The evening world., 1922-08-17

They held a preliminary meeting
this morning and put their proposi.
tions in shape for presentation to the
executives this afterneon. Mr.. stons
said they had not adopted q eut-snd-
dried programme but would take mat
ters as they came up.
While the conference was IA down
town the leaders Of the sixteen rail-
road unions engaged in work not di-
rectly associated with the running Of
trains were waiting informally at the
Hotel Woodstock in West 4sd Street
for possible call to take part in the
deliberations or for news Of the result.
The tone Of the comment of these
leaders was a bit belligerent. 1t was
plain they had directed the brother
hood mediators to firmly insist that IL
the railroads agree to take the
strikers back the seniority rights of
those who went out must be restored.
The seniority matter, in fact, ap-
peared to be the only issue about
which difference might arise. Sew
eral compromise agreements have been
formulated by both sides. The pre-
dominating element In the committee
representing the railroad executives
OF the hard boiled" variety that han
held out against any compromise but,
in view OF the statement issued yes
terday by the Interstate Commerce
Commission that 40 per cent. of the
| locomotives in the United States re-
| quire repairs. 1t was assumed by union
observers that even the hard boiled''
railroad presidents might lean toward
conciliation.
Union executives who assembled at
the Woodstock Hotel were:
J. A. Franklin, President of the
Eoilermakers; Martin f. Ryan. Presi-
dent Of the Carmen; James Burns,
Vice President OF the Sheet Metal
Workers: Edward Evans, Vice Presi-
dent OF the Electrical Workers: Timo-
thy Healy. President OF the Firemen
and Oilers: w. d. Helth. President
of the Sgnalmen; Edward Manion,
President Of the Telegraphers: Z. F.
Cradle, President OF the Maintenance
of Way Workers. and Richard Dee,
Vice President of the Railroad and
Steamship Clerks.
Bert NJ. Jewell. President OF the
Railway Employees Division OF the
American Federation OF Labor and
National Director OF the shipments
strike, Joined the gathering this after
noon, coming from Washington.
President William II. Johnston OF
the nach.nists was in touch with
other leaders but remained in Wash
ington to watch Congressional devel-
opments and report them to his as
sociates here.
The brotherhood mediators are not
empowered to enter into a settlement
lugreement with the railroad eXecu-
tives. They are expected to reach a
basis OF understanding which must be
submitted to the Hotel Woodstock
group for ratification or rejection. II
is understood that the shipments rep
reseutatives will refuse to agree to
terms which do not guarantee rein
statement Of all strikers who wish to
return to work.
The committee OF tsa executives,
who met the labor delegates to-day,
includes T. de Witt Cuyler. Chair
man: Alfred =, Thorn, Vice Chairman
and general counsel; Howard Elliot.
Chairman OF the NORTH IN Pacific
RHlawy Company; II y Holden,
Pr, sident OF the Chicago Burlington
and Quincy Railroad Company; Julius
Kruttschnitt. Chairman OF the South
ern Pacific lines; w. L Mapother,
President OF the Louisville and Nash
Vile Railroad Company; W. W. At.