The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-09-08

ported in the group OF executives
which are ready to make settle
ment with the strikers.
Second, of the northern railroads,
the New York Central is consider
ing the proposal, though denials
are being made that a decision has
besn reached.
Third, the basis Of settlement is
almost exactly that which was sug-
gested by Danial Willard, president
Of the Baltimore & Ohio, and other
executives after the brotherhood
chiefs failed to mediate in New
York. 1t will be recalled that sep
arate peace efforts were made at
that time but were rejected by B.
N. Jewell, leader OF the shopmen.
Fourth, all the roads who agree
/ to the plan will take back the
strikers before Oct. / under the
tirst and second clauses Of Presi-
dent Harding's first proposal, name
ly, that the railroad labor boards
decisions on wages be accepted and
lawsuits on both sides be with
drawn. AS for seniority, an effort
will be made by the roads to give
the strikers their jobs back wher-'
ever vacancies still exist, and If
there are no vacancies in those
particular jobs, then positions Of
equal pay will be given the strik-
ers. The seniority question will be
left to a board of adjustment in
each case Of three men on each
side, and II there is a deadlock, the
railroad labor board will be ASKED
to assume jurisdiction and decide
the disputed points.
Prime Movers.
The prime movers in these infor-
NAL negotiations are Dan willard
Of the Baltimore & Ohio and B. M.
Jewell, who have arranged the
whole business go that the meetings
in Chicago in the next three days
will really determine how many
roads are ready to accept the
scheme. The situation Is somewhat
analogous TO that which brought
an end to the soft coal strike when
John L. Lewis succeeded in per-
suading enough coal operators to
sign the peaceaagreement 1T Cleve-
land. In that case, however, the
coal operators were more or less
compelled by competitive condi-
tons to fall In line after q power
full group of coal operators had
signed the agreement. The rail
roads who % not wish to accept
the Jewell-Willard plan, however,
are in a different position. Roads
like the Pennsylvania, for instance
feel that they can get along with
out taking the strikers back and
that they can hold out for. . much
more definite surrender on the part
Of their former employees SO that
the lesson will be firmly implanted
on the minds OF all those who shall
dare to strike ON the mighty Penn
sylvaniA again.
In other words, the railroads who
feel the pinch are settling the
strike. This means that on the
whole transportation would be ma
terially improved and the coal car
rying roads are expected to fall in
line one after the other in ratifying
the agreements made in Chicago
/, Omclal Warrington believes the
Chicago negotiations mean the be.
ginning Of the end OF the strike and
the word passed around here from
both labor and railroad sources
vo,ald eeAm To indicate A much
! though the 'irreconcilable" or 'sdie
hard element" In the railroad grouE
are not showing any signs OF q
change OF position. What they will
do after the Chicago peA1e treaty
| is signed ID another question, but
II Il probable that the 10000 miles
will be gradually Increased so tina,
very few eystefnB vii! remain on,
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