The New York herald., 1922-08-02
Loree Against Rejection
Only Because 1t Isn't
Strong Enough
STRIKERS ARE PREPARED
Men Here Say Railroads Are
In Revolt and Think Vie
tory Now Certain.

The Association OF Railway Execu-
tives yesterday rejected President
Harding's plan for the settlement OF
the railroad shop strike. by refusing
to accept his proposal that the
seniority rights Of the strikers be
restored unimpaired.
| In reply the shopmen issued
statement to the effect that the ac-
tion of the executives suited them
perfectly" IF they want fight we
are ready" they said.
The strikers are expected to ap-
prove the Presidents proposals in
Chicago to-day.
Mr.. Hardings plan was contained
in letter addressed to T. Dewitt
Cuyler, chairman of the Executives
Association, which was read at
meeting of 148 railroad presidents in
the board room of the New York.
New Haven and Hartford Railroad In
the Grand Central Terminal.
Herbert Hoover, Secretary of Com
merce. came from Washington as the
Presidents personal representative
and pleaded with the railroad execu-
tives to accept the Presidents terms.
you've won the strike" he told
them. "Your men will return at the
old scale. Take them back. Ufsbold
the President"
Loree's Negative Votes.
His plea failed utterly. There was
no debate. A resolution was adopted
by vote OF 265 to 2 in reply to Mr..
Harding's letter stating that 'strtk-
ing former employees cannot be given
precedence to employees at present in
the service without doing violence to
every principle of right and Justice"
The negative votes both were cast
BY L. +. Loree. chairman of the East
ern group of railroad presidents, not
because he disagreed with the others.
but because he thought the reply was
not strong enough.
The condition which the association
refused to accept provided that "all
employees now on strike be returned
/ 20 work and to their former positions
with seniority and other rights un-
impaired" There were two other con-
ditions proposed by the President, both
of which were accepted. The first was
to the effect that the railroads and
their men abide by the decisions of
the railway labor board. The second
provided for the withdrawal OF law
suits growing out OF the strike.
The resolution was drawn by COM
mittee composed Of Robert $. Lovett.
chairman OF the hoard OF the Union
Pacific. chairman: A. ii. Smith. presi-
dent OF the New York Central; Alfred
r. Thorn. general counsel OF the ex-
ecutives' association. w W Atterbury.
vice-president or the Pennsylvania; Hale
Holden. president OF the Chicago. Bur-
Iington and Quincy: j. G. Markham.
president Of the Illinois Central. and
I w. r. Cole president of the Chatta-
nooga. Nashville and st. Louis.
Hoover's Vain Plea.
| The vote was taken by railroads. each
4 road being entitled to one vote for each
1 1000 miles or fraction thereof. AS soon
/ as this was done the meeting adjourned
/ sine die. subject TO the call of the
| chairman, and the members from the
West and South left at once for their
i homes.
1 When Secretary Hoover arrived at
noon the association had been in session
\ for an hour and n plan Of action had
4 already been formulated. Mr.. Hoover
\ was received cordially. He said that
Il all Ia III 90. -
4 tend the meeting in person. had speci-
\ fled exactly what he wanted said.
The first issue, Mr.. Hoover declared--
/ that OF uphoidng the labor board--was
| considered by the President to be OF
i paramount Importance IL transcribed
all the others. in the Presidents opin-
/ ion. including that OF seniority.
4 MIR. Harding doesn't regard seniority
I ns an Issue In this strike" the Secretary
\ continued That does not affect tho
| integrity OF the labor board or the Gov
/ ernment or Of any one. He realizes thu
railroad point of view means a lot, OF
/ course. and does not intend TO bellttis
IT, but the President thinks seniority
has nothing vital to do with the strike
I and Is not a major issue"
The coal situation, Mr.. Hoover said.
Is complicating factor. II the situa-
I tion were different he thought tho Gov
/ ernment might have taken a different
4 attitude. but as Il stands the situations
/ have TO be met as they develop
He talked twenty minutes CLOSING
l with an appeal 10 "go along with ths
: President and the labor board" AZ
soon as he finished his address he too1
a taxicab 70 the Pennsylvania Station
and returned TO Washington
A. II. Smith. president OF the New
York Central Lines, took the lead in de-
4 fense or the men employed during the
strike He was applauded continuously.
especially when he said:
1T II utterly unthnkable to railroad
men that-we shouid break our promises