New-York tribune., 1922-08-11
Rail Executives
Split In Caucus
On Peace Plan
NO Compromise Bloc and
Pro Administration Men
Unable to Decide OH Fro
gram at To-day's Session
Clerks Take Strike Vote
Erie and Lackawanna Em.
ployees End Negotiations
for Localized Settlement

1eA0S OF most OF the important rail-
roads of the country will assemble in
Grand Central Terminal this morning
TO fight out the hottest dispute which
has arisen among them since the shop
mems strike began--the question of
whether The roads are to accept or re-
ject President Harding's new proposal
for q settlement of the walk-out. The
proposal is that the roads take back
the strikers and that both sides then
put the seniority issue up to the Rail
road Labor Board.
Regardless of the outcome of the
executives conference, peace may be
brought no nearer than it now is, mas
much as it takes two sides to make a
bargain, and B. III. Jewell, of the
strikers, has attacked the Presidents
proposition IS ''uncslled for.'
Cleavage Among Roads
Nevertheless, q vast amount Of in
tsrest is attached to the meeting, OBJ
servers say, if only for its political
significance. On one side appear the
roads for which L. T. Loree. president
of the D. & H, is the chief spokesman.
and headed by the coal carriers and
the Pennsylvania System. These are
the 'no compromise" roads, opposed
to dealing again with the strikers or
ganlzation on any basis. On the other
side is the group having A. II. Smith
as its chief floor leader, dominated by
the New York Central interests. These
appear ready to leave the door open for
an honorable settlement" provided
this doesn't entail making any vital
concessions to the strikers.
OF deeper Importance to the exec
utives and the interests they represent
is the political division concerned. The
Loree group charges that President
Harding's Administration is playing
politics" that it is "spineless," and that
the intervention either Of the President
or of the Railroad Labor Board for 81
settlement is "unwarranted interfer-
ence" The other group appears friend
iy to the Administration and the larger
aspects of its settlement attempts and
wants acceptance Of the Presidents
proposal without reservation.
Early Arrivals at Caucus
The vanguard Of railroad executives
arrived In New York yesterday and
many Of them were corralled by Mr..
Smith in what developed into caucus
on the situation, held in the Offices of
the Association of Railway Executives,
81 Broadway. In making this move,
MY. Smith, who is president of the New
York Central, stole a march on his op-
ponents, but he was unable to attain
anything like a complete victory.
"The caucus" said one railroad
president we'll toward the end of the
session, "is divided" Rejecting q mo-
ment. he added; And damned divided,
] would say"
Among those taking part in the
meeting were Mr.. Smith, Samuel NJ
FELTON,, president Of the Chicago Great
Western, and Frederick p. Underwood
president Of the Erie A full list of
the attendance, which was about
twenty-five, was jealously guarded,
and 1t was not disclosed whether rep
resentativE of MIR. Loree or of w. w.
AttePhury, Of the Pennsylvania, were
present.
Next in Importance in the days de-
veiopments was an announcement from
the local heads of the strikers that the
Srothernood Of Railway and Steamship
Clerks had broken off negotiations for
| a settlement of differences with two
roads, the Erie and the Lackawanna,
both had been ordered. Charges and
counter charges were passed between
the strikers and the road officials. In
view Of the status of the main strike
| developments the clerks action was
not considered as OF great Importance
Passenger Delays Charged
Two claims put forth by the local
strike leaders were that, according t.
official figures Of the State Department
Of Labor, the railroads of New York
! State have been able to recruit only 81
per cent of their normal shop forces
SINCE the strike began. and that the
! passenger traffic from Southern points
! to New York. Supporting the latter
charge, the strikers say they copied the
| following from the PennsyIvania Sta.
| tion bulletin board:
Train. Road Due Late
| 36--Norfolk g. West 6.s5 m Z n 50 n,