The New York herald., 1922-07-29
STRIKE IN FIFTH WEEK
Both Sides Eager to Hear.
Presidents Peace Proposal
Next Tuesday.
CARRIERS MEET MONDAY
Pennsylvania and Other Sys-
TENS Report Certain I'm
prOvement in Situation.


The railroad shopmen's strike enters
It's fifth week to-day with attention
of both sides directed toward the
meetings called by President Harding
for next Tuesday at Chicago and New
York. The Presidents suggestions for
a compromise of the points in dispute
will be presented simultaneously to
representatives of the shopmen in
Chicago and to the Association of Rail-
principal roads in the country. in New
York.
What the Presidents basis for set
tlement is will, of course, not be re-
vealed in advance. Both sides yester-
day took occasion. however. TO reit-
crate their positions, although this
was conceded to be nothing more than
a strategic maneuver. Possibility of
settlement depends upon the way both
sides approach the Presidential plan.
One thing that seemed certain last
night from the talk of both sides was
that the shopmen can hardly expect to
win any considerable proportion of
their protests against seven of the
specific working rules of the ma
tional agreement which form the
basis of their grievances. These have
to do with working conditions, over
time, objection to physical examina-
ton for applicants for employment
and other details.
Roads to Confer.
The issues and the length to which
the eastern carriers are willing to go
to effect a compromise will be discussed
at special meeting of the Eastern Pres
idents Conference called for next Mon
day afternoon at the Metropolitan Club,
Fifth avenue and Sixtieth street.
The course decided upon then is ex-
pected to have an important bearing on
the action at the larger meeting Tues
day, when the 14S executives constitute
ing the Association of Railway Execu-
tives VIII consider proposals to try to
settle the strike by granting their Sc
n.
L. DE Witt Cuyler. chairman of the
association, will lay before it the propo-
sition resulting from his conferences
with President Harding. Local railroad
executives surmise IL will include either
some form OF compromise on the senior
; ity issue or a request that the entire
dispute. embracing wage reduction. revi-
sion OF working rules and seniority be
sunnatted to the Railroad Labor Board.
The local railroad officers attitude
yesterday toward yielding on the senior
ity issue was one of strong opposition
and it is believed the majority OF the
eastern executives. who have declared
against restoring seniority rights to the
! strikers In violation of their promises 10
the old men who remained at work and
the new men taken on during the strike
; Will refuse to give way on that issue.
Compromise May BE Forced.
Railroad men conceded Yesterday tb,,
the circumstances point to an effort Ia
push the carriers into compromise on
seniority.
In a telegram sent last night to Bert
M Jewell, national head of the shou
crafts. by John J. Dowd and David
Williams. or the central strike commit
Tee, the situation from the strikers view
point was covered in generallties Mr..
Jeweii was urged in his negotiations to
make no settlement that would permit
the roads to carry on their 'un-Ameri-
can campaign against labor unionism
ana mona fide collective bargaining"
Ihe railroad executives, on tae other
nand, issued statements drawing atten-
ton to the original demands of the
strikers and the judgment of the United
states Railroad Labor Board. which the
men refuse to accept. that the rules and
working conditions fixed under the ma
tlonal agreement" put an unfair imposi-
tIon upon the shippers and consumers
of the United States. who must pay
the cost"
Ihe consensus of observers last night
seemed to be- as IL has been for
week, that a promise of restoration of
seniority would put 80 per cent of the
strikers back on their jobs. There was,
however, nothing to indicate that such
concession was even being considered
by the roads. some of which issued state
ments reflecting steadily improved con-
ditions. The Pennsylvania said:
Continued Improvement in the strike
situation throughout the Pennsylvania
system is shown I'm to-day's reports.
The number OF shopmen now working
has increased TO 44.097, gain for the
day of 399, and since week ago of
2.315i men. The Increase since July &,
the low water mark of the stike. has
been 5.S12.
THE rates OF pay for shop work es-
tsbiished on the Pennsylvania, under
the employee representation plan, are
proving attractive to an excellent class
of men and the company is finding
ample opportunity to take into It's serv-
Ice desirable employees in the places OF
those who abandoned their work"
The following telegram came from
G. N. Whitehead, chief operating officer
OF the Missouri. Kansas and Texas
Railway. st. Louis:
Traffic conditions on the Missouri.
Kansas and Texas lines continue to i'm
prove. We are employing mechanics
daily and have reached the point where
we can weed out the-undesirables, which
would naturally be included In any large
number of men newly recruited. We
are not only increasing the number OF
men, but adding TO efficiency Of our
organization at the same time. There
ere no embsrgoes in effect against any
class of traffic"