Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-07-17
CLEAN OF HOPE
FOR STRIKE END
Leaders Are Silent While
Awaiting Developments
Expected Today
ARMISTICE RUMORS
Reports of Trains Cancelled and of
Strike Disorders, However Still
Coming In

Chicago. July IA veil of sill
ence descended like a blanket over
the railway strike situation today as
both railroad heads and strike lead
ers turned hopeful eyes toward the
momentous developments the new
week was expected to bring forth.
The bitterness which has marked
the progress of the walkout at times
in the last two weeks seemed to have
been succeeded by peace almost ap-
preaching an understanding. The
hurting of verbal challenges, claims
and counter-claims, ultimatums and
defiances, apparently had ended
through exhaustion or the hope of an
early agreement.
Despite the silence of the leaders,
with accompanying rumors of tacit
armistice or truce to allow fuller con-
sideration of points brought out dur
ing the week at mediation confer
enceS, hopes of an early settlement
were expressed freely in both rail
way and labor quarters. although no
tangible basis for these expectations
was given in any case.
One of the factors most often quot
ed to Justify a belief that the drift
was toward peace, despite the failure
last week of Mr.. Hooper's efforts to
bring the labor leaders and the eX
ecutiveS together, was the statement
of r. A. Henning, general chairman
Of the Federated Shopcrafts of the
Northwest, that only the refusal of
Eastern roads to agree to rein
state striking shop crafts workers
with their full seniority rights is pre-
venting settlement of the strike
so far as the Northwest roads are
concerned.
The railroads throughout. it was
declared, have insisted that their
men return to work as one of the first
steps toward peace, and the belief
was expressed that the restoration
of the rights sought would not prove
great stumbling block in the way
of a full settlement.
On the other questions at issue
outside contracting for shop work.
modification Of certain rules and
working agreements. the establish
ment of conciiation boards and
wages-it was declared that most of
the roads already had agreed to abol-
ishing outside contracting as order
ed by the Labor Board and to estab-
fishing early the conciliation boards
under the Federal Transportation
act
Thus but two questions, it was as
serted, were now at issue-rules and
wages, both of which might again be
brought before the Labor Board for
decision on the demand of the men
for rehearing. In the case of the
maintenance-of-w men, 1t was
pointed out, the board averted walk
out by agreeing to an immediate con
sideration of appeals for wage in
creases on the ground that Govern
ment figures showed that the cost of
living had increased since 1t rend-
cred the wage reduction decision,
which became effective on July /,
simultaneously with the calling of the
shipments strike.
Reports of the cancellation of trains
because of the coal shortage or the
growing lack of equipment and of
strike outbreaks continued. Union
leaders also predicted some accession
to their ranks tomorrow from the
stationary firemen and oilers and the
clerks, although they refused even
to hazard a guess as to the number of
men who might be affected by any
new walkouts.