Evening star., 1922-09-08
RAIL PEACE MOVES
YELLED IN SECRECY,
BUT HOPE PERSISTS
Executives Deny knowledge
as Rumors Indicate Sep
arate Agreements.
WESTERN ROAD HEADS
TO MEET WITH WILLARD
Shops Reported Near Normal on
Many Lines, Officials Claiming
Shopmen Have Lost.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO. September S.-Perslstent
rumors of an impending peace or par
tial settlement of the railroad strike
continued here today without any
tangible foundation in the way OF
definite statements by rail heads or
union officials to substantiate the re-
ports.
In fact, most of the railroad execu-
tives who commented upon the ru-
mors denied knowledge OF new pro-
posals to end the strike. and union
leaders declined to lift the cloak OF
secrecy which appears to surround
the reported peace move.
Expressions of hope for separate
agreements with individual roads
were the most positive statements any
union leaders had made as the time
approached for Mondays meeting OF
the shop crafts policy committee. Ar
rangements for this meeting called
for a preliminary conference here to-
day between Bert NJ. Jewell. head OF
the striking shopmen and his execu-
tive council.
Jewell Served with Notice.
Mr.. Jewell, William H. Johnston.
president Of the International Asso-
citation of Machinists, and Martin F.
Ryan, president Of the International
Brotherhood of, Railway Carmen OF
America, arrived in >Chicago this
morning from the east and were serv-
ed with the notice of the temporary
injunction granted the government
last Friday.
The shopcraft leaders came to the
city for preliminary conference in
union policy committee of ninety
members on Monday. The policy COM
mittee, 1t has been reported, was ex-
pected to decide whether separate
agreements with the railroads would
be approved Previously union lead
ers have rejected individual agree
ments.
A meeting of several western rail-
way executives with Daniel willard,
president of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad, was expected to be neo,ne. nela mere
ment of the meeting was made, al
though 1t was understood the question
of reaching separate agreements with
the striking railroad shop crafts would
be considered
Mr.. willard arrived in the midst Of
the floating peace rumors. but the
subject of his conferences with other
railway executives was not disclosed:
officials of the New York Central
Lines and the Chicago and Northwest
ern, with whom Mr.. Willard was re-
ported to have conferred. denied that
any settlement proposals had been
even tentatively accepted.
wilIard's second Visit.
Mr.. winard's present visit to Chi
cago is the second he had made here
within the last week. He returned to
Baltimore last Friday, and was re-
ported to have conferred there with
Mr.. Jewell at a secret conference, but
rumors of such a meeting were
denied.
While waiting here for the return
from New York Of Samuel NJ. FELTON,.
president of the Chicago Great West
ern and chairman of the western rail
Iations, Mr.. willard also conferred
with Hale Holden, president OF the
Burlington; James E. German, presi-
dent of the Rock Island lines; H. E.
Ryram. president of the Chicago MIL
waukee mad st. Paul. and Charles
Donnelly, president of the Northern
Pacific.
VIII Consider Policy.
Supporting the denials of railway
presidents that there had been any
new peace negotiations, was a state
ment by J. P. Noonan. chief of the
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers,
who said at Washington that there
were no settlement discussions pro-
ceeding with any of the railroads at
this time, although there might be
some in the future" The purpose of
the shop crafts policy committee
meeting was to consider the general
strike policy and the Daugherty in
junction, he said.
The policy meeting Is called for
the same time that Judge Wilkerson
is due to hear Attorney General
Daugherty's application to make the
governments strike injunction per-
manent.
Many shops Near Normal.
Several roads reported their shops
10 be operating on an almost normal
basis, declaring the shopmen had lost
their strike.
Meanwhile strike conditions through
out the country remained generally
quiet.
Mr.. Jewell and all officials of the
six shop crafts on strike were re-
ported to have voluntarily cut their
own union salaries in half until
termination of the strike. The sal
ary reductions were made, 1t was said.
at the suggestion 70 Mr.. Jewell that
the leaders should help bear the bur-
den of the rank and file Of the unions.
Aaan rnAIAI nEnAllFn