was impossible
for them to agree to the first sentence
Of the third proposal.
Having placed themselves In q
strategic position by awaiting action
by the executives, the representatives
of the striking shopmen met in Chica.
60 and voted, though with expressed
reluctance, to accept the Presidents
proposals. This was conditioned up
on recognition Of the union interpre
tation Of the plan, which, among other
things, would require the Pennsyf
vania railroad to abandon its fight for
the open shop. The shop crafts also
Insist on the establishment Of a ma.
tional board Of adjustment which
would relieve the labor board of ali
disputes except those involving wages.
Some roads have agreed to regional
boards, but probably all Of them are
opposed to one national board which
would prescribe uniform conditions re
gardless of needs Of various localities.
Seemingly the rail executives are in
dead earnest In their refusal to aban.
don their stand on seniority rights.
They notified their local employees
and other workers that they would be
protected and guaranteed permanent
employment, and went ahead with the
task Of filling the places Of the strik-
ers. In New York 1t was said their
decisive stand resulted In a rush Of
applicants for jobs. Public opinion Is
widely divided concerning this attitude
Of the railway executives. Many per-
sons feel that 1t is only justice to the
men who have remained at work and
those who have responded to the call
for workers to take up the tools the
strikers laid down. Those who SYM
pathize strongly with the demands of
organized labor take the position that
the action Of the railway heads is a
part of a campaign to destroy the
unions.
1t was predicted in Washington that
President Harding would do nothing
more In the matter at present, giving
the railroads an opportunity to prove
that they could operate effectively