The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1922-08-01
Railway Strike
May End Today


would be a matter of history within
"a hours after acceptance by rail-
way shopmen and transportation
chiefs of President Harding's COM
promise plan, all of the governments
influence was mustered last night be-
hind the effort to obtain adoption by
the employers meeting in New York
and that of the employees in Chicago
today.
Chairman Hooper, of the railroad
labor board, after a conference with
President Harding yesterday, left for
Chicago to be on hand when the
meeting of the general policy COM
mittee of the striking shop crafts
union is called. Secretary of Com
merce Herbert Hoover left to attend
the New York meeting of the execu-
tives.
There was little doubt in admin
istration circles concerning accept
ance by the union leaders of the
proposed compromise settlement, but
several rail executives are known to
hold strong objection because of be-
lief that it would entail abandonment
of loyal workmen who have stayed
on the job, as well as new men.
Personal friends and senatorial ad-
visers of the president were strong
in their conviction that this opposi-
ton would be more than Offset by
those executives who would accept
the compromise, either as a fair ba-
sis for settling the controversy or be-
cause of their conviction that accept
ance was required as a patriotic step.
Optimistic forecast of the action
to be expectede from the New York
meeting was based, to more than a
little extent, it was indicated, on the
belief that T. Dewitt Cuyler, chair
man of the executives association,
and Vice President Atterbury, of the
Pennsylvania, representatives of an
influential group in the management
side of the rail controversy. would
vote for acceptance.
The sticking point in the whole
attempt to negotiate settlement,
the seniority rights, so-called, con-
tinued to protrude in every convre-
sation and public statement of the
leaders concerned with as much
awkwardness as ever, even consider
ing the presidents suggestions for
its compromise. Managers of sew
eral of the larger systems which
now claim to have the strike beaten
have insisted that restoring the
strikers, even though they accept
the decreased pay and abrogation of
favorable rules, would mean the dis
missal of many competent men en-
ployed since the strike. 1t would fur
ther mean displacement Of men who
stuck by the railroads and who have
since received promised promotions.
On the union side, it was said that
no settlement would be made by the
organizations. unless 1t q, took care Of
all their men. That means that all
railroads have to put the agreement
into effect and that all strikers on
each road have to be taken back.
Advisers to the president had 1t
that the executives Of the larger
systems who have publicly stated
their positive refusal to take back
the strikers on q seniority basis were
willing. in advance OF today's meet
ing, to say to associates that while
they thought the policy wrong, they
could not persist in refusing to ac-
cept a plan devised by the govern
ment.
These advisers were hopeful that
a resolution would be passed by the
executives session declaring such a
procedure was contrary to their best
judgment Of the necessities of the
situation. but in view Of the respon-
sibility of the president, they would
accede to his views OF what public
interest required.
Some railroad officials were very
doubtful that this disposition OF the
plan would be made.
Though not officially made public,
the presidents compromise sugges-
tion, as it applies to the original SEN
iority issue would place al shop EN-
ployes who did not strike first on the
seniority list would give all return
ing strikers places just behind these,
and would give all efficient men en-
plOyed since the strike began such
positions as their length of actual
service had earned.
-s--s