New-York tribune., 1922-07-26
Erie Insists ON
Own Settlement
Despite Rebuff
Refusal of Shopmen 10 Ne.
gotiate Excep. Through
National Organization Ex-
cites Contrary Opinions
Made Issue of Endurance
We Can Outwait Them Says
Underwood: Unions Hold
Cost Will Be Enormous

The Erie's announcement yesterday
that IL had offered TO negotiate with
It's striking shopnlen last week, only
to be met with the reply that the
men would not discuss terms except
through their national organization,
started babel of conjecture Yesterday
concerning the success of the walkout
! in this section. Some saw IN it added
evidence that the unions are right in
saying that the carriers whom they
denounce as the Loree- Atterbury
group--the Pennsylvania, Lehigh Val
| ley, Lackawanna, and Delaware & Hud-
son---,e eventually will be isolated in their
determination TO fight to the exhaus-
tiom point. Others laid emphasis on
the roads refusal to deal with the ma
tionaI organization, while others point
ed to the attitude Of the Erie strikers
as proof that the unions still feel
strong enough to stick together in an
effort to pile up outside pressure
against the carriers least likely to feel
tie full effect CT the walk-out or their
own lines.
One thing was certain, The Erie
turned its back on the company union
movement by expressing complete in
difference to the possibility of the for
nation of such an organization on its
Hines and by recognizing the striking
A. r. l.. system federation. T. D. I'm
derwood, president Of the company. de-
ciagsd that the Erie was determined to
settle with it's own men. He added
that if the men were unwilling to ne
Sotiate now the company could out
wait them. and furnished figures show
ing that the road was making rapid
progress in building up its repair
forces and train service to support his
assertion.
Roads Policy Declared Costly
On the eight to the end question,
David williams, of the Central Strike
Committee here, frankly admitted that
the roads could outlast the men if they
were willing to sacrifice everything
else ''to break the unions; but he de
clared that they could not do so with
out letting their equipment go to rack
and ruin and crippling industry.
There's nothing on earth that can
bring road TO terms when it adopts
that attitude" he said, "but | doubt if
many Of them take it. We have shown
them the alternative which faces them
| and | think most of them will want to
settle soon"
! Mr.. Williams's statement was made
/ in the face of setback received by
/ the strikers earlier in the day when the
New York Central. considered by the
unions one OF the roads most likely to
abandon the fight to exhaustion. per
| rnitted its name to be used under an
advertisement drawn UP by the Local
| executives Of ten roads Monday tt
explain ard indorse The carriers stanc
on the seniority issue. On the other
| hand, Mr. Williams spoke after the
unions had issued a fat denial OF The
assertions made by those same execu
tives that their shop forces are nov
recruited up to so per cent of thei1
normal strength and on the basis o.
a report Of transportation delays anc
equipment impairment in this sectior
indicating a constantly increasing tie
up here.
0ne-hfth Manned, Say Unions
The unions declared that even in.
cluding guards the shop forces were
only fifth of what they we're June 80
and Mr. Wllliams's comment was tha
If sucn a condition could be created
around an Industrial center like New
York conditions must be much wors,
J everywhere else. The strikers char
acterized the company statement o.