The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-08-12
UNIONS REJECT
HARDING PLAN
TO END STRIKE
Officials of Seven Rail Or
ganizations on Strike Have
Told President Proposal |
Unacceptable.
NOT TO REQUEST LAWS
lRv Associated Press

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12.-Heads Of
seven railroad labor organizations now
on strike were declared by one of the
chief officials today, after a final con-
ference, to have decided TO reject COM
pletely the last strike settlement pro-
posal put forward by President Hard
ing.
The striking unions, in a written re-
sponse sent to the White House, were
said by the official to- have told the
president they could not call off the
strike unless a guarantee was given
that all of their men would be rein
stated in service with seniority rights
unimpaired.
The president had proposed the Sc
niority status of the returning striker
be left to the adjudication of the rail-
road labor board
President Harding was said by ad-
ministration advisers to have aban-
doned temporarily at least his plan for
asking legislation of congress to deal
with the rail strike situation.
Acceptance Factor
road executives of the presidents lat
est proposal was declared to have been
! the controlling factor in the ~ esident's S
! decision regarding Legislation.
| In view of the executives attitude,
the president. according to advisers
who conferred with him last night, was
said to have believed that any legis-
| lation now by congress was unneces-
sary.
! Mr. Harding, 1t was said, while
! changing his plan to address congress
on the strike situation upon the return
lof the house membership next week,
still desired to have a large member
! ship of the house in attendance in case
the railroad strike should take a more
! untoward turn.
The developments of yesterday,
/ however, were said to have caused the
! president to drop his plans for a meet
! ing of congress next week and his plan
! to appear to make a request for legis-
! lation.
Await Text Of Reply
Whether the government would re
gard the action of the railroad execu
tives as "an acceptance" of the presi
dents plan in view OF the conditions
/ attached remained to be determined
when the text of the reply had been
! studied. Press forecasts of the condi
tions fixed by the rail heads were tax
en- in some administration quarters as
attacking the basis of the president:
plan. but authorized comment was
! lacking.
Pending actual presentation of the
replies of both sides at the White
House over night developments in tht
protest walkout movement among the
train service brotherhoods indicated
that this phase of the problem nigh
overshadow soon the direct effect o
the shop strike itself. The cabine
had much information on the subjec
at hand when it met yesterday bu
press reports brought in new advice:
every hour.
Protest Troops
\ A majority of the walkouts reported
were in protest against the employ
ment of troops and armed guards il
connection with the shop strike. Th'
federal government is concerned onl.
so far as deputy mar5hals at various
points are classed as armed guards
There are no federal troops on strik'
J duty, National Guard under orders O
governors being the only militar.
force employed thus far.
; Nevertheless it was authoritative.
stated for the administration yesteI
, day that no strike of any characte
, would prevent the government fror
directing its agencies to protect lif
, and property where necessary. b
} yond that broad assertion of govern
mental purpose, no comment on tn
iDrotest Walkout situation was avail
able in administration circles.