Evening star., 1922-08-14
AWAIT UNION MOVE
AS NEXT STEP TO
END RAIL STRIKE
Labor Heads Hold Another
Conference Without An
nouncing Intentions.
EXPECTED TO BREAK LONG
SILENCE ON CRISIS SOON
Leaders Call at Department of
Labor to Get Information"
Situation Little Changed.

By the Associated Press.
l.. Z. Sheppard, head OF the /.
Order Of Railroad Conductors, and
w. n. Doak, vice president OF the
Brotherhood of Trainmen, after . ,
two-hour conference today with
Secretary of Labor Davis, an
nounced that arrangements had
been made for another conference
late in the day between leaders Of
the non-strikinE rail unions and
President Harding.
Immediately upon adjournment OF
the morning session of the confer
ence Mr.. Sheppard and Mr.. Doak went
to the Department Of Labor for the
purpose. as they said, of getting in
formation"
Reply Held Final
The union leaders appeared to be
disposed to consider mediation at
tempts toward settlement Of the
strike to. be still in progress, al
though the railroad executives no
longer are participating and have
given to President Harding a re-
sponse to his last settlement pro-
posal which they hold is final
Whether any officials of the govern
ment were associated with the medi-
alton efforts which the ofncials OF
the four train service brotherhoods
declare they are making in the in
terest of the shop workers was not
Alfred p. Thorn. counsel for the AS
eociation Of Railway Executives.
conferred with President Harding
during the morning, but on leaving
the White House said that there was
no new developments 30 far ~ the
executives were concerned.
Union Move Awaited.
The executives having admitted
their conditional acceptance to
President Harding and departed and
with the government outwardiy
marking time without having indi-
Gated whether it would attempt
further compromise, developments to-
day in the rail strike settlement par
lev lay in the hands of the union
organizations who still had before
them the proposal of the President
that the Railroad Labor Board be per-
mitted to settle the question OF SEN
iority, the principal remaining bone
of contention in the dispute.
In many quarters IT was believed
the real key to the situation was held
by the four railway brotherhoods and
that the attitude Of their officials and
!! the extent of their support would
determine in large measure the
action of the striking crafts. Though
1t had been said the striking shop
mems chiefs had prepared a state
ment rejecting the Presidents pro-
posal the fact that this statement had
been withheld from publication up to
the time the conferences of union
leaders reassembled this morning
was taken as an indication there still
was a possibility they might recon-
slider.
Decision in Several Days.
There also was seen a possibility
that no decision would be forthcom-
| ing for a day or so. and in this con-
| nection some significance was attach
/ ed to the statement of l.. E. Sheppard.
! president of the Order of Railway
Conductors. last night that the four
| brotherhood chairmen would continue
to act as a committee of mediation
! until Congress gets back into ses-
! sion.'
The executives answer to President
| Harding was submitted by T. De Witt
Cuyler. chairman of the Association
of Railway Executives, who. with
others of the committee representing
|