New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-23
Hooper's Visit to Harding
May Result in All
Sides Being Called to
Conference With Board
Jewell and Davis Confer
Unionist Attacks Owners
Stand Against Restora-
ton of Seniority Rights
By Gilman Parker

Mooseheart, Ill.
All sides tonight awaited the re-
.,rn N Chicago Of Ben W. Hooper,
| chairman Of the United States Rail-
road Labor Board, following his hve-
hour conference with President Hard
ing. 49,.
That the President made no state,
ment after the meeting was considered
/ here as signifying that he gave CHAR,
man Hooper and the Labor Board fuil
/ backing and that citations for repre-
/ sentatives Of both sides for hearing
~ the entire matter before the board
will soon be issued.
In some quarters the belief grew to-
dav that on the final outcome OF the
Labor Boards efforts for peace VIII
| depend the life Of the board ITSELF
/ with many railroad executives al
ready opposed 10 Il, this opinion was
/ further strengthened by statements IS
sued by the "Big -Four" brotherhoods
AZ Cleveland, attacking the board ana
calling for a return TO direct negoua-
/ tions. - ..
TO Mooseheart for a conference Win
Secretary Davis. a statement was is
/ sued over his signature here saying
]
vav Of a settlement: contracting out
~ work on the part Of the railroads
unwillingness OF the roads TO estab-
llish a national adjustment board, and
! the stand Of the executives agsint the
restoration Of seniority rights.
On only one subject, the restoration
Of seniority rights, is Mr.. Jewell mill
tant. His declaration on this was;
| "If the railway executives insist upon
using this suspension Of work, which
they forced upon the employees, as
an excuse for depriying them OF the
fruits Of lifelong, continuous, faithful
service. they will only give further cyl
dence OF the absolute necessity for the
| organized employees 10 fight 20 the
/ last ditch the conspiracy against theiI
/ fundamental rights and the general
welfare Of all men who live by labor.
Discussing seniority rights, Mr.. Jewell
said: =.
"The proposition to deprive men Of
seniority rights because Of suspense OF
work is utterly indefensible II the
facts are understood. Seniority rights
/ involve principally first the right Of
the senior employee TO be the last laid
/ OF in a reduction OF forcesi second.
/ the right OF the senior employee to
have first preference in selection for
vacancies in preferable Jobs.
Has Community Value
"The first right is Of great impor-
lance and has a large community value.
II results in encouraging permanent
employment, the building Of homes and
making Of useful citizens.
"Of course the railroads would
] u
MGR. more efficient employees, except
mat with seniority rights destroyed
their positions would be insecure and
the roads would be able TO weed out
those workers most active in protection
Of rights Ct their fellow employees.
"The purpose Of destroying seniority
rights is a vicious attack on the right
Of men 10 refuse to work under non
accountable conditions. The strike is
the last resort of any industrious man,
depending upon his labor for the sup
port Of himself and his dependents.
There has not been a strike upon the
American railways Of the proportion
cf the present one in a generation.
Yet the railway workers for twenty
wears prior 10 the war suffered in
crcasing hardships from low wages and
rising costs Of living.
"The responsibility for increasing
losses 70 the railroads, to the COM
munities they serve and to the wage
earners upon the railroads and else
where, through continuance OF the
present suspension Of work, rests now
plainly upon the association Of rail-
way executives, and particularly upon
+ that small, but dominating group, repf
resenting the New York banking inter
ests."
Another Sign Of Peace
Another sign Of peace produced in
the days developments was an an
nouncement that representatives Of the
1900 clerks. freight handlers and sta
ton employees Of the Chicago 4 North
western had effected settlement and
that their threatened strike would not
be carried into effect.
From Cincinnati came word that a
walk-out Of four thousand clerks on
the Big Four Railroad had been averted
BY the signing Of separate agreement
with the road on wages, working con-
ditions and the contracting out Of shop
work
The agreement re-establishcs vaca-
tions with pay, grants sick leave and
Saturday half holidays without wage
deductions. and also adjusts diferen-
tails in the pay Of employees at the
roads Chicago terminal. The clerks
agreed 10 remain at work under the
wage cutting decision Of the Labor
Board effective July /, with the IN
derstanding that an immediate request
will be submitted 20 che board foT in
creases in rates Of pay, and the man
agement has agreed TO waive their
rights 20 the rule providing for thirty
days notice before Il can be submitted"
The general ehairmen Of the clerks
organization for all roads will meet
here Monday, when, IL is expected, Z. H.
Fitzgerald, president Of the organiza-
ton, will be taken 20 task for sane
tioning strikes on the Chesapeake 4
Ohio, Norfolk & Western and else
where.
Fight Centers on Board
A move considered as OF Importance
20 the standing Of the Labor Board and
It's future, in view Of the reports that
the railroads are out 10 undermine IT,
came in dispatches from Cleveland.
which announced that the heads OF the
big -Four" train service brotherhoods
had Joined with Samuel Gompers, pres
dent Of the American Federation Of
Labor, in the hue and cry against the
board. The big -Four" went on record
az favoring a return 10 direct dealing
between the roads and the employees
in forming agreements and adjusting
their differences, declaring the present
situation could not have occurred had
this practice been in effect. The big
Four made the provision. however,
that there be a revival Of plans for a
government board OF mediation ana