New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-28
Railroads Here
Slow to Yield
On Seniority
Spokesman Asserts Conces-
sion Would Intrench in
Shops Men Whose Policy
Made Struggle Necessary
Main Issue Left Unsettled
Question Whether Carriers
or Men Should Dictate
Methods Declared Vital

There we're no indications here yes
terday that anything but the strongest
kind Of government pressure can Ia
duee the great majority Of the Eastern
carriers 10 consent 20 a settlement with
their striking shopmsn on the mere
basis Of an agreement on the PROPOSE
lions over which the walk-out was or
de-ed. John G. Walber. spokesman
FOR all the roads. pointed out that these
were the occasion rather than the
cause for the present struggle. The
real issue. he declared. was whether
the roads or the unions were 20 run
the shops. and any peace which did not
settle this point in favor Of the roads
would be considered a defeat in com
pany circles.
To restore seniority 20 the strikers
he said. would be 20 intrench in the
repair forces the very men whose al
legged interference with the manage
ment has caused the militant attitude
Of the carriers. II these men get back
their original standing the roads would
be compelled, in the event Of cut, 10
lay Of the new men who are willing 20
back the carriers ideas on how the
shops should be run before they could
turn out any Of the strikers. And even
employees who have stuck 20 the roads
throughout the walk-out would have
10 be released before the veterans in
the union forces could be touched.
Mr.. Walber's view was that the roads
cannot afford 70 have a personnel which
will back the A. F. Of L. demands as 70
methods Of stimulating production
such as piecework; a personnel which
has been convinced by agitators that
the companies cannot be trusted;
personnel which IL constantly agrees
sive about what il can get, without any
particular interest in improved methods
and increased production. He declared
the roads in this section had built the
nucleus Of a working loyal force This
month and that their attitude yester-
day morning was firm determination
TO hang on to II.
All this Mr. Walber said before after
noon reports came in to the effect that
the government was considering bring
ing pressure 10 bear on the carriers "a
send the immediate questions back to
the Labor Board and take back the
strikers. he refused to make any com
ment on these dispatches.
The customary statements from tho
carriers yesterday expressed as firm
stand as OF any time since July /, and
even the strike leaders derived littlc
comfort from the consent given By
General W. W Atterbury, vice-presi
/ dent Of the Pennsylvania, 20 submit
/ ting the seniority issue 10 the decision
/ OF the carriers employees. They ex
pressed the feeling that the executive
referred % the men now working ~
/ the Pennsylvania shops when he SPOKE
| Of employees and declared that these
men certainly would not support The
demands Of the strikers. They backe,
/ the assertion by repeating that thu
| Pennsylvania company union mel
were mere tools Of the management.
Rail Men Stand Firm
No company official would speak 70
quotation on the passage IN Presidcn
/ Harding's telegram TO the Railway I'm
ployees' Publicity Association suggest
ing a rChearing Of the shopmen's cas-
/ by the Labor Board. but IN general dis
cussion Of the situation the official
we're inclined TO ignore the passag
pointedly. They declared that 80 IA
they had accepted the boards decision
as the final word and that they *
pected the government 20 do the sam
/ thing. From a broker in close tOuc
with company sentiment the imprcssio
was gained that all that most Of tn
/ roads here want is free hand to hgh
out the question Of shop control.
The New Haven reported norma
| traffic and an increase Of 100 IN 10
I shop strength. and subscribed 90 a.
/ advertisement which read:
Let there be no misunderstandin
about this. No man who has left III
service on strike will be re-employe
except az a new man, II at all, and n
/ qualified man now or hereafter EN-
/ ployed will be displaced 20 make roor
/ FOR returning strikers"
This was considered the most aggres
/ sive procurement on the seniOrit
issue yet given out and was taken a
one more sign that the roads in thi
section have no intention Of settling.