New-York tribune., 1922-08-03
Considers Steps for Get.
ting Men to Return TO
Work, Under Promise
of Complete Protection
ConsuIts Lodge;
Hoover Reports
Washington Mystifed by
Shift in Attitude Among
Executives on Seniority

bACtutiNNo VII ~ Nhapi'h
From The Trfbure's WashiH9foa Bsreos
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2.-With
full responsibility for the failure ot
President Harding's proposals 20 end
the strike Of railroad shopmon rest
inc on the executives who yesterday
rejected the proposals, the President
to-day waa considering plans for
either renewing the negotiation
through some loophole left by the
executives reply, or taking steps %
get the strikers back 10 their jobs
with promises Of the fullest protcc-
ton for the men who desire 10 work.
President Harding was in confer
ence with Secretary Of Commerce
Hoover, who reported 70 him on the
trend Of the discussion at yester-
days meeting Of the executives In
New York. He also called in Sena-
tor Lodge, Republican leader in tho
Senate. What plans were discussed
for action in the emergency were not
indicated after the conference, a.
though Secretary Hoover oyprcsse.
the opinion that no immediate step
would be taken by the Administra
tion.
Determined 10 Move Coal
The government IS concentrating ~
getting commerce moved over the rail-
roads and getting coal cug ont Of tha
ground, and FOR the time being Is max
ing no move 20 settle either the rail-
road or the coal strikes.
That Is tho situation, with Admin.
istration officials still IN mere or losl
OF a daze from the fat and utter re-
lection by the executives Of the Hard
ing plan.
complete lack Of UNDER landing be-
tween ths Administration and Nessri.
Cuyler and A'terbury, Of the railroad
executives. Washington IS also mys.
titled over the distortion % The real
meaning Of Harding,s eo-c ''d com
promise plan, especially th- undef'
standing about the t.lilrty phase-
the phase which put J., 9n the rocks
seemed 10 be the same Do Washington
Chicago and Cincinnati.
Cabinet members and Senators wlo
had talked with the President and with
tho railroad executives told ncwspaper
men repeatedly that the President
idea Tor settling the seniority question
was 20 have the old workers who had
remained or the Jobs placed az the TOP
Of the list, with the returning stuKets
next, and the new men placed az 'h'
bottom, but all retained.
The President. II was said TO-DAY
nrobably did not give Cuylor and ~
terbury a clear idea Of what hi'
LANGUAGE was really 10 be on this
question. especially as the Prcsldeht
and Secretary Hoover both insiste
that the seniority issue was not o.
vi,al inheritance. and. therefore, u rs
tbought they may have CLOSED oytf
this polnt IN their first discussion wlih
the rail executives.
Changed Attitude in Conference
Another theory advanced here to-day
was that when the executives met IN
New York Il was discovered that man.
OF their strong men, partieul4tlg
Robert s. Lovett, were set ag.INss
Welding on the seniority issue Up 70
tbat time. IL IS suggested, Cuyler ana
Atterbury perhaps thought compro-
misc might be reached, In view OF tne
ro,ional emergency and the demand o.
tho President that the railroads settle
the issue. Certainly some of the Presi'
| Jcrt's,adyisers came away from a con-
versation with Mr.. Cuyler with the
| ,dea t1at the latte To-ld not oppose
/ the suggestion.
On reaching Il e meeting, however
ard finding the Western railroad pres
/ dents opposed 20 any compromise,
IL suggested that perhaps those VINO
had favored yielding agreed TO present
n unanimous front against compromise
| 10 the government, to the public ana 70
the strikers. .,.
not hermit his name 20 be used, made
the following comments on the situa'
! tion to-day: -
"The rail strike was caused by The
pailroad Labor Board reducing the
wages Of the men.
"The strikers have agreed 20 60 back
M the reduced wage and further abide
tv the decisions ~ the board.
"Now comes this collateral issue OF
seniority. which was not thought OF
when the strike was called. You can
make numerous arguments pro and
con on this subject, but am told that
railroad strikes In the past have al
ways ended by the men going back 70
work at their old places.
Would Compel Settlement
PERSONALLY, feel very strongly that
the movement OF food and fuel should
not be interrupted in any way. J think
there should be a law that would pre-
vent the possibility Of a strike that
would stop. this movement. There
should be some method Of settling dis
putes between employers and employ
ees without resorting 10 strike
against public safety, such as this one
is. | don't think this should be per-
mtted az all"
Asked II there was any feeling ,nat
the answer OF the executives WAS not
final, but implied sparring for time, he
replied;
"I believe the railroad executives
wan. 20 settle the strike, and I believe
they think this Is the way 70 do H."
He also said that public opinion r.