Evening journal., 1922-08-12
Rail CHIEFS,
SHOP CRAFT
LEADERS ARE
NEAR PEACE
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men so back to work pending the
adjustment OF the seniority question
by the labor board is expected to be
equally Objectionable. Their formal
answer may be made this afternoon.
after the railroad executives present
their own reply to Harding at the
White House.
Meanwhile. the 16 railroad labor
organizations will issue a statement
20 the public. outlining the position
of railroad labor in the present con-
troversy.
The White House announced that
the shopmen's leaders would call on
Mr.. Harding at 2.30 o'clock and the
executives representatives could
confer at 4.sO o'clock to present
formally their replies TO the execu-
tive proposal that the strike be end
ed by submitting the seniority ques-
tion to the Railroad Labor Board.
A series OF conferences was held
by President Harding at the White
House. First, Ben Hooper. chair
man Of the railway labor board.
called. He refused to divulge the
nature of strike subjects discussed.
As soon as he came out OF the ex-
ecutive chambers Secretaries
Hoover and Davis with Attorney
General Daugherty. went in.
Chairman Lasker Of the U. S.
Shipping Board. later Joined the
group.
Hooper, Hoover. Davis and
Daugherty, and possibly Senator
Cummins. chairman of the Senate
Interstate Commerce Commission.
will be present when the President
meets the union leaders at 2.30 p.
m, il was learned. However no ar
rangements have been made for
them to be present at the rail eXecu-
tives' conference later in the day.
The President was expected 10
confer with other Congressional
leaders today on the steps to be
taken by Congress next week in the
rail emergency. Senator Cummins'
chairman Of the Interstate Com
merce Committee. spent two hours
with Mr.. Harding last night. Cum
minis has drafted a bill giving the
President broad powers to take over
the railroads when he deems IL
necessary.
The shop crafts leaders. after de-
Gliding against fiat rejection. agreed |
on a reply suggesting modification of
the proposal it was learned. Unless
a last minute change in plans Is
made, the strikers will urge that;
1. Guarantees be given that the
railroad executives would abide by
the decisions Of the Railway Labor
Board.
2. The men to stay out on strike
pending adjustment Of the seniority
question by the board.
8. Positive assurance be given
that the board will approach the
seniority question with an open
mind and without prejudice"
Bert NJ Jewell and other shop
crafts leaders called attention to the
labor Board ruling on July 3, which
{ is charged outlawed the unions
nd stripped the strikers OF their
eniority rights. In view OF this rrl-
ng they contend the board is hard
y in position to approach the sub
act of seniority rights with an un-
iased viewpoint.
The answer of the shop crafts
aaders will have the sanction OF the ,
aaders OF the 16 unions. including
he powerful big brotherhoods. and
here sound the voice of the entire
ody Of organized railroad labor. q
A second communication will be n
ddressed to Mr.. Harding and the e
,ublic by the general conference of {
which Warren G. Stone, president OF Il
he Brotherhood OF Locomotive en- s
ineers IS chairman. This communi- q
alton Is expected to support the
hop crafts leaders on the seniority {,
question; point 10 the growing 4
hangers OF transportation through v
Of equipment; justify o
he growing strike OF engineers, fire. q
nen and other skilled workers
.gainst defective equipment and the r
presence Of armed guards, and fin 5
lily call upon the government TO r
iettle the strike 10 avoid complete
of transportation. ?
MEDIDIAN. Miss. Aug. - (Unit-
d Press) .-Wa.kout OF trainmen =
pread 10 the South today when ap-
so men members of the
witchmen's union quit work on the
ards OF the Southern Railway nerc.
lIeging they were being harassed by
rmed guards.
Passenger traffic was uninter-
upted.
Freight shipments were being :
andled under extremely difficult
)nditions. It was stated.