The New York herald., 1922-07-21
EXECUTIVES INTEND
TO IGNORE STRIKERS
Say Their Duty to Public Is to
Replace Men Who Defy
Government
NEW SENIORITY STARTS
Unions Accept the Challenge
and Call Road Officials
Hard Boiled
NEW SENIORITY STARTS


cipal railroads in the East. meeting
yesterday at the Bankers Club, agreed
to oppose to the last ditch the strike
demands of the shopmen and other
unions now out.
They were unanimous in the stand
that the strike was one against the
United States Government and that
the roads were bound to do everything
possible to-fll the strikers places, as
matter of duty to the public.
The executives appeared to be unani-
nous in their decision not to restore
seniority rights to shopmen who went
out on. July 1, and others who have
joined out of sympathy. The presi-
dents and managers said they will
stick by and reward the men who had
been loyal
The announcement in THE NEW YORK
HERALD yesterday that the New York
Central would not restore seniority to
strikers returning to their jobs caused
considerable comment among strike
: sympathizers. In quarters conversant
with both sides of the dispute it was
limited that the seniority question was
all that stood in the way of an early
settlement. The reason appeared to be
a growing conviction that the men could
not win the Jewell demands and would
be glad to get their jobs back without
losing anything.
Executives Go to See Cummins.
= Considerable interest attached to the
scdden departure for Washington Of .
&C tmittee Of the railroad heads who
had been in conference. They were
haadeds,By Il. r. Lorees president of the
Delaware and Hudson, and went in re-
sponse to a summons from Senator ALI
bert b. Cummins of Iowa, chairman OF
the Senate Committee on Interstate
Commerce. Among the committee MEM
bers were said to be w. w. Atterbury
Of the Pennsylvania A. II. Smith of
the New York Central; E. j. Pearson
OF the New Haven; W. II. Truesdale of
the Lackawanna Frank II. Alfred Of
the Pere Marquette and Alfred p.
Thom, general counsel of the Associa-
tion of Railway Executives.
One report, which was not veri-
fed officially, was that the seniority
question was to be discussed On this
any settlement would involve complete
restoration OF seniority and pension
rights.
The railroad executives issued a state
ment which was long recital of the
history of the strike and the rulings OF
the United States Railroad Labor Board
that led to it. The statement said In
closing:
when the decision of the labor board
ran in the employees favor. they ac-
cepted it.; now that 1t runs against
them. they have rejected it. The strike.
by their own statements and by the
declaration of the labor board, is not
a strike against the railroads, but a
strike against an order of Government
tribunal strike against the Govern
ment of the United States itself.
1.-THE issue. and the whole issue, at
the present time is. Shall the just au-
thority of the Government be defied and
the Government rendered helpless, to
protect its citizens in their peaceful
and lawful pursuits? The position OF
the railroads is one of patriotic and
loyal obedience to Government authority.
and they are proceeding with all dill
gence to fill the strikers places and to
perform their duty to the public"
Loree Optimistic.
| Supplementing the statement Z Mr..
I,oree said, Just before leaving for WASH
irgton: tt
1--WE are going to see this thing
through. AS far as our own road Is
concerned, we have 1876 locomotives in
white lead Gin reserve) and we worked
more shop hours yesterday than the
day before. The action of the United
States Railroad Labor Board In pulling
out of the controversy. has cleared the
air more than anything else. There Is
nothing for Jewell to danglc before the
eyes OF his followers now
Mr.. Loree added that generally speak
ing. the Eastern roads were having little
difficulty getting skilled mechanics.
The process was OF necessity slow, but
the men were coming. The Western
roads, he thought. were experiencing
some difficulty. owing to the distances,
whereas in New York. he said, the Della
ware and Hudson could get all the men
IL needed no further away than Bridge
port.
Charles III. stein. general manager OF
the Central Railroad Of New Jersey,
said:
"Our ultimatum on the seniority
question was issued only after the La
Dor Board outlawed the strike. In good
faith and with the sanction of the Gov