Norwich bulletin., 1922-08-08


 As final calr' from the government for immediate settlement of the rail strike. President Harding today com municated to railroad executives and the heads of the striking shop crafts unions proposals that the men me ssnt back to work. that the homogeneous take them back. and that adjustment of the crucial seniority issue be left to de- cision of the railroad labor board.
 Though the president was said to con slider this the only practical course the government could take, union spokes- men h.-;cated its rejection, summoned their associates to meet here Wednesday to pass upon the proposal and further called to Washington for general confer ence Friday the heads of all railroad labor organizations to consider methods of cd-oIeration tha might make the strike more effective.
 The rail executives had made no re- sponse to the White House tonight, though press dispatches indicated that they also would meet to frame a collec- tive asnwer.
 B. NJ Jewel. president of the rail road department of the American Fed eration of Labor. W. H. Johnson, head of the machinists association. and J. P. Noonan, comprising a committee repre- senting the striking unions. took the
 
 ence, later calling in H. E. Willis, of the engineS-s, Paul Stephens of the trainmen. and Arthur J. Lowell. of the firemen and enginemen. all three being Washington representatives of brother hood organizations in the train service which have usually acted apart from the labor unions in other branches of the service
 The union chiefs. following the meet. ing. gave out a statement which was taken as foreshadowing their course and sent copies of the agreement to ". G. Lee. chief of the engineers, and to E. J. Manion. president of the telegraph CTS asking tfseir ee-operation in the formation of a programme which would have for it's purpose protection of the puhlis, preservations of the railroad in- dustry and an honorable basis of set tlement"
 ''Messrs. Noonan Johnston. and Jew ell have been in conference several hours considering the proposal made by the president today" the statement said. "We have requested the chief executive of all the striking shop crafts unions and the stationary fremen and oilers to meet us here Wednesday of this week.
 I've have also urgently requested by telegraph and telephone that a confer ence of all executives of railroad labor organizations be held in Washington Friday, August II.
 We have requested thls conference because We recognized that railroad en- ployes not now on strike will in defense Of themselves. necessarily have to de- cline to operate the defective locomo- t4ves and cars now in service.
 It is clear to any unbiased persons that railroad equipment Is growing more unsafe each day. and relief must be had Hr~k L
 ployes now on strike are firm in their position and will continue so long as the association lof railway executives de- clines to acOept reasonable terms of agreement"
 In their message to Mir Stone the three union officials emphasized their conclusion that 'the government has au- thority to settle the strike on the inst fair. and reasonable basis proposed bv the president July 31."
 However, if is now apparent that no constructive programme is being propos- sd' the telegram continued and that ueiess the railroad employees can offer ahditonsl advice. the lives and safety of enoloyeS and travelling public. al- ready endangered by the continued use or defective railroad equipment, will he lmperi-led 10 a greater extent ReI;ev- ing that the chief executive of each of the standard railroad la5or organiza- tons as a result of their years of ex- Perience. broad public viewpoint and sin. cere desire for industrial peace, can. bv conference with the officers of the shor crat,s formulate a programme havine Tor it's purpose protection of the min. hc, preservation of the railroad indus try and an honorable basis of settle. ment for the managers and the employees we urgently recommend that won. a, chairman of the railroad organizations wire each chief executive requesting him to attend conference in Washington on Friday, Ala-ust H."
 We do not expect that strike actior will he suggested at the general confer. snce." said Hr. Jewell, sneaking for hi, associates. in explaining the purpose ot Its call. but We do consider that il will shortly he necessary for other en. ployes to refuse to work on defectiv. equipment"
 Mfr. Jewell declared that thP three men who received the presidents com munication and attended the White House conference would not be empow. cred to give a rejection or acceptane f, the proposals, until heads of all the sever striking unions had arrived, but tha nobody ought to get the idea the shol federation will accept"
 The telegram to Mir Stone which wa, repeated in part to Mir Manon. also de clared the striking unions had made tn, only concessions to date for settlement and asserted that the rail executive obviously acting under direction O those who exercise the financial contro and dictate the labor policies of rail roads. repudiated the promise given b, their chairman to the president. ant dshed the spokesman of the American people" The alleged reference ''renudi ation" by the executive had reference t previous proposals of the president sug gesting that the railroads give the mel complete seniority status on their return
 The presidents communication to bot parties to the strike were made publ shortly after noon. after a visit to tn White House of the three union leaders who waited over after meeting him Sat urday. An administration spokesman explained the presidents belief tha paralysts of transportation. especially il