The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-08-13
BOTH PART|ES|N
 RAILROAD STRIKE
 REPLY ID HARDING
President Continues Efforts to Settle Question-No Imme- diate Legislative Action
 Is Anticipated
Bx AssocIated Prees

Washington, August 12.--Contin- uation of President Harding's at- tempt to mediate the railroad strike situation resulted today in personal conferences between administration leaders and the chosen committee of all the railroad executives and off cials of railroad labor organizations
 TheS text of responses from both sides to President Harding's offer of a basis for a settlement, and all statements which might widen the breach between railroad age- ments and their striking employees are withheld from publication, and both railroad union chiefs and the executives committee were held here for further conference with the Pres ident possibly tomorrow.
 It was understood that the Presi- dent purposed to maintain negotia- tions between the two groups and to keep them separate while certain propositions were raised and consid- : cred. until basis of possible agree ment developed.
 Legislative Appeal Abandoned
 Meanwhile, it became evident the administration had dropped any in- tention it may have held of appeal ing to Congress for legislation that might bear on the subject. Senators close to the President were given to understand no request for con gressional action would be forthcom- ing, and that no presidential message to Congress affecting the strike would be transmitted or delivered.
 The department of justice took cognizance today of the action of train service employees of the Atchi- son, Topeka and Saanta Fe railroad. which had led to the "stalling" of important through trains by ordering the federal district attorney in south ern California to investigate whether such abandonment" of trains con- stituted a monopoly to hamper inter state commerce. If sufficient evi- dence was found the Attorney Gen. eral ordered it presented to grand jury for finding of an indictment.
 Unions Reject Plan
 
 The Presidents determination to push for a mediation of the diff culty was first disclosed during double conferences at the executive offices. Nine heads of rail leaders or organizations not on strike took to the White House statements of their own policy toward the strike. Prior to their arrival the response of the seven unions on strike in the railroad service had been delivered at the White House. It constituted, union officers said, a rejection ot the Presidents suggestion that the men go back to work and leave their seniority status to be fixed by the railroad labor board.
 The President received the labor group, and after more than an hour s discussion in which Senator Cum merce committee, and Secretaries Hoover and Davis participated. asked them to step into the cabinet room while he received T. Dewitt Cuyler. chairman of the Association of Rail- road Executives, and other spokes- men, who bore with them what has been understood to be a conditional acceptance of the same settlement offer
 The first intimation of the request to continue negotiations came when the union group. through L. E. Shep- pard, announced to newspaper men that all the prepared statements and
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