The New York herald., 1922-07-27
SENIORITY NOW CRUX
OF RAILROAD STRIKE
Men Say Lines Should Not
Defer Peace by Refusing
One Concession.
ROADS MORE OPTIMISTIC
Freight Moving More Easily
and Repair Shops Keeping
More to Normal.
ROADS MORE OPTIMISTIC

The railroad shopmen's controversy
appeared yesterday to have settled
down to question Of restoration Of
seniority rights for the strikers. For
the first time since the strike began.
on July /. there were visible indica-
tions that settlement of this ques-
ton would see the men back on their
jobs. There were. however, no dis
cernible evidences of compromise
The announcement. sponsored in this
district by the New York Central, and
in New England and the West by
other lines. setting forth the attitude
of the road executives on the senior
ity question drew this statement from
John ]. Dowd, chairman of the Gen.
trail strike committee:
The shopcraft workers in the met
ropolitan district maintain that the
railroad executives should not hold up
strike settlement by a denial of
seniority rights
There were other developments tend
ing to support the belief held by some
that a settlement was not far off.
strfkebreakers Quit.
1t was reported last night that only
thirty-five strikebreakers out of force
of several hundred remained at work In
the New York Central's electric repair
shops at Harmon. The walkout of the
strikebreakers is said to have followed
differences with the company over
wages. hours and meals. At the Grand
Central Terminal, however, 1t was said
that nothing whatever had been heard
of the walkout and that, whatever the
condition at Harmon, II was not re-
Elected In conditions at the terminal. Al
the dispatcher's office 1t was said that
three men could attend to the changing
OF locomotives at Harmon during the
night hours
Dispatcher's sheet showed three trains
marked late. They were No. 20. the
New Yorker, due at Q o'clock and re-
ported forty-five minute late Train No.
1854. from Saratoga and Montreal. due
at S:35, an hour and twenty minutes
late, and No 40 of the Michigan Cen
tral. due at Z o'clock and reported two
hours and thirty-five minutes late
Roads Tell of Improvement.
Virtually all the important roads
touching New York issued statements.
with figures. indicating an improved
condition on their lines. They included
the Erie, Pennsylvania. New York Gen.
trail. Lackawanna. New Haven and
Central Railroad Of New Jersey.
The Kingsland IN. j. shops OF the
Lackawanna, where heavy repairs are
done on locomotives and which have
been closed since the beginning OF the
strike, were reopened. said an announce
ment. with from 35 to 70 per cent. of
the normal force, including some strik-
ers who returned as new men,
The negotiations between the employees
OF the Baltimore and Ohio and the road
management continued ir baltimore. al
though strike leaders, including Bert NJ
Jewell in Chicago, had ridiculed TIA
suggestion of a separate agreement, or
single settlement.
An independent dispute has arisen
between shop foremen and assistant
foremen. who were not included in tho
strike call. and the strikers over the
question OF seniority. according to road
officials. John @. Walber, secretary OF
the Bureau Of Information OF the East
ern Railroads, said the determination
OF the road managements to stand by
their position In the cancellation OF
strikers seniority has been 60 some
extent the result Of the mems own atti-
tude He said the strikers had started
drive against the foremen and their
assistants who did not voluntarily quit.
and which carried with II the warning:
when we get back we'll get you"
Still another evidence OF dIssatisfac-
ton in the strikers ranks was seen In
announcement OF an athletic meet 60 be
held In Jersey City week from to-