New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-09-15
Meets Strike Chiefs ON Its
System To-day to Fix
Settlement on Terms
Of Chicago Agreement
Rest Are Defiant
Save Erie and Penna
Two Of Big A. Heads Near,
Accord ON Wage Pact;
Shopnen Here Hopeful

The New York Central took the lead
.mon0 the Eastern roads yesterday In
attempting to reach some settlement of
;ts labor problems. A conference has
been arranged for TO- day with the heads
Of the striking shopcrafts workers for
merry employed on its lines at which
an agreement under the terms Of the
Chicago settlement program will be
discussed.
It was also learned that President
A. II. Smith: of the Central was in
secret conference yesterday with the
chiefs of two of the "Big Four" train
service brotherhoods, the trainmen and
conductors, for the purpose of renew
ing the present wage agreement, and
that substantial ascord was reached
before adjournment was taken. The
new agreement will be completed to-
day.
Executives Of the other railroads in
the Eastern group for the most part re-
iterated their determination to have
nothing to do with the settlement pro-
gram adopted in Chicago or .any other
settlement program involving negotia-
tions with the American Federation of
Labor unions. The Erie, which was one
Of the railroads involved in the Balti-
more negotiations leading up to the
Chicago settlement, but which failed to
sign up with ffty-two roads adopting
that settlement, took an "open door" at
titude on the question. Its president,
Frederick D. Underwood. stated this to
be the position of his road but added
iAat $50 far no one has Knocked
Pennsylvania NoncommittaI
The only other Eastern railroad
which did not definitely declare itself
opposed to the Chicago settlement was
the Pennsylvania. General W ". At
terbury, vice-president in charge of op-
erations, said he preferred not to an
swer when asked whether his road
would stay out of the proposed settle.
nant, In explaining the position Of his
road, General Atsefbul sindieas s Hat
the Pennsylyansa still was putting its
faith in its company union. General
Asterbury said twas still holding to
its present "autonomou self-goyern-
ing organizatiop wherein all questions
afesettled within itself.a
III the face of this lack of encoIir-
agsment from railroad officials here
and the inflexible stand cf the "die
hard group, David Williams, secretary
Of the general strike committee, in
sisted that to-day's conference between
the strikers and President Smith of
the New York Central was not the only
conference at which settlement on the
basis Of the Chicago program would BE-
discussed. Mr.. Williams did not name
the other railroads which are supposed
to be ready to open negotiations with
the officials of the shopcrafts' unions
on their lines, but said that several
other such meetings had been arranged.
Such instructions as were issued by
President Bert M. Jewell of the shop
crafts unions and the general policies
commission following the session IN
onleago were sent direct to the fedora
lion chairman of the union on each Of
the railroads and not to the central
strike committee here In this way,
IS thought, negotiations between tho
strikers on the New York Central lines
we're conducted between President
emith OF the Central and A. C. Bowen,
CHAIRMAN OF the system federation,
without the participation of the local
strike committee.
Empowered to Settle
;, When Mr.. Bowen and the heads of
sne SIX craft unions of Central en-
pioyees meet with Mr.. Smith at the
1rsnd Central Terminal to-day they
VIII be empowered to negotiate a set
uement on the basis of the Chicago
program, although considerable doubt
s!hi exists as to the exact interpreta-
tlon T, OF some of its provisions.
lne question of restoring seniority
rights to the strikers seems to have
aeen left undecided President Under
s wood Of the Erie gave it as his opinion
.uat the men were to be taken back
a lhelr former classification. but with
wv the benefit of service records,
s9Sg.cn lr,1 would mean without seniority
ihis question is thought to be far
more important ON the Eastern rail-
a0ads than on the roads Of the South
ana west, where, because of the limited
,Spor supply, few mechanics have been
ssa:a Uss1:alned TO take the places of the
ssssiikers; assii With practically all of the
;;ssekers Jobs still open the railroads
sa. ID o'her sections of The country could
,,:.l. "sn agree TO the return of seniority
s''xiieges, whereas on the Eastern
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