New-York tribune., 1922-08-15
Depart to Continue Recruit
ing Shop Forces; Loree
Puts Number at Work
Now as 60 P. C.. Normal
s'Big ~ Threats Ignored
Manufacturers Wo~rie q
and Fear Living Costs
VIII Soar During Fall

peace NEGOTIATIONS, executives Oh tne
various roads throughout the country
returned to their Offices yesterday and
resumed plans for rebuilding their
shop forces, which they hope will de-
feat the strike.
On behalf of the Eastern roads, L. F.
Loree, who called meeting of the
Eastern Presidents Conference during
the afternoon at his Offices, "a Nassau
Street, issued a statement implying
that the executives in this section of
the country are anticipating an early
success in recruiting their shop forces
up to normal.
SO Per Cent Normal August IL.
"As against 1o3,52s shopmen working
OH the Eastern railways on August 4
last there were working on August II
total of 111,324, an increase during
the week of 1876 men," said Mr.. Loree:
"This raises the percentage of the
force from 647, on August a, to SO per
cent, on August II.
When due allowance is made for the
men who remained loyal or have since
returned to work it is safe to say that
in the Eastern region there are now
more men on the companies pay rolls
in the six shop crafts than there are
out of service on strike"
Mr.. Loree's figures were disputed by
the local strike leaders, who termed
them propaganda"
All the Eastern executives approached
declined to discuss the details of the
conference of the committee repre-
sentatives with President Harding, say
ing the President had requested they
remain silent. They intimated how
ever, that the President soon would
ernment's position in the situation, and
further implied that this might prove
to be the most important development
in the strike and the efforts being
made to settle 1t.
Strengthen Seniority Stand
Further to strengthen the position
of the roads in the matter Of seniority
in the eyes of the public, Robert S,
Binkerd assistant to the chairman of
the Association of Railway Executives,
gave out the following extract from
Decision 299 of the Railroad Labor
Board, which was handed down as the
result Of the threatened "Big Four"
strike last October: ~
1.-THE board points out for the con-
sideration of employees interested that
when such action does result in a
strike the organization SO acting has
forfeited it's rights and the rights of
it's members in and to the provisions
and benefits of all contracts thereto
fore existing, and the employees so
striking have voluntarily removed
themselves from the classes entitled to
appeal to this board for relief and
protection"
1t was reported that one leading
topic Of discussion in Mr.. Loree's Of
fee was the "Big Four situation, but
if this worried the executives they
gave no hint Of it. Their position was
that while they expect "spiping" here
and there on the part of the train
service men-"outlaw strikes by radi-
Gals, similar to the switchmen's walk
out of 1920" as one of the executives
put it-they are confident the "Big
made in Chicago July IL that no broth
erhood strikes will be sanctioned.
Manufacturers Worried
number Of leading manufa cturers,
as represented by the National Indus
outspoken. A statement issued by that
organization said in part:
"fFhe railroad situation has taken a
more serious turn, due to the attitude
of three of the railroad brotherhoods,
who, on the ground that the condition
of railroad equipment now involves
danger to the lives of train service en-
ployees, and that the latter are being
subjected to molestation by armed
guards in railroad yards and shops,
have ordered walk-outs on number of
railroads. chiefly in the Southwest and
Middle West.
"An immediate result has been a
declaration by the railroads affected of
an embargo on perishable commodities.
In railroad circles it is believed this
sporadic movement will be extended
and that Eastern roads will also be in
volved.
These two major disputes (the coal
and rail strikes) are having an unset
tling effect on business, and are Great
ing apprehension over the labor situa-
ton in the event of failure to secure
settlement. Record crops are re-
ported, but first hopes for lowered
cost Of living from this advantage are
giving way to apprehension as to
whether adequate transportation facil-
tiles can be secured, with the impend-
ing necessity Of moving coal also be-
fore winter"
Way Men Threaten to Go Out.
Earlier in the day William Parker,
Eastern chairman for the Brotherhood
of Maintenance of Way Men, predicted
that E. F. Cradle. president of that or
ganization. would soon call out it's
10000 workers on the Eastern roads
entering New York. This threat,
which supplemented resolutions of the
Erie and Pennsylvania maintenance
men asking Mr.. Cradle to call them
out, was not considered seriously in
some quarters, i.asniuch as Mr.. Cradle
asserted that Mr.. Parker was waving
the red flag" when he made a similar
threat several weeks ago.
Local leaders of the striking shop
men sent two kilograms to B. M. Jew
ell, chief director of the strike. One
bearing the signature of John ]. Dowd
chairman OF the local strike commit
tee, declared the $4,000 strikers In this
district to be opposed to a settlement
on the basis outlined by the executives
TO the President. The other, from the
Erie strikers. set forth tnat under NO
circumstances do We desire peace un-
less all our rights and privileges are
restored, including unimpaired senior
lty and restoration Of all money stolen
from us by the Erie througn THAR
dummy contractors"