The New York herald., 1922-08-20
Executives Vexed by Report
Strikers Will Go Back
Seniority Unimpaired.
PEACE GETS A SETBACK
Economic Necessity, However
May Force Quick Terms,
Dave Williams Declares.

Wednesday has been set as the day
on which the country's railroad execu-
tives will assemble and try again to
find way OF honorably ending a
strike with which both sides are sur
feited. The meeting will be held at
the Yale Club.
Many OF the executives appeared
yesterday to be vexed at what seemed
to them an attempt by union propa-
gandists to make it appear that the
roads were ready to surrender on the
main point at issue and by means of
a "gentlemen's agreement" take the
strikers back with seniority unim-
paired.
AS no such understanding was
reached in the conferences OF the ex-
ecutives' committee and the mediating
brotherhoods on Thursday and Friday
the railway presidents seem to feel
that their attitude has been misrepre-
sented by the unions and that the job
OF making peace has been made more
ticklish than ever. However. there is
feeling that whatever irritation ex-
lists is only temporary and that this
weeks meeting OF the 14s roads, to
be followed, presumably, by further
joint discussions. will actually bring
about settlement.
Says Necessity Dictates.
Meanwhile David williams. secretary
OF the central strike committee OF the
metropolitan district In which are $4,000
union strikers Of the shop crafts. took
advantage of a dull Saturday to say:
THE one big force which is debating
settlement OF the strike is economic
necessity. The negotiations between the
Big Five and the executives are merely
beating out the details. The bald fact
is that the railroads have not been able
to keep their equipment in repair with
unsssilled strike breakers. The result Is.
as the President said in his message of
yesterday, threatening the breakdown
OF transportation The strike must be
settled, that's all-and settled immedi-
ately."
Say Unions Violated Oath.
Railroad executives charge union
leaders with having violated e solemn
agreement" made In last weeks confer
ence, which provided that no details of
the discussion or suggested program
should be given to the newspapers. For
some reason which Is not yet clear 10
the initiated the negotiators wished to
carry on their meetings with an un-
wonted degree OF secrecy. despite the
standing this arrangement various re-
ports have been published. most Of which
were based on at least semi official in
formation. But a man in touch with the
conference said yesterday that there was
not zone iota of truth" in the proposed
plan of settlement as indicated by union
men on Friday night.
IF the union leaders," this person
said, ARE really endeavoring in good
faith TO bring about a settlement OF
the strike they are on the road to de-
feat their own ends by giving to the
strikers and the public any such mis-
information. which will only give the
strikers false hopes
Unions Haven't Budged.
There is no question that the unions
have not budged from their demand
for restoration OF all service rights upon
their return to work, whatever conces-
sions they are willing to make as to
the phrasing OF the demand. The rail-
way executives have repeatedly rejected
this proposal. but. unlike the unions,
have been willing to let the seniority
dispute go to the railroad labor board.
1t Is assumed that there has been some
change of attitude on the part OF the
unions or the executives which makes
II necessary for the executives COM
mittee TO take counsel with it's prin-
clpals the heads of all the its roads.
and that the meeting TO be held this
week has been called for this purpose.
But this meeting is not life or
death matter" the Informant said yes
terdsy. 1T Is a case of these men
getting together and trying TO find
common ground of action In a problem
that has many angles"
David williams. In summarizing a re-
Continued on Page Three.