The labor world., 1922-08-05

Lenders Conceded Much. -
The shopmen. went a long way to
meet President Harding's proposal Z
They were willing to re-submit the
wage question to the railroad labor
board. Nothing was said about shop
rules that have been taken away Z
from them. about the abolition Of
piece work or the contract system
The status of the men who refused
to- join the strike and remained at
work so far as their seniority rights
are concerned was to remain as it
was prior to TIE strike. All were to
be taken back and given the same
positions they had. without prejudice.
For the men to have yielded to the
terms of the railroads regarding
their seniority rights would have
jeapordized every man in the several
unions who has been active in the
strike. The rail executives know what
they are doing when they are max
ing their last bold stand on that
issue.
Throw Down Gauntlet.
The executives have thrown down
the gauntlet to the president. A. II.
Smith, president lof the New York
Central, the man who is said to have
crystallized the sentiment Of the rail
chiefs against Mr.. Harding's pro-
posal for peace, declared.
What we want the government
to- do is to let us alone, to let us set
tie the strike in our won way" This
is Interpreted as a bluff. The roads
want government Interference"
when they, are seeking help. They
weren't so chesty or so defiant when
they were supplicants at Washing
ton. for a guarantee provision in the
Esch- -Cummins' bill. They were as
tirnid as lambs ; a...sz--z7s. ~ ~
lsz While the railroad executives were
meeting In New York, the system
chairmen for the shop crafts we're
in session at Chicago. News reports
carried the information that they
were ready to accept the PRESIDENTS
peace plan without Qualification.
Z. Say They're Bluffing.>
The representatives Of the unions
did not seem concerned when they
were advised of the rejection by the
executives of the seniority proposal
dt President Harding. They rather
expected it, and they pointed out that
the rejection" was clothed in such
terms that it did not close the door
for further deliberations on the. SUBJ
ject. '-'S''@ .> ~
1.-THE door is not shut behind
them" one union representative said.
''They need time to work this thing
out. They are merely jockeying for
a good position, but they are going
to die hard" =. CIR
Messages were received at the Chi
cago meeting from shop craft unions
from every section of the country
protesting against the terms of Pres
ident- Harding's plan of settlement.
The Minneapolis shopmen wired
President Jewell to stand firm on q
strike settlement on the following
basis: @ -,a.,.s. E. s.. =
5. Men Still stand Pat.
Adjustment Of the piece work and
OF the farming out system.
The restoration OF time and a half
for overtime on Sundays and hoH-:
days. .@.. 80 ~ ST. &
The return OF all strikers with full
seniority rights. - :s:*. =
= The continuance Of the wage scale
prevailing at the time Of the walk
out on July r. ..sS .s.<
In the meantime. transportation Is
headed toward complete collapse
More men are quitting work and
suspensions Of freight and passen-
ger trains are reported daily in In
creasing number. n. -.
There has not been a break in the
ranks Of the strikers anywhere along
the battle line. ~ 81
Brides, threats and coercive tac-
ties Of the managers have complete
" failed. s.y,4 IS $50
Reports. from everywhere tell st
solidarity and continued additions to
the ranks OF the strikers. t45 $s8sss Z