Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-14
ROADS REPLY
To HARD|NC'S
LAST PROPOSAL
Rail Chiefs Make Pub
lie Their Acceptance
of Peace Suggestion.
Would Take Seniority
Issue Before Labor
Board for Decision.

| Washington, Aug. 13.-The rail ex
ecutives Of the country Sunday nigh
made public their response to Presi
dent Harding's last strike settlement
proposal in which it was stated that 6
| majority of the executives in theil
meeting at New York Friday voted tc
give striking shop craft workers theil
old jobs if vacant, or, if filled, similar
work, pending determination of sen
iority by the railroad labor board.
The executives committee which
came here Saturday and delivered tc
his last settlement proposal and later
met with chiefs of the train service
brotherhood, let it be known that nc
further conferences of any kind were
planned.
The announcement was described by
one spokesman for the executives as
meaning a fight to the finish, in the
existing strike so far as the railroad
managements were concerned.
Union leaders meantime withheld
their rejection Of the presidents offer
while Warren 8. Stone and other heads
of the four brotherhoods remained in
executive session. 1t was possible.
they said, that the brotherhood Off
cials who have acted as mediators
might institute further mediation at
tempts. The reply of the executives
to the presidents peace proposal was
made public as the final basis on which
the executives would negotiate for set
tlement and it was added by spokesmen
that any decision of the seniority ques-
ton must be left to the agency recog
nized by law. namely the railroad la
Dor board
Morning Conference
There was morning conference at
the White House between President
Harding and a delegation of railway
executives. and meeting of the lead
ers of the striking shopmen, the four
brotherhoods and affiliated organiza-
tons at machinists' headquarters. Sec
retary Hoover attended the White
House conference.
After an hours conference with the
president, the executives, headed by 7.
Dewitt Cuyler. chairman, held a ses-
sion of an hour and a half at their
Headquarters. at the close of which
statement was issued. The union and
brotherhood officials, after a session of
ment had been taken until Monday.
The statement issued by T. Dewitt
Cuyler, chairman of the Association Of
Executives, follows:
AT the meeting of railroads in New
York on Friday, Aug. II. 1922. they.
with practical unanimity, responded
favorably to the presidents call that
the seniority question lie left to the
United States labor board.
approximately three-quarters of the
mileage responded favorably to his call
that all striking shop craftsmen be re-
employed and the balance that such
strikers be re-employed as far as prac-
ticable
''The resolutions acted upon by the
meeting have been submitted to the
president
'"The following resolutions were
adopted by roads having mileage Of
l51 1924 miles:
The telegram of the president.
lated August I. 1922, having been con-
'ldered and in response to his call to
he carriers and the striking workers.
he following resolutions were adopted:
Not a "Surrender"
Resolved. that the proposal of the
PRESIDENT to the striking workmen TO
'eturn to work and to the carriers TO
lssign them to work. leaving the dis
'uted question of seniority to the labor |
'oard under the provisions of the |
act for decision, be ac- |
epted, understanding as we do that |
uch acceptance involves no surrender |
II the principles with respect to sem ,
ority adopted by the carriers on Aug
st 1O, l922. by recognizing that the |
'roposal of the president involves the
Jurisdiction of the labor board under
ne transportation act to pass upon the
elative seniority of those loyal en-
loyes who have remained at work and
hose new employees who have since
ccepted service (the rights of both Of /
7hich classes to seniority we feel bound t.
n justice to defend before the labor
oard) with the strikers who NAV en-
er the service under the proposal of /
be president
Therefore. be it further resolved:
"(A) All former employees who
ave not been guilty of proven violence
galnst the employees or property of the |,
abroad shall be assigned to their
primer positions where vacancies exist.
"'(B) Where the positions they
'rmerly held have been filled. other
nployment of the same class will be
'und for such employees as have com ,
lifted no acts of proven violence ,
yainst the employees or the property :
the railway.
"'(C) If. after these men have .
zen assigned. questions of seniority
rise with them which cannot be set
ed locally. they will be referred to
Ie United States labor board for re- 9
ew
A Minority Report
"'D) Further resolved. that the
rike is to be called off with the un- I
,rstanding and agreement by all par d
es that no intimidations nor oppres- :,
ons shall be practiced or permitted h
! against any of the employees who
i've remained or have taken service.
against those who may urn to :
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