The New York herald., 1922-07-26
'LOREE SAYS ORDER
EFFECTS NO CHANGE
Thinks Situation Remains
the Same and Strike
Leader Agrees.
100000 CARS ARE IDLE
Conference President Sees
No Difficulty in Trans
port of Coal.
FIGURES ARE ASSAILED
Shopmen's Chairman Says In
feriOr Service Proves Rail-
roads Are Suffering.

mems strike refused last night to COM
ment on the declaration yesterday of
the Interstate Commerce Commission
that an emergency existed in the rail
and coal strikes, or on the priority or
ders issued by the commission.
David Williams. secretary of the
central strike committee. was told Of
the declaration by the commission at
strike headquarters Yesterday after
noon by q reporter for The New YORK
HERALD. There is nothing to say" he
announced. because the matter does
not affect us. Our strike will con-
tinuc."
Other members Of the strike COM
mittee followed Secretary Williams's
example and refused to talk, although
it was apparent that the national
emergency declaration took them by
surprise.
L. +. Loree, president Of the Del
aware and Hudson and chairman of the
Eastern presidents conference, said
last night:
Il don't think the Interstate Com
merce Commissions order will affect
the railroad situation any. There are
nearly 100000 idle cars throughout the
country. so there will be no difficulty
supplying coal cars
Mr.. Loree added that the situation
in so far as the roads are concerned is
improving. particularly in the West. In
the East he said, there aTe $4,000 shop
men working forty-eight hours week,
as against 14E.ooc working forty hours
a week before the strike.
Dowd Attacks Figures.
John J. Dowd. chairman of the strike
committee, challenged the figures issued
yesterday by Mr.. Loree regarding the
number Of men at work. Mr.. Loree had
said that the Eastern railroads were
recruited up to so per cent. Of their
normal force. s.ssi
That statement is misleading
backflre against the efforts of the Gov
ernment. backed by an alarmed public
to settle the strike" said Mr. Dowd. "As
picture of present shop conditions Mr.
Loree's figures are absolutely worth
less. Less than 20 per cent. Of the nor
NAL number of men are now In the
shops In this district. Ten per cent. are
guards hired from detective agencies
merely to protect property. who do not
even pretend to do repair work. To in
clude them as shop workers is a gross
deceit The other 10 per cent. are most
Of them unskilled workers. The few
mechanics among them have been
trat IT, la. II
no experience in railroad work. Less
than per cent. of the present shop
forces are returned strikers
THE efficiency of shops in the metro
politan district Is now at less than 10
per cent. The disorganization of traffic
and the strenuous efforts of the execu-
tives to get their engines repaired In
outside plants prove it. If Mr.. Loree's
figures were correct railroad service
wound have already improved.
'In the face Of a 10 per cent. shop
force stands the need for force at
least $50 per cent greater than on
July /. The repair work alone that has
accumulated in the shops since the strike
requires a much larger force than the
| roads employed before the strike began"
Rejects Peace Talk.
There was a revival yesterday of the
flood Of conflicting statements regarding
actual conditions on the roads John
! G. Walber, secretary of the bureau oi
information Of the Eastern railroads
said that one-third of the shopmen now
at work are returned strikers who have
taken new Jobs under assumed names
This was denied by the strike leaders
who maintain that the defections have
| not exceeded 2 per cent.
| A more emphatic tone than has beer
noticeable In the statements Of the rail.
road heads during the last week wa.
observed. As a result Of the conference
of Eastern presidents on Monday 9
statement In the form of an advertise
ment setting forth the attitude of tn,
executives on the seniority question 1,
being published to-day throughout tn,
Eastern district. 1t sets forth the
determination OF the roads to stand by
the men who have been loyal through.
out the strike and indicates the polio,
the Eastern roads intend to pursue. The
announcement which appears to-day IL
the advertising pages OF THE New YoRE
HERALD did not bring any evidence o.
comfort to the strike committee wher
they learned its import.
I'm the present mood Nof our Eastern
roads. and of the Northwestern roads
from what ! heard. there will be M
negotiated settlement under present con.
ditions." Mr.. Walber said.
The Erie's Attitude.
President Frederick u. Underwood OF
the Eric reflected the attitude OF another
group. He said:
I'VE are going TO settle this with
our own men and IL they don't wan,
TO do II that way we are willing to
walt What's mores we can last Just a
little longer than the men can, and
don't forget IT.
Our men can Join any old union they
want to- or they can join none at all
We don't care. There's no union thai
counts with us except the Erie union,
and that's not union. / don't know
a thing about these new shop unions
and / don't care. All ! want Of a mar
is days work"
The Pennsylvania last night issued q
statement that said:
"The most favorable situation thai
has existed on the Pennsylvania systen
at any time since the shopmen's strike
began was disclosed In to-day's reports
from all regions Of the system. Con.
sistent and satisfactory gains were
| shown in the forces OF every region
The total number OF shopmen actually
working on the entire system Is 42.S36
an Increase as compared with n weet
ago of 1851. An average weekday
force under normal conditions woulc
be approximately $1,000"