Evening star., 1922-07-28
RAIL PEACE NEARS
AS BASIS IS SET
Acceptance in Principle by
Spokesman of Both Sides
Indicates Outcome.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

b1 IA LII La " NENSE.
The basis for a settlement of the
railroad strike now has been ar
ranged.
Fully a week will be required for
the actual operation Of the plan. which
requires on the one hand ratification
by a meeting Of the 14S railroad ex-
ecutives in New York next Tuesday
and further conferences on the other
side between President Harding and
the railroad workmen.
Negotiations will be carried on by
regions. This will take more time
than IL the procedure had been agreed
upon through a national adjustment
board, but the representatives of the
strikers have not insisted upon that
process, and are willing to take ad-
vantage of the machinery set up BY
the transportation act Tor regional
adjustments.
This attitude on the part of spokes-
men of the strikers reflects substantial
progress, as il means that one issue
which threatened to produce a dead
lock is swept aside.
Omcials to Act on Seniority.
AS lOE tie ScnloIity ll6htSb tiS CA
act formula for handling the problem
depends largely upon the reception
which will be given at next Tuesdays
meeting to a series of suggestions
conveyed by President Harding ir
person to T. Dewitt Cuyler, chairman
of the Association of Railway Execu.
tives.
Broadly. the situation is decidedly
hopeful-in fact, barring any unfore
roads can be considered as virtually
settled now. Its ending might have
come last night but for the decision
that II might be wiser to call all the
14S railroad executives together &c
that their action might constitute ar
assurance to the railroad workmen Of
uniformity Of treatment.
While the Association of Railway
Executives is purely an advisory body
nevertheless its resolutions have ir
the past been accepted by the major
ity of their number. Thus President
majority OF railroad executives viii
be reasonable about the questions a
issue. is strategically overcoming pos
sible barriers that might be raised BY
an otherwise irreconcilable minority
of extremists.
Wants Coal Moved.
President Harding did not attemp
in his conference with Mr.. Cuyler 1
dictatorial attitude. He presented
with characteristic amiability wha
seemed to him the obstacles to a set
tlement and the grave danger which
might confront the country II tn,
|
questionably Mr.. Harding sees mucl
roads that the restoration of seniorit!
rights would be a breach of faitl
with the workmen who did not strike
but being faced with practica
situation Mr.. Harding Is anxious t.
waive, for the time being at least, ;
settlement Of that issue, so that tn
roads might get back to normal ant
resume coal carrying.
The railroads themselves are NOR
or less satisfied with the progress
they have been making in hirini
strikebreakers. and are not as deepl!
concerned over a possible upheava
as is President Harding. But tn,
feel a responsibility to the Presiden
of the United States which will max,
them hesitate to put their own predic
tions to a test. They know that tn,
Presidents insistence on q settlemen
cannot be resisted and that they mus
make every reasonable concession II
the interest Of peace.
Use Assumed Names.
Administration officials plainly sym
pathize with the stand tho railroa,
executives have taken with respec
to seniority rights, but realize that t
carry the fight on It to extremes will
not get transportation enough t.
carry coal.
Many of the men who took tn
places OF the strikers arc experiences
workers. Large numbers of them wer
laid of by the railroads a few month
| ago when curtailment of personne
! was being generally ordered through
out the railroad world. 1t il diflcul
to tell just how many are former EN-
ployes, as many, fearing the wratl
of union brethren. have como bacl
| under assumed names. Their metho
OF work, however, has convinced thei
superiors that they worked for rail-
! roads before. as they seem to knoy
their jobs.
| Railroads Saw Victory.
The railroads have, therefore, bee]
in a better position to fight the strik
than ever before and the executive
are confident that a prolonged figh
| would surely mean ultimate success,
Tho government isn't going to permi
a prolonged fight. President Hardin
insists that It must come to an en-,
and within q few days. The yexa
tious seniority problem can be set
tied through the United States Labo
Board after the men go back to work
If they do not like the decision the,
still have the right to strike, thougi
railroad workers point out that til
Labor Boards edicts must be mad
binding upon; carriers as we'll as am
ployes II fts decisions are to be re
spected in the future.
Concessions ON both sides will b.
necessary on many smaller point
before q flnal settlement is actuaIi,
signed. but the basis presented b;
President Harding has been accepte,
In principle by the spokesmen Of tn
contending parties and 1t remain
only for them to bring their re
spective followinss in line. Presi
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