The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-08-05
RAIL STRIKE
SETTLEMENT
DOUBTFUL

~s~ S& - -
|Meeting Held in New
York and Chicago
z o d a y. Seniority
Rights Are Stun
| bling Block
Washington, July s1-(By the
ASSOCIATED Press. )-convinced that
ithe railroad strike would be a mat
! ter of history within "a hours after
acceptance by railway shopmen and
transportation chiefs of President
IHarding's compromise plan, all of
| the governments influence was
mustered tonight behind the effort
to obtain. adoption by the em-
'ployers meeting in New York and
that Of the employees in Chicago
tomorrow. Chairman Hooper of
the railroad labor board. after a
conference with President Harding
today, left for Chicago to be on
hand when the meeting is called Of
the general policy committee of the
striking shop craft unions. Secre-
tary Hoover left tonight to attend
the New York meeting of the exc
cutives. N -.
There was, little doubt in admin
istration circles concerning accept
ance by union leaders of the pro-
posed compromise settlement. Sey-
eral railroad executives. however,
are known to hold strong objection
because of their belief that it
would entail abandonment of old
employees who have stuck through
1.-THE strike, as well as new men who
ignored strong inducements not to
accept employment during the
emergency.
Personal friends and senatorial
advisers Of the president were
strong In their conviction that this
opposition would be more than
Offset; Shy. those executives who
would accept the compromise, Ell
tber as a fair basis for settling the
controversy or because of their
conviction that acceptance was re-
Guired as a patriotic step.
Optimistic forecast Of action to
be expected from the New York
meeting was based more than a
little extent. it was indicated, on
the belief that T. Dewitt Cuyler,
|:chairmanaof the executive associa-
ton and Vice, President Atterbury
LOT the Pennsylvania representatives
|ef an influential group in the
management side of the rail con-
troVersy would for acceptance.
At the same time, the. sticking
point in the whole attempt to nego-
I itiate a settlement. the seniority
rights so called continued to pro-
trnde in every conversation and
public statement of the leaders
concerned with as much awkward
ness as. ever, even considering the
presidents suggestions for its
compromise. Arrangements of sew
eral Of the larger systems which
now claim to have the strike beaten
has insisted that restoring the
strikers. even though they accept
| the decreased pay and abrogation
Of favorable rules, would mean the
dismissal. OF grear numbers of COM
petent men. employed since the
strike. It would further mean the
displacement Of men who stuck by
the railroads and who have since
received promised promotions in
the service.
On the union side, it was held by
such spoksemen for the organiza-
tons as were still watching the
progress of events here that no set
tlement would be made by the or
| carnations unless it took care OF
tall their men. That meant that all
railroads. and not merely the
! largest number of smaller roads.
had to put the agreement into ef-
feet. and that all the strikers on
each road had to be taken back.
| Advisers Co the president had it
that the executives Of the larger
systems who have publicly stated
their positive refusal to take back
/ the strikers on a seniority basis are
willing. in advance Of tomorrow s
meeting, to say to associates that
while they thought the policy
wrong. they could not persist in
refusing to accept plan devised
! by the government Of the United
States. The advisers were hopeful
that resolution would be passed by
the executives sessions declaring
that such procedure was contrary to
their best judgment of the necessi-
! ties OF the situation but that in view
OF the responsibility Of the presi-
dent they would accede to his views
Of what public interest required.
| Some railroad officials were very
doubtful, however. that this dispo-
sition of the plan would be made.
Washington, July 31-Forty-
nine representatives Of Eastern
railroads here today to discuss
President Harding's expected pro-
posals for ending the shop craft
strike adjourned without formulat-