Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-26

road executives experienced IN matter
such as would naturally come befor,
a committee of that kind.
Would Forget the Past"
"The railway presidents also pro
posed that if an agreement could b.
reached along lines substantially as in
dicated above, they would endeavor tt
carry out the agreement in a spirit o.
Cancellation and sincere purpose Il
effect a general settlement of all mat
tiers in controversy resulting from III,
strike. The railway executives wer,
certain that, while making substantial
concessions to the men on strike, suci
a settlement as proposed would in NJ
way sacrifice the right or privileges oi
loyal men now employed by the com
panies represented.
THE committee of m~ediators worked
helpfully with the carriers in an eff.
fort to bring about an acceptable ad.
justment.
THE railway executives who took
part in the conferences sincerely regret
that the representatives of striking EN-
ployes, although definitely assured the
substance of all that they asked for,
were unwilling to agree to a settle
ment except under conditions which
the railway executives were unwilling
and unable to accept.
ut is difficult to imagine any fairer
basis of compromise than the one
developed at yesterdays conference,
and agreed to by the carriers repre-
sented. 1t must be assumed therefore,
that the present controversy cannot be
settled by that method"
Reply of Shopmen
The shopmen in their reply to the
executives said:
I'VE have the proposal of terms
which are suggested as a basis on
which only part of the men on strike on
certain railroads may return TO work.
Consideration of a proposal of this
nature must necessarily embrace & seri-
Gus consideration of causes Of existing
conditions and all matters leading TO
such conditions, as well as the effect of
any steps taken this time as they will
affect the welfare of the men involved
and the peace, stability and efficiency
of the railroad industry.
THE strIne occurred because of CON
ditions into.erable to the men. coupled
with excessive reduction in wages. In
accepting the proposal of Presid ent
Harding of July 81 of this year, the
representatives of the men involved
agreed to resumption of work without
Ia settlement of either Of the w re-
naming issues that were originally in
volved in the difficulty. namely those
concerning wages and working condi-
tons. In agreeing to resume work and
to leave these matters 20 the railroad
labor board for r~e-hearing, the men
made all the concessions that should be
required or expected of them in the in
terest of peace in the industry, the
other issue involved in the strike, that
Of contracting out of shops and work
having been declared illegal by the rail
road labor board and all other govern
ment authorities that considered the
matter.
THE question of the standing of the
men on strike as railroad employees was
not an issue until injected by the rail
road homogeneous and only became an
issue when the railroad arrangements
refused the terms of agreement pro
posed by President Harding.
Say Guarantee Lacking
ITO accpet or submit for acceptance
the present proposal that carries no
visible guarantee OR assurance of the
protection of the rights or standing of
the men as railroad employees held BY
them prior to the strike and earned bv
years of continuous and efficient serv-
ice would mean that we ask the men on
than one-third of the roads affect
ed to return to work, yielding to every
demand of railroad arrangements, re-
only such standing as employees
as might be granted by mauagements
after their return or later determined
by the commission provided for in the
proposition and that employees of less
than one-third the mileage now in
return to work under such con-
ditions as would leave the remaining
employees of more than two-thirds of
ment, and by returning to work would
ness of the strike, as of today.
Even on the roads represented. the
proposition does not contemplate the
return of all men on strike. 1t OILY
includes those under the heading of
shop crafts, while 1t is known and
that many men other than those
coming under this designation are at
present on strike.
There is nc intent on our part to
the integrity of officials Of
now comforting. but it aust be
to all that action can be taken
,nly on matters already defined in anv
If the propositions made. Our first
must be the interest of all men /
involved. We, the representatives Of
men on strike, cannot recommnd 70
he men their acceptance of this PROMO
without deliberately and con-
sacrificing the interests of the
men involved.
1--WE fully appreciate the help. inter
st and efforts of the transportation
,rganizations' executives in their ca
,acity as mediators, and we will regret
t if compelled to report to our people
hat their splendid efforts failed be-
ause of the arbitrary position taken
" the carriers to produce some clear
oncrete proposition that we could pre-
emit to and conscientiously recommend
0 the men we represent for accept