Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-14
PRESIDENT awaits
!. RAIL UNION ACTION
Big Four Brotherhoods Hold
( Key to Complicated Situa-
ton, Is Belief
PEACE HOPES NOT BRIGHT

whether it would attempt further com
promise, developments today in the raj
strike settlement parley lie in th
hands of the union organizations, WHIT
still have before them the proposal O
the President that the Railroad Labo
Board be permitted to settle the ques
tion of seniority.
In many quarters II was believed th'
real key TO the situation was held b,
the four railway brotherhoods. and tha
the attitude of their officials and RI,
extent Of their support would determin,
in a large measure the action Of tn,
striking crafts.
Though 1t had been said the striking
shopmen's chiefs had prepared n state
ment rejecting the Presidents pro.
posal, the fact this statement had beer
withheld from publication up to the
time the conferences Of union leaders
assembled this morning was taken as
an indication they might reconsider.
Decision May BE Delayed
There IL also a possibility that nc
decision will be forthcoming for n day
or so. and In this connection some
Significance was attached to the state
ment of L. f. Sheppard. president oi
the Order Of Railway Conductors. last
night. that the four brotherhood chair
men would continue to act as COM
mittee of mediation. "until Congress
gets back into session"
The executives answer TO President
Harding was submitted by I. De Witt
Cuyler, chairman of the Association Of
Railway Executives, who. with others
of the committee representing the exec =
utives, was in long conference with
the President yesterday.
In a statement later, Mr.. Cuyler said
az
York Friday had with practical una
nimity responded favorably to the Pres
ident's call
Mr.. Cuyler's statement follows:
At the meeting of the railroads in
New York on Friday. August II,
1922. they lthe executives) with
practical unan!mity responded favor
ably to the Presldent's call that the
seniority question be left 10 the
United States Railroad Labor Board.
Approximately three quarters Of
the mileage responded favorably TO his
call that all striking shop craftsmen
be re employed and the balance that
all such strikers be re- employed as
far as practicable.
The resolutions acted on by the
meeting have been submitted to the
President.
leNt OF heSDiutlOuS ENutptVu
The following resolutions were
adopted by roads having a mileage
of 15l .S24 miles:
.'The telegram of the President,
dated August :, 1922, having been
considered, and in response to his
call to the carriers and the striking
workmen. the following resolutions
were adopted:
Resolved that the proposal Of the
President TO the striking workmen to
return to work, and 10 the carriers
TO assign them 10 work, leaving the
disputed question of seniority 10 the
Labor Board under the provisions Of
the Transportation Act for decision,
be accepted, understanding as we do
that such acceptance involves no sur
render of the principles with respect
TO seniority adopted by the carriers
on August ]. 1922. but recognizes
that the proposal Of the President in
yokes the jurisdiction of the Labor
Board under the Transportation Act
10 pass upon the relative seniority of
those loyal employees who have re-
NAMED at work. and those new en-
ployes. who have since accepted serv-
i've (the right of both of which classes
to seniority we feel bound in justice
to defend before the Labor Boardl
with the strikers who may re-entcr
the service under the proposal of the
President.
therefore be It further resolved:
"(a) All former employees who
have not been guilty Of proven vio-
lence against the employees or prop
erty of the railroad shall be assigned
to their former positions where va
cancics exist.
"(b) Where the positions they
formerly held have been filled other
employment Of the same class will be
found for such employees as have com
mitted no acts of proven violence
against the employees or the property
Of the railroad,
"(cD If after these mnn have
been assigned questions of seniority
arise with them which cannot he
settled locally, they will b. referred
TO the United States Railroad Labor
Board for review.
Further resolved. That the strike
Is TO be called off. with the under
standing and agreement by all parties
that no intimidation nor oppression
shall be praCtired or permitted as
against any of the empoyps who have
remained or have taken service. or
against those who may return to
service under the proposal Of the
President
Report Of Minority
The following minority report was
supported by roads having mileage Of
1922 miles
''Resolvcd, That the chairman be
authorized to reply to the Presidents
telegram of August I, that the rail-
roads represented at this meeting are
willing that:
"(a) All former employees who have
not been guilty of violence against
the employees or the property of the
railroads shall be assigned to their
former positions where vacancies
exist.
"(b) If after these men have been
assigned, questions of their seniority
arise which cannot be settled locally,
they shall be referred TO the United
States Railroad Labor Board for
review.
'(c) In agreeing to submit ques-
tions of seniority as provided above
TO the United States Railroad Labor
Board for review, II is understood
that neither the railroads nor the
employees shall be deprived of the
right of review by the courts of such
decisions If they affect agreements in
existence between any railroad and
its employees.
TAXI STONED IN RAIL STRIKE
AA-It-I ~.L