The Washington herald., 1922-08-16
STRIKERS, In REPLY
TO HARDING, INSIST
.ONSENIORITY RIGHT
Declare Executives Seek
to Read Penalty Into
Transportation Act.
READY TO SETTLE
Statement Criticizes Attitude
OF Executives on
Situation.
READY TO SETTLE

In their reply TO the Presidents
latest peace proposal. made public
yesterday. officials Of the striking
shopmen's organizations declared
the strike could not be settled un-
til IL was agreed that all employees
on strike should return to work
with seniority and other rights un-
impaired. The reply addressed 10
the President under date OF August
II, said in part.
This strike cannot be. and no
other railroad strike has been.
settled until Il was agreed that all
employees on strike are to be re-
turned to work and to their former
positions with seniority and other
rights unimpaired.
Seniority was not and s not
now. by right an issue or a dis
pute in this strike. The authors
of the Transportation Act on many
occasions. have stated that there is
no penalty in the Transportation
Act against employees who strike
when an injustice is done through
decision Of the Railroad Labor
Board. Admittedly they have the
right TO strike: and. therefore. they
do not forfeit their standing A..
railroad employees. because they
strike. ANY other construction OF
the law would read into the trans
portation Act a penalty which "a
not contained therein.
Aequie.ced fn Terms.
'On August ?. we seouiesces ,n
the terms Of agreement which Won
declared to be just. fair and rea-
sonable. and We are willing now.
In the interest Of all concerned 80
settle the strike In accordance
with the terms OF that agreement.
we are. OF course. unable TO un-
oerstand why. after We had sc-
cepted your own terms OF agree
ment. you should now request us
10 accept proposal which is
directly in conflict with your for
mer proposed agreement.
Your latest proposal 10 i'm
practicable and would create a
chaotic condition. because Of the
undetermined seniority status Of
the employees.
Railroad employees are ever
mindful OF the public interest.
They have accepted your own terms
Of agreement, which called for no
sacrifices on the part OF the rail-
way executives. but which did re-
ouire that the employees make a
concession OF practically every is-
sue which brought about the
strike.
We have repeatedly called at
tention to the fact that the cam
paign against the organized railroad
employees was a part OF the general
open shop drive. and n press state
ments are correct. the managers OF
some OF the railroads the last few
days frankly admitted that they do
not desire at this time to settle the
strike. but hope to be permitted TO
continue their efforts to dssintegrate
the organizations OF railroad em-
ployes."
Crftfc1re Erecutfves' staDA. I
In making public this reply the
shopmen ssued a formal statement
crticixing the attitude OF the rail-
road executives.
The Association OF Railway En-,
ecutives has again. In its letter Of
August IL. declined TO accept the
Presidents proposition OF Aurustl
T." said the statement 1T has nos
even agreed TO permit all employees
now on strike TO return to work. .
The railroad managements ar-
parentiy intend TO be the court.
Judge and jury for the trial ana con-
viction OF those employees whom
they do not intend shall return %
work.