The New York herald., 1922-07-25
Strikers Scoff at Statement
of Executives Asserting
Employees Rights.
SHIP YARDS AVAILABLE
Loyal Union Movement Con-
tinues to Grow Despite
'Outlaw' Comment.

Following az conference yesterday
afternoon attended by the operating
heads Of all the principal Eastern
railroads statement was issued,
signed by L. r. Loree. president Of the
Delaware and Hudson and chairman
Of the conference, to the effect that
the possibility Of a general tieup as a
result Of the shopmen's strike had
passed. The statement added that so
per cent. OF the normal force Is now
working full time with results that
compare favorably with those obtained
before the strike was called on July l.
The statement criticized both Presi-
dent Harding and Ben w. Hooper.
chairman OF the United States Rail
road Labor Board. for their alleged
failure to take into consideration the
rights Of the men who remained on
their Jobs and the new employees in
their efforts to effect settlement. Re-
ferring to these men the statement
said OF President Harding's avowed
intention to obtain the viewpoint Of
all concerned in the strike:
1T must not be forgotten that Presi-
dent Harding is their President In the
same full sense that he is President OF
the strikers"
What remains to be DONE" the state
ment added. "is to preserve tho public
peace. to protect the old men. and to
incorporate these new men IN the COM
munities in which they are located"
scoffed AT by Strikers.
Strike leaders last night scoffed at
this part OF the Loree statement, declar-
ing that the men referred to by the
executives were strike breaking en-
ployees and had no point of view.
They are an unorganized and fluctu-
ating group and both the Government
and the railroad executives will be
wasting their time trying to develop
point OF view on their part" said
Dave Williams. secretary of the strike
committee.
Representatives of the signalrnen of
four Eastern railroads ended a two days
conference at the Commodore yesterday.
The formulation OF demands to be made
upon the railroads. under the agreement
OF the national organisation not to call
strike at this time, was completed. II
Is understood the men will ask restora-
tton OF the recent cut Of five cents an
hour and certain working conditions. D.
Q. Cone, grand vice-president, presided,
with w. r. Cage as secretary.
new method of solving the car
shortage problem was suggested in
shipping circles. 1t was that the large
ship yards on the Atlantic coast and
elsewhere be converted into plants
capable OF doing car and locomotive
repair work, such as. In done in Europe
There were even reports that several
of the larger ship building corporations
were discussing the making OF con-
| tracts for car repair work.
| r. H. NJ. Robinson, president Of the
Merchants Shipbuilding Corporation O,
Chester. Pa, said that his company had
been prepared to handle railroad worp
for several months and had approached
some of the railroads. but found then
Indifferent. The present strike has
revived the idea. however. among ship
pers who have suffered from short
age OF cars.
Labor leaders did not regard the suR
gestion with any great concern, how
ever. They declared that the same objec
tions would apply to shipyards doini
this work as to private contractors
Besides the shipyards' forces are un
usually well organized and II is doubtful
to what extent they would cooperat
with movement designed to take worl
away from the railroad shop crafts.
A strike vote taken last week at tn
Schenectady works of the America,
Locomotive Company, where contrac
car repair work Is being done by tn
Erie and other roads. was three to on
against the men going out, accordin
to John @. Walber. secretary of tn
bureau OF information Of the easter
railroads.
shops on 60 Per Cent. Basis.
Mr.. Loree's statement made at the en-
OF the presidents conference was 4
part as follows:
THE last information for the mont
OF April. 1922. of the Interstate Com
merce Commission gives as employed o.
the railroads of the United States in tn
six shop crafts 351,s34 men. In orde
to furnish work to as many as .possibl
of the men the roads exerted great ef
forts, In some cases working a part O
the force only in alternate weeks. and &
others greatly reducing the hours o
labor. so that these forces were no
averaging more than forty hours eac
week. and In numbers were mucl
greater than were needed. The figure
available indicated that on June 30, o,
on the roads in the Eastern traffi
region, there were in service abou
145.s72 men.
"Froh the sources of information w
have there are now employed In thi
region ss.404 men. not including tn
foremen, or go per cent, and as thes
men are working full time, the actua