Evening star., 1922-08-13
Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance.
Maryland and Virginia.
All Other States.
Awaiting an Agreement.

1t may be assumed, from the alb
sence of any distinct statements from
either side regarding the conferences
held yesterday at the White House
on the railroad strike situation, that
the case is still hopeful for q settle
ment. Though it is understood that
the union leaders have decided not to
accept the Presidents latest pro-
posal, including the submission of the
seniority rights question to the Labor
Board, and that the railroad executives
have accepted with condition that is
but little different from the response
rendered TO the first proposal, no ac-
tual deadlock is evident. At any rate,
no announcement is made of failure
To agree upon the basis of temporary
settlement.
Thus. while there is lack of assur-
ance that peace will be restored, there
is ground for hope that further con-
situations and conferences will bring
about an adjustment. The railroad
executives committee will meet again
Meanwhile the union leaders are re-
framing from any comment upon the
situation, thus evidencing a sincere
disposition to permit matters to be
brought to the point of agreement.
In this crisis the hope of the people
is that the Presidents good offices Will
avail to bring together these two ele-
ments, so essential in conjunction to
the welfare of the country. If the rail-
road executives want to force fight,
for the purpose of settling the ques-
lion OF the right of the workers TO quit
employment and yet retain their
seniority status upon unemployment,
they can undoubtedly bring about
such a conflict. If, on the other hand.
they want to resume full operations.
with no risk Of a spreading of the
strike, they can reach that point by
a reasonable yielding upon the senior
ity question, by reference to the Labor
Beard.
The unions on their side cannot con-
sistently refuse to have this question
thus referred. If they do refuse, 1T
will be for the sake of fight, the
shopmen depending upon the other
railroad crafts for support through
sympathetic strikes. But such fight
will not settle the question definitely
Of permanently, unless in the last
adjustment a law is enacted which
will establish the seniority rule or de-
stroy it.
But will a law serve in such case?
A law now commands the submission
OF disputes over wages and working
conditions to board. The findings
of that board have been rejected by
matter of shop contracts and the shop
craftsmen in the matter OF wages.
The President now asks both sides to
submit to that authority, in good faith
and. without reservations. Only the
seniority matter remains at issue. Is
there any guarantee that if strike
of the other crafts is called. or if those
crafts strike without orders, and the
TRANSFORMATION system is tied up for a
time, to be united by government in
tervention and possibly by govern
rnent operation. a law enacted to meet
this point for future purposes will be
any more scrupulcusly obeyed than
that which now commands submis-
sion of wage and working questions
to the Labor Board?
IL either side wants a fight to a fin
ish on this issue, doubtless it can pre-
cipitate it. But the end Of that fight
Wilt be unsatisfactory in the net re-
suits to both sides. The labor unions
cannot force government ownership
and operation, nor can the railroad
companies force the disbandment Of
the unions. The consequence Of a
conflict involving all the crafts and
compelling government Intervention
for the purpose Of keeping the trains
moving to supply the people with the
necessities of life, would be doubtless
a more rigid regulation Of both the
corporations and the unions, in the
interest of the public welfare.
Mutuality of interest dictates sub
mission by both sides. Only small
per cent of the people are members
of unions and a smaller per cent are
stockholders in railroads. But all of
the people are users of the railroads,
are. dependent upon them for their
daily supplies, and they are entitled in
this crisis to the ultimate considera-
ton. No pride Of position, no rigid
adherence to a stock precept, no ad-
vocacy Of special interest should now
control either side, to the exclusion
of the rights Of the public, for which,
indeed, the two now contending fac
tors are after all but trustees.
xLk k-.y-