The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-08-11
DIVISION OF OPINION COMES
UPBETWEEN RAIL EXECUTIVES
OVER PRESIDENTS PROPOSALS

Washington today to consider PreSi-
dent Harding's latest proposals for
termination of the shopcrafts fedora
tion strike. The general conference
was sought by shopcraft leaders i'm
mediately on receipt of the second
White House effort at mediation and
so far as is known the shopcraft exec
utives who have been here several
days have taken no steps as yet to-
ward framing their answer.
1t has been repeatedly emphasized
by B. M. Jewell, spokesman for the
allied shop unions, that the general
conference was desired in an advisory
way and that extension of the strike
among other railroad unions was not
expected to result from today's meet
ing Since the conference was called,
however, members of some rail unions
at various points have refused, with
the sanction Of the union heads, to
work under conditions prevailing due
to the shopmen's strike. Protest
walkouts against the use of troops
and armed guards and also against
alleged deterioration of rolling stock
resulted and it appeared certain that
would be given much attention beyond
the general conference when it went
into session.
Early action by the shopmen toward
framing their answer to Mr.. Harding's
proposal that the seniority dispute be
referred to the railroad labor board
for settlement was not expected. La.
Dor officials thought it would take a
day or two for the conference to go
over the ground with the shopmen. 1t
seemed likely that the mems answer
would not reach President Harding be-
fore next week.
Railroad executives also tackled the
governments new proposal today at
their meeting. There was no advance
notice as to. when their reply would
be forthcoming. The managements
were first, by several days, to answer
the presidents last suggestion for a
settlement and their fiat rejection of
his proposals as to seniority were gen.
orally known before the shopmen's ac-
ceptance was transmitted. Strike lead
ers here have not admitted, however,
that their action on the new govern
ment proposal will be deferred until
the rail executives had made known
their position.
Since the presidents new and final
suggestion was made known the shop
craft leaders here have freely predict
ed that it would be rejected, although
declaring themselves without power to
commit the unions on such PROPOSE
tion. The executive heads of the
unions in the shopcraft federation who
have power to act haYe engaged in
conferences here preparatory to the
general gathering today, and nothing
has been said to alter the impression
that rejection is a foregone conclusion,
only the form of the answer to the
President being in doubt.
Meanwhile administration leaders
have given no inkling as to the course
the government will follow if it again
faces rejection of its efforts to bring
about voluntary termination of the
strike. Congress will be in full ses-
sion next week, ready, as the Presi-
dent desired, to take up the pSpblem
should the administration find it ex-
pedient to seek emergency legislation,
but there is nothing to indicate that a
definite program has been or will be
prepared until the answers of both
sides reach the White House.