Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-08-11

New York, Aug. 1l.--Heads of As
American roads today appointed :
committee to recommend q reply to
President Harding's latest proposal for
settlement OF the nationwide rail
strike. IL was not indicated by those
leaving the conference chamber what
would be the nature Of the reply to
the administration suggestion that
the matter of seniority should be left
to the railroad board.
r Dewitt gCuyiery head of the asso-
citation of executives. was named ex-
of!icio head Of the committee, with
Judge Lovett Of the Union Pacific as
chairman The membership was re.
ported to be approximately the same
as that which rejected Mr., Harding s
first proposal.
Washington Aug. 11.-Heads of the
II railroad labor organizations, in
cluding those not on strike considered
President Harding's latest strike set
tlement proposal for more thin two
hours today without reaching any de-
made by the men on strike.
Grand Chief Stone, Of the brother
hood of engineers who presided at the
session which adjourned shortly af-
ternoon. said another meeting would
be held later in the day, but that
probably no answer would be drawn
up before tomorrow.
Chairman Cumrnins of the senate in
terstate commerce committee conced-
ed today that legislation was under
consideration by republican senators
which would empower the president
to take over the railroads If trans
portation became paralyzed. He de-
: MED, however, that Ile had been in
structed by President Harding to draft
such bill.
President Harding and his cabinet
went into session at the same time the
union leaders assembled and the rail
strike foremost in the cabinet discus
sicns.
Haley Fiske, president of the Metro
politan Life Insurance company, which
is large investor in railroad securi-
ties, went before the conference Of
railroad executives called to act on
President Harding's proposal shortly
after noon today. 1t was reported he
carried an important message to th=
executives from financial interests.
All Traffic Endangered.
Chicago, Aug 11.-(A P)-Serious
threats to traffic by refusal of train
men to move trains at points where
troops are on guard; renewed out
breaks of violence resulting in sew
eral deaths and the possibility Of
walkouts by maintenance of way men
on various roads marked the progress
of the rail strike as railroad heads
and union leaders gathered for confer
ences today to separately consider
President Harrings proposal for end
ing the strike.
Members of the Big Four transporta-
tion brotherhoods on whom train
movements depend were authorized
by their chiefs 70 suspend work if the
trainmen consider strike conditions
and the presefce of soldier at termin-
ais and junction points unbearable.
Western divisions of the Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe were threatened
with tie-up of trans-continental
trains by refusal or engineers firemen,
conductors and trainmen to operate
trains by refusal of engineers, firemen,
along the line where outbreaks occur
red earlier in the strike.
At other centers thruout the coun-
try similar situations threatened.
Switchmen joined the trainmen in
their protests against working under
guard and the situation on the Santa
Fe at Needles, Barstow and other
California points was farther aggra.
waited when the entire yard force at
Fresno left its post, the men notify
ing the company they would refuse to
return until armed guards were re
moved. Conferences between Santa
Fe officials and union leaders were
held following joint meetings of "Big
Four" brotherhood men and altho nc
trains had been annulled early today