The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-07-28


and labor leaders headed by Mr..
Jewell Of the shopmen's union.
II was understood that the sug-
gested plan for settlement-details Of
which were withheld by those par
tieipating in its formulation-would
be submitted later to executives cs
the railroads.
Onahs B-e Leased Wire.
Washington, July 2.-Peace or
truce in the rail strike was believed
to be close at hand, following a day
Of conferences, extending far into
the night, at the White House be-
tween President Harding and repre-
sentatives of the warning factions.
Although the utmost secrecy pre-
vailed concerning the outcome OF the
conferences, the belief grew during
the day that the end OF the strike was
not far off. In some optimistic quar-
ters the impression prevailed that an
order would 60 out to the striking
shopmen Friday to return to work.
|B. NJ. Jewell declared, however, that
he had no intention Of issuing such
All order.
The attitude of the executives. It
was understood, was unchanged
concerning the seniority rule. the
chief obstacle OF peace. notwithstand-
ing pressure brought to bear by the
president to induce them to aban-
don this stand.
Basis Narrows Down.
The basis of an armistice, there
fore, has about narrowed down to
this That the striking shopmen re-
turn to work with the assurance that
the railroad labor board will grant
Them rehearing of their grievances
and assume jurisdiction over the
much-disputcd seniority question. 1t
was pointed out that this plan might
be followed without the acquiescence
of the railway executives. The men
would return to work and if their
old places, under the seniority rule,
were denied them. they could carry
the dispute to the labor board, which
would then proceed to deal with the
seniority question.
President Harding began his con-
ferences early Thursday morning, be-
ginning with T. Dewitt Cuyler,
president of the American Associa-
tion of Railway Executives. After
Mr.. Cuyler had left the White House,
Mr.. Jewell, the shopmen's 'chief, and
the presidents of the various shop
craft unions arrived from Chicago
and went at once into conference
with Mr.. Harding. They remained in
session for a short while and then
left the White House but returned
in the afternoon and spent more
than three hours with the president.
Jewell Makes Statement.
Mr.. Cuyler also returned to the
White House later in the evening.
Only the most noncommital
statements were given out by the
shopmen and Cuyler after the con-
ferences and nothing was forthcom-
ing from the White House.
Jewell made this statement:
"Our conference this afternoon was
a continuation of our conference this
morning, at which we continued our
statements of our views Of the situa:
ton, There can be no statement
now as to what has beeen said at the
conferences"
Mr.. Cuyler made similar state
ment, merely saying that he had pre-
sented the viewpoint of the execu
tives. Both Cuyler and Jewell statee
they would remain in Washington te
await developments.
Confer With Johnston.
Immediately upon their arriva
from Chicago and before going te
the White House, the strike leader:
had a conference with William H
Johnston, president of the 1nterna
tional Association of Machinists. Mr..
johnston then went with them te
the White House. The others who
accompanied them were:
Timothy Healey. president of the
firemen's organization; J. w. Kline
president of the blacksmiths: J. A.
franklin, president of the boilermak-
ers; NJ. F. Ryan. president of the
car men; James Burns, vice presi.
dent of the sheet metal workers
union and Edward Evans, vice presi-
dent of the International Brother
hood of Electrical Workers.
Few Developments.
Developments in the coal strike sit
uation in Washington were few and
relatively unimportant. Secretary of
Commerce Hoover was busy per-
fecting the organization of a national
coal distribution committee, of which
he VISA made chairman.
Favorable replies have been re-
ceived from the presidential coal dis
tribution committee for the formation
of state control organizations.
Responses, he said, have been re-
ceived so far as New Jersey, Con-
recticut, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota,
Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsyl-
cania.
He declared that organization of
the administrative personnel of the
presidents committee was being
rushed in order that the coal distribu-
ton under the emergency plan could
begin as soon as possible. Priorities,
he said, could not work effectually
until the organization under the presi-
dents committee had been formed.
but would be done as soon as hui
manly possible.