The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-08-16
Peace Dickering
In Rail Dispute
all For Naught.
Continued ON Page Icy
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright by The IntelliSencer)

Washington. Aug. 15-The so-called
acceptance BY the railroad executives
of President Harding's proposal that
strikers be reinstated while seniority
disputes are left 10 the Uu!teI tSates
railroad board. has been discovered to
be no substantial acceptance after all.
Although the White House was under
tho impression at first that the making
OF majority and minority report by
the rail executives was OF no particular
Importance on the theory that the ac-
tion OF the majority bound the minority
the opposite Is true.
President aHrding has been informed
that the minority among the ratrwai
executives. which includes such BIZ: sys-
tens as the Pennsylvania, will not be
, bound by tho action OF the other roads
and will 60 their own way.
Stumbling Block Comes Up.
This d!scouragement has cast 4 dam
Ter or what might otherwise nave pro-
duced an unqualified measure OF sup
port for the rail executives The reply
Of the majority made a favorable i'm
preston on Mr.. Harding. who thought
the proposal fair and equitable. Now
he has learned that the large number OF
strikers. who work for the minority,
would not be reinstated This IA the
stumbling block OF tho present situation
and Is the main reason for the flat re-
fus9l given by tho strikers TO the Pres
. id"nt's proposal.
In other words the strikers waited 70
see whether the rail executives would
REroe TO take back those who had gone
out or strike and when Il became anpar-
ert that no general agreement was nos
sible. they placed before Mr.. Harding
their rejection OF his plan. Significant
ly enough. this communication has not
vet teen made public which Indicates
that II the rail executives are persuaded
To modify their position. or rather 10
include all the roads In their PROPOSAL
the labor leaders will be inclined TO
change their attitude as we'll
Fears Felt Of rie-up.
T"s Intervention by the brotherhood
ch!"ts has brought the situation 70 a
climax. Most everybody IN Washington
Is fearful OF general tie-up OF trans
portat!on ~ the labor men are goaded
TOO FAR Just as the seniority issue
arose after the strike had begun on
qut.e another basis. namely. A refusal
10 accept wage decision. so Is IN, sen
!orl,r problem developing some academic
ergun ents which are making 'n- broth
HrhooG leaders apprchens!ve OF their
own rights.
THdc ed. while tho tra!rmen engineers
ard conductors are not directly tnvoly-
Cd n the controversy. their spokcsnen
hav" discovered that n runda mer,sy is.
sue has arisen and will be settled m IN.
Ehopnen s'rtke which will affect labor
Or the nations transportation systems
ro- som" tine 70 come The question
Of whether a man who quites hiz lob
leaves the eTnp'o" or the railroad in a
legal sens" or whether hn IS st!lI in rho
roads employ. but merely In the sane
Etatu3 rs 4 suspended nm1iove would
he n tho road took the initiative. has
become the cruN oS ,he dispute The
labor leaders ins'st that the striker ,s
still In the roads emplov-f!rst he.
cause he has not been dismissed. ~.
second. has not given notice or hrs IN.
tsnt!on permanently TO remain out Of
the roads employ.
Ir u should be d"CiGnf-and the
United States labor boards decisions
have complicated Tn" matter-tho. a
striker Is no longer the empIove Of a
road when he goes out on a strike thrn
tte brotherhood chiefs claim ,hta ths
railroad labor board has I'm ctrect M,
TITO operation an a7ti-str!kA r-o,.isron
a. powr-rul as n congress had enacted
o-a The truth is congress did have
such provision under cons Iteration
and ths senate passed II. but Il was