Evening star., 1922-07-31
CHIEFS GATHERING
FOR RAIL PAR[EY
Union Leaders Expect Men
to Be Back at Work Be-
fore Week Is Ended.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated PfesS.
CHICAGO, July 31.-Strike leaders
were arriving from all parts of the
! country today for Tuesdays meeting
called to consider President Harding's
plan for a settlement of the railway
shopmen's strike, and hopes were ex-
pressed that the men would be back
at work before the end of the week.
The position Of the striking shop
employees was expressed by A. O..
Wharton, labor member of the United
States Railroad Labor Board. who de-
clared:
IF either the railroad executives
meeting in New York Tuesday or the
shopcrafts' policy committee meeting
in Chicago should reject Mr.. Hard
ing's peace proposal the group that
rejects it would face full RESPONSE
bility for continuance of the railroad
strike and all that might result there
from"
The union leaders, however, ex-
pressed the belief that the peace plan
would meet with the strongest possi-
BILE opposition from railroad execu-
tives attending Tuesdays meeting in
New York at the call of T. De Witt
Cuyler. They expressed the belief
that the Presidents plan would be ac-
struggle. based on the refusal of
many roads to consent to the restora-
ton of seniority privileges to the
Strikers.
Agree on Outlines.
A member Of the labor board as
serted, however, that the general out
to last week at conferences between
President Harding and Mr.. Cuyler and
Bert NJ. Jewell, head of the striking
shopmen.
IF peace had not been in sight on
both Sides" he declared. neither
would have consented to the separate
meeting to consider a peace proposal
submitted by the President of the
United States. because neither could
afford to be placed in the position be-
fore the public of bearing the respon-
sibility for a continuation of the
walkout through rejecting the Presi-
dents plan.
.'The seniority issue, which arose
after the beginning of the strike" he
declared, was not as formidable as it
appeared at first sight" He asserted
that a satisfactory solution of the diff
ficulty which would fully protect the
, TlSHLS VI lhC anu Tie IcW
men and yet would yield full justice
to those who by remaining at work
had helped the nations commerce
moving would be found.
Disorders Fall on.
One of the plans under considera-
ton. he said. would return pension
privileges and seniority rights to the
strikers. but would rank them on the
shop list below the men who remained
at work, but ahead Of the new men
who had been taken on during the
emergency, the new men to receive
the rank to which they were entitled
to by length Of actual service. He
said that this would not conflict with
any promises made to new employees
and would be in line with settlements
reached in other railway strikes.
In railway circles. 1t was asserted
that any settlement would insist on
return to work by the men under
the reduced wages put into effect by
the labor board on July l.. pending a
rehearing. The question Of national
or regional adjustment boards. 1t was
said, might be put before Congress,
while the roads would yieid on the
main grievance at issue by agreeing
to the abolfshment of outside con-
tracing for shop work.
Disorders in the strike showed a
marked falling OF Sunday. Three
men exchanged fifty shots with state
guardsmen at Denison. Tex, In the
most serious outbreak reported over
the Sabbath. No one was injured.