The New York herald., 1922-08-26
TEXT OF SHOPMEN'S
REPLY TO EXECUTIVES

The reply of the shop,nen to the
executives stated:
"In accepting the proposal OF Presi-
dent Harding of July 81 of this year
the representatives Of the men involved
agreed to resumption Of work without a
settlement of either OF the two remain
ing issues that were originally involved
in a. difficulty, namely, those concern
- wages and working conditions. In
Rreeing to resume work and to leave
these matters to the railroad labor board
for rehearing the men made all the con-
cessions that should be required or
expected Of them in the interest or peace
in the industry. the other issues involved
in the strike. that OF contracting out of
SHOPS and work having been decla red
Illegal by the railroad labor board and
all other Government authorities that
considered the matter. The question of
the standing of the men on strike as
railroad employees was not an issue
until injected by the railroad manage
ments, and only became an issue when
the railroad arrangements refused the
terms of agreement proposed by Presi-
dent Harding.
Would Destroy Strike Eject.
ITO accept or submit for acceotanc
the present proposal that carries no
visible guarantee or assurance of the
protection OF the rights or standing Of
the men as railroad employees held by
them prior TO the strike and earned bv
years OF continuous and efficient service
would mean that We ask the men on
Jess than one-third of the roads affected
20 return to work yielding to every de-
mand of railroad management, receiving
only such standing as EMPLOYEES as
might be granted by managements after
their return or later determined by the
commission provided for in the PROPOSE
tfon, and that employees OF less than
one-third the mileage now involved re-
turn TO work under such conditions as
would leave the remaining employees or
more than two-thirds of the mileage out
of railroad employment, and by return
ing to work WOULD in that measure
destroy the effectiveness Of the strike
as of to-day.
All Strikes Not included,
Even on the roads represented the
proposition does not contemplate the
ittuil W Work OF All men on strike. III
only includes those under the heading
of shop crafts. while it Is known and
agreed that many men other than those
coming under this designation are at
present on strike.
There Is no intent on our part To
question the integrity of officials of
roads now comforting. but 1t must be
obvious TO all that action can be taken
only on matters already defined in any
OF the propositions made. Our first con-
cern must be the interest of all men
involved. We. the representatives OF the
men on strike. cannot recommend 10 the
men their acceptance Of this proposition
without deliberately and consciously
sacrificing the interest OF the men In
voved.
1--WE fully appreciate the help. interest
and efforts of the transportation organ
ization executives In their capacity as
mcdiators. and we will regret Il IL com
PEELED to report to our people that their
splendid efforts failed because Of the
arbitrary position taken by the carriers
10 produce some clear. concrete PROPOSE
ton that we could present to and CON
sclentiously recommend to the men we
represent for acceptance"