The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-08-24
Three-Hour Conference

Three-Hour Conference
New York, Aug. 24.-Represen-
tatives of score of railroads and
the Big Five brotherhood chiefs,
conferred for three hours today
on the possibility of separate
agreements between the individ-
ual lines and their striking shop
men,. The meeting adjourned at
1920 this afternoon without any
announcement as to whether or
not another session would be held
later in the afternoon.
The brotherhood leaders spent
the lunch period with the leaders
of the shopcrafts unions while the
rail executives remained at the
Yale Club. 1t was understood,
however, that the conferences
would be resumed this afternoon.
Individual Settlements Suggested
New York, Aug. 24.-(By the Asso-
ciated Press. 1.-The Big Five brother
hood chiefs and representatives of a
score of railroads today prepared to
thresh out the possibility of individual
lines settling with their striking shop
men.
This possibility was raised by lead
ers of the running trades, appearing
as mediators, at a conference yester-
day with the entire membership of the
Association of Railway Executives,
which rejected the proposal of the
brotherhood men that the rail heads
yield on the disputed question of Sc
niority rights.
Encouraged by a belief that indi-
vidual settlement might yet prove the
basis for peace, the Big Five leaders
conferred until midnight with heads
of a score or more of executives who
when the general conference ad-
journed expressed a willingness to
continue negotiations although reaf-
firming their common stand against
the unions seniority proposals.
Then, when the executives left
agreeing to renew their peace efforts
today tn Big Five returned to their
headquarters where they remained
until L: SIS a. M, closeted with B. M.
Jewell, president Of the striking
crafts, and II other heads of station
airy trades. What developed at this
session was not disclosed.
Daniel Willard, spokesman for the
group of executives, had previously
Suounced they would meet the broth
food chiefs again early today, but
-out disclosing where or when the
session would take place. l was re-
ported unofficially, however, that the
! Yale club, scene of yesterdays major
developments, again would be the seat
of negotiations.
The exact status of the renewed ne
gotiations remained thismorning some
clouded.
Both the executives who conferred
last night with the brotherhood men
and those who prepared to leave for
their homes early in the evening unit
ed in asserting the negotiations were
continued for the purpose of testing
the sincerity OF the mediators in sug-
costing the possibility of separate set.
Elements. II is announced, however,
that any individual settlement would
be made in the light of the under.
standing on seniority reached at the
general session Of the Association OF
Railway Executives.
At the same time certain shop
crafts leaders were quoted as assert
ing that the brotherhoods had moi
been authorized to suggest any indi
vidual settlements.
This proposal, 1t was reported, was
made by L. e. Sheppard, head of the
conductors, when the mediators ap
peared before the entire body of ex
ecutives. AS quoted by one rail ex
ecutive, he asserted that If any size
able number of roads showed an in
clination to accept the final proposal
of the brotherhoods. the shop crafts
would drop their "all for one and one
for ALI policy. which precluded any
but a nationwide agreement.
The failure of majority of the
roads to participate in negotiations
which the so-called minority contln
ued late last night, was ascribed tC
two reasons,
One-Their refusal to recognize'thS
seniority demands of the strikers al