The New York herald., 1922-08-07
President Expected to
Move at Once to Pre-
vent Spread Of the
Rail Walkout.
SHOPMEN STAND FIRM
Reject Harding's Plea That
They Go to Work Pending
a Settlement.
UNION RANKS UNITING
Labor Seeks to Solidify Forces
as Roads Executives
Have Done.
Special Dispatch to THE New York HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,
WanhlnxAara n A. a

Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. e., Aug. 9.
An eleventh hour effort by President
Harding to bring about a settlement
of the railroad strike, which threatens
to become more general as a result OF
the rumblings of discomfort among the
membership of the big Four" broth
erhoods, is expected within the next
day or two.
The possit ..ty that either through
sympathetic action or outright sup
port the big Four" might decide to
aid the shop craft unions has, in the
opinion of the Administration. added
a new element Of grave danger to the
situation. No effort will be spared
by the President. it was indicated to-
day, to prevent the strike from bccom-
ing more general and at the same time
ways and means were being canvassed
to. get a basis for a, settlement of the
shopmen's strike.
AS result OF the conference held
yesterday between President Harding
leaders of the shop unions and the
legislative representatives of the big
brotherhoods, a definite move of some
kind was anticipated here. However.
the activities OF the President in this
connection were held in utmost se-
crecy and beyond the bare announce
ment that the Developments OF the
next twenty-four hours might warrant
statement from the White House no
inkling OF what the President has in
mind leaked out.
Administration Hopeful.
Despite the rumblings OF brewing
storm among the memberships of the
brotherhoods, Administration officials
expressed confidence that the men
would not strike out of sympathy with
the shopmen or on the alleged ground
that the deterioration of equipment has
reached the point where train operation
has become dangerous.
The Administration has known for
some time that gesture would be
forthcoming In behalf or the brother
hoods and that every effort was being
made by organized labor to solidify the
ranks of railroad employees. This ef-
fort the Administration knows was ac-
ce,erated by similar maneuver whereby
the executives. or at least the bitter
enders" group among them. sought to
solidify the ranks Of employers on the
seniority issue against the Harding pro-
posal.
For the moment at least, II Is not
anticipated that action by the brother
hoods which would cripple the transpor-
tation systems in the matter OF few
hours will go beyond a gesture. What
worries the President and his advisers
is what will happen II the shopmen's
strike continues and the bitter feeling
already engendered grows worse as
has been the tendency for several weeks.
The Presidents aim is to forestall this
possible contingency by taking some
steps to settle the strike before 1t ac-
quires larger dimensions. 1t became
known to-day that when he conferred
yesterday with Bert NJ. Jewell, head OF
the shopmen President William II.
Johnston OF the international Associa-
ton OF Machinists and President James
p. Noonan OF the Brotherhood OF Elec-
trical Workers he made the proposal
that the strikrs return to work imme-
diateIy on the understanding that the
Railroad Labor Board would pass on
the question OF seniority.
Suggestion Rejected.
This suggestion was rejected by the
leaders OF the strikers. who took the po-
sition that they had agreed In full TO the
Presidents settlement proposal and that
Il would be unfair to ask them to yield
more, In view OF the fact that tho exec
utives were responsible for the wreck
ing OF the peace program formulated by
the President.
IL was indicated following the con-
ferenocs that President Harding had In
mind some move whereby the Railroad
Labor Board could take Immediate
Jurisdiction OF the troublesome senior
ity issue. There are difficulties In the
way, but these might be we'll brushed
aside In view Of the national emergency
II was indicated. One such difficulty
lies In the fact that the board practical
ly outlawed the strikers when it de-
clared in a resolution that the moment
they went on strike they ceased TO be
under the jurisdiction of the board.
The board itself repeatedly has de-
cIared In an Informal way that the
resolution in no way constituted out
lawry, but no official declaration TO this
effect was made 1t is now possible
that the resolution may be cancelled
and test case on the question OF
seniority brought before tho board. In
any case, the leaders of the shop men
have indicated to the President that
they will not return until such a case
has been passed on, and intimated at
the same time they would expect a
judgment in their favor.
tl.n nd ha ri