The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-07
SENIORITY PLAN
WOULD BE MADE
BY LABOR BOARD
He Would Have Men Go Back
at Once to the Carriers.
Carriers Would Give Men Same
Status as They Had.
LABOR BOARD WOULD BE LAW
Nothing Said About Men Who
Now Work in the Rail Shops.
Harding Leaves One Class of
Labor From His Message.

Washington. Aug. THE trio of
striking railroad shop craft leaders
here in washington-B. NJ. Jewell,
general strike leader; William H.
Johnston, OF the machinsts, and J. P
Noonan, of the electrical workers.
went into conference this afternoon
on President Harding's new rail set
tlement proposal There were intima-
tions that the proposal had not made
a favorable first impression upon
them.
Washington, Aug :. - President
Harding called upon striking railway
shopmen to return TO work, requested
the railroads to assign them to work
and asked both the workmen and car
riers to submit the disputed question
of seniority to the railroad labor
board.
Tile president sent kilograms to B.
NJ. Jewell. head of the railroad shop
mems union. and T. Dewitt Cuyler,
cnarmi-n of the Association of Rail-
way Executives outlining the plan
which he hoped would result in
speedy termination of the strike
Labor Board Would Be Law.
Nr Harding in his message asked
that both pa rites to the dispute to
agree to comply with the decision rem
dercd on seniority by the railroad
labor board.
The further statement was made by
the president that he was mindful
of the pledge OF both the executives
and the striking workmen to recog
nize the validity of all decision by
the labor board"
He also pointed out that the ques-
tion of seniority which the eXecu-
tives rejected" as outlined recently in
a settlement plan proposed by him
remains in dispute and bars a settle
ment"
Is Only Practical Course.
Settlement thru the railroad labor
board. the president is said to believe,
is the only practical course for the
government to seek. The president,
il was added, considers the sugges-
judgment of one who has been stand
ing in between the parties to the con-
troversy-
The president. it was stated. trusts
the new proposal will draw the sup
port of public opinion and will bring
about a speedy ending of the strike
now in its sixth week.
All Agreed to Labor Board
The text of President Hardings
telegram to Jewell follows:
Il have your communication in which
you and your assistants. speaking for the
striking railway shOpmen. pledged your
mittcd to the railway executives and your
organizations for the settlement of the
leudluE railroad strike. luaSmuch as
was acting as volunteer mediator. seek
ing the earliest possible settlement. l con-
feSs to You the same disappointment which
/ have conveyed to the executives that
the terms were not unanimously accepted.
As you are already aware. the executives
of the carriers declared their inability TO
restore seniority rights Unimpaired.
1T IS exceedingly gratifying. however
that in responding to the terms which
were proposed that both the spokesmen for
the carriers aud the spokesmen for the en-
ployes have pledged that they will recog-
nize the validity Of all decision by the
railroad labor board and to faithfully carry
out such decisions contemplated by the
law
Seniority Only Question.
Moreover, spokesmen for the carriers
and employees have approved the second
paragraph of the proposal and in their an
board decisions which have been involved
in the strike may be taken. in the exercise
of recognized rights. by either party to
the railroad labor board for rehea ring
Inasmuch as the employees have agreed to
all the terms proposed and the executives
have agreed to two Of the bases of the
settlement and rejected the third. there
remains only the question of seniority COW
cred in paragraph three in dispute, to bar
a settlement Mindful Of the pledge of
both the executives and the striking work
men to recognize the validity Of all de-
ciSions by the railroad labor board. I am
hereby calling on the striking workmen to
return to work. calling upon carriers to
assign them to work. calling upon both
xOrSmen and carriers, under the law TO
take the question in dispute to the railroad
compliance by both with the decision rem
dered.
Rail Heads Discuss It
New York, Aug. THE heads of