The Washington herald., 1922-08-15
HOPEFUL.
Ask Rail Heads to Name
New Committee With
View of Compromise.
SHEPPARD DENIES
TRAIN DESERTIONS
Daniel Willard and w. s.
Stone Discuss Plan
In Conference.

Following a prolonged conference
with President Harding last night.
officials of the Big Four railroad
brothcrhoods made a move to bring
about direct negotiations to settle
the railroad shopmen's strike with
railroad executives. whom they re-
gard as less tenacious tnan the com
ton they have heretofore dealt
with.
Warren s. Stone. president of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive En:yI-
neers, made their initial move in a
ecret conference in a downtown
lotel with Daniel Willard, president
II the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
who had at one time offered to take
his striking employees back with
their seniority unimpaired.
Both Decline to Talk.
Neither Stone nor willard would
discuss their conference and both
were much pertufbed when il was
discovered. Stone at first denied It,.
but when assured that he had been
seen with willard he declared that
he would have nothing to say and
that he wished there were no news
papers published in the United
States.
I'VE could settle this strike IL
the newspapers would let us alone"
Il cannot and will not discuss
pur conference" said President Will
ard.
Seek New Committee.
Decision to attempt a reopening
of negotiations came after the big
four committee had talked with
President Harding for nearly three
hours fate~-yest erdey- and Stones
conference with willard is believed
to have a direct bearing on an ef-
fort to get the Association of Rail-
way Executives to appoint a new
strike committee made up of mod
crates" and officials who are less
dominated by the so-called hard
boiled" element.
The striking shopmen were hope
full enough of its success to again
withhold publication of their for
NAL rejection of President Hard
ing's latest peace offer submitted
last week.
Furthermore, II was stated that
President Harding would await the
outcome OF this latest move and
would not submit the program to
Congress for taking over the roads
for a few days at least.
sheppard stilI opeful.
1--WE can't say that the situation
has improved, but 1t certainly is no
worse" said L. 3. Sheppard. Of the
conductors, who is spokesman for
all the brotherhoods. as he emerged
from the Presidents ONCE. so far
we have not been able to obtain
any very tangible results. We will
stay in Washington to see IL we
can get a further conference with
anyone who can be helpful in
bringing about a settlement.
I'VE hope We can get commit
tee of railroad executives to meet
with us who will be not so tenacious
and who may be able to persuade
their colleagues to change their
views. We will meet tomorrow to
decide whether to address a COM
munication to the executives ask
ing for a further conference"
Assured Of Square Deal.
Sheppard said that the President
had assured the labor, leader that
everybody would get a square deal
under the law"
The President is trying to be
impartial and he has, too" added
Sheppard.
Asked " he considered the out
look more hopeful, Sheppard said:
i've been in deep water before
and always have managed to get
to shore. 1 don't know whether l
win make 1t this time or not"
Sheppard took occasion to char.
acterize as "all rot" reports of
Santa Fe train crews leaving pas