The New York herald., 1922-07-28
COAL MEN NEXT
Settlement of Both Is
sues Is Expected by
Washington With.
i'll Short Time.
PRESIDENT is FIRM
Takes a DictatOrial Stand
and Demands Reason
From All. /
SENIORITY IN THE WAY
President Insists Both Sides
Waive Issue and Settle
1t Later.
pecial Dispatch 10 THE NEW YORK HrrA...

Special Dispatch 10 THE NEw YORK HEnAls.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. C.. July "a.
While speedy settlement of the
railroad controversy was generally
looked for as a result of the series Of
conferences started to-day between
President Harding on the one hand
and leaders of the shop crafts and rep
resentaNves of the railroad executives
on the other there were late develop
ments which indicated possibility
that four or five days may elapse be-
fore definite results are achieved
Chairman T. De Witt Cuyler of the
Association Of Railway Executives. on
leaving the White House at 1o;3O
o'clock tonight after a second con-
ference with President Harding, an
nounced that he would call confer
ence of the presidents Of the 14s rail-
roads constituting the association In
New York next Tuesday to consider
the railroad situation and the strike
crisis.
! Mr.. Cuyler indicated that action on
the part of the executives looking to
the settlement OF the strike would be
delayed until after this conference.
He said that the President had
made no direct request of him. 1t Is
understood that the New York meet
ing Of the railroad presidents is called
to act on the main outstanding issue
of seniority. which the union leaders
are making the condition of resump-
ton Of employment.
Both Sides Confer.
As result Of conferences held to-day
by President Harding with railroad ex-
ecutives and representatives Of the strik-
ing shopmen, executives and union rep
resentatives then engaged IN a Joint con-
ference for settlement OF ;heir differ
/ ence
While no such positive progress has
/ been made in the coal strike, Admins
\ tration leaders believe that a somewhat
! similar meeting Is about 10 be arranged
between representatives OF the United
\ Mine Workers and the coal operators i'm
1
IL the men will return to work at the
old scale and working conditions until
a new agreement Is reached IL means
\ an end TO the gripping coal strike which
is bringing famine and suffering nearer
every day.
No decisions have yet been reached
and there may be slip, but Adminis-
tration leaders are Confident
/ President Harding. patiently irritated
] n lzr s...f..A IL. q r.f.-
strikes TO heed the advice of the Gov
ernment. has in the last two days. and
! particularly to-day. taken an emphatic
and dictatorial stand.
Demands "Reason."
He has in effeGt accepted the Issues
\ involved and demanded reason" from
/ all sides on the pain of being victims TO
the club OF every possible Governmental
power and that of public opinion.
The President directed his efforts
toward settlement of the railroad strike
I through submission by other sides to an
= arbitral decision in which the Govern
ment and the American people could
see that justice was done. 1t called for
/ sacrificing OF the position Of some rail-
way executives on the seniority question
In its adjudication and for surrender
by the men of the demand for recogni-
\ tion of these rights.
Negotiations on the coal strike have
\ been conducted more or less directly I'm
Philadelphia between representatives OF
pro-settiement operators John L. Lewis
/ president OF the United Mine Workers,
and other representatives OF the striking
miners.
! While developments of the day were
enshrouded In a cloak of silence Il Is
Indicated that the President made
1aG Gatt all
/ basis OF which a settepent would be
| concluded.
The conferences included one by the
President and r. De witt Cuyler. prcs-
! dent OF the Railroad Executives. and
two extended conferences between the
President and the representatives OF tho
open shop crafts. headed by Bert NJ
Jewell. who. with his associates, came TO
| Washington from Chicago to discuss the
situation with President Harding.
Proposals Submitted.
The afternoon conference with the
labor leaders. who are directing the
| shop men, extended over three hours.
and while Mr.. Jewell refused to COM
nent OF what had transplred. It IL be-
| lieyed that the President submitted to
! them proposals for the immediate re-
sumption OF employment by the men.
The conditions had been discussed
earlier IN the day with Mr.. Cuyler. who
put before the President the views OF
the Eastern executives. who are. holding
out on the seniority question: which is
now regarded as the only obstacle TO
1 the ending OF the strike. The President
assumed the role Of mediator. asking
that both sides yield something In the
public interest IL the executives yield
1t Is the confident expectation OF Ad.