Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-07-28
Tentative Proposals Draft
ed at Conference Between
President and Union
Heads
ARMISTICE PROBABLE
Seniority Issue Sole Re-
naming Bar-Lea0ers
Decide to Extend Stay
In Washington

Washington, July 2S.-Tentative
proposals for the settlement of the
railroad shopmen's strike were drawn
up yesterday after a series of con-
ferences between President Harding
and labor leaders headed by B. NJ.
Jewell, Of the shipments union.
Il was understood that the suggest
ed plan for 5ettlement-details of
which were withheld by those parti-
cipating in its formulation-were
submitted later to executives of the
railroads.
The settlement proposals apparent
ly had reference to the seniority is
sue. which il was generally agreed,
was the sole remaining bar to conclu-
sion of the railroad war, or at least
of an armistice in the struggle.
Should the railroad executives ac-
cept the plans, it was said, rehear-
ing of issues which led to the strike
would be held before the Railroad
Labor Board and all other questions
left TO adjudication through such a
proceeding.
The labor union officials, through B.
VI. Jewell, president Of the railway
employees section of the American
Federation of Labor, declared they
could rot comment upon the substance
of their discussions with the Presi-
dent except that every point in the
strike controversy had been gone
over. ". II. Johnston, president Of the
International Association of Machi-
nists; J. A. Franklin, president of
the boilermakers: VI. F. Ryan, presi-
dent of the carmen; Timothy Healy,
president Of the stationary firemen
and oilers; James Burns, vice-presi-
dent of the sheet metal workers. and
Edward Evans, vice-president of the
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers,
were in two meetings with Mr.. Jewell
and the President, the last OF which
did not break up until nearly 6 o'clock.
The labor leaders refused to COM
ment on their conference at the
White House further than TO say
that they had covered every phase
Of the situation.
A considerable number of railroads
have been willing to return strikers
their seniority positions in considera-
tion Of a general calling off Of the
strike, but others. including the
Pennsylvania system and roads in the
Southwest, flatly have refused to do
so declaring that it meant dismis-
sal of men employed to take the
strikers places and demotion of men
who remained in service when others
went out
The position of the union heads
who met with the President yester-
dav was understood to be that all the
railroads must concede the seniority
point accepting the return Of all the
strikers. 1t was asserted that the pro-
position of calling off the strike or
der. even though all but two or three
major roads yielded on seniority,
had not been discussed This left the
intimation that President Harding
would bring pressure upon the execu-
tives Of those lines as part of the
strike settlement endeavor
The whole seniority question has
arisen since the strike was called, it
was pointed out. A cut in wages maG
effective July ! under an arbitra-
ton award of the Labor Board was
the only question on which the men
walked out, and this would be accept
ed in the contemplated return to work
subject only to a rehearing which
might be granted
The Importance attributed TO the
seniority issue at yesterdays meet
ings was connected by some obser-
vers with the stand known to have
been taken by certain of President
Harding's Cabinet advisers, who are
said to have uregd that he use every
Influence to have the railroads re-
consider their refusal to restore sem
iority rights to strikers.
With the strikers back and the
transportation machine again in nor
nal motion. these advisers have ar
gued, the other issues in the cOntro-
versy could ard probably would be
left to arbitration.
Labor participants to the Presi-
dents conference on the railroad
strike had the impression that Presi-
dent Harding intended to persuade
railroad executives to yield on the
seniority point rather than to use
any fCrcible means.