The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-08-19
HARDING
not YET READY
FOR SHOWDOWN

oCL 11ASAso OS@S ~
ing B efore Con-
g,ress
Washington, Aug. 1s.-Agree-
ment between railroad executives
and railroad labor organization
I leaders to hold another conference
tomorrow in New Yok TO seek a
settlement of the shopmen's strike.
/ it was said today, had resulted in
] president questioning the desira-
. bility of making his expected re-
port to congress and the county
on the strike situation within the
next few hours. Plans made for
the reception of his eommunica-
ton tomorrow. at a joint session OF
the house and senate consequently
were understood to be on the
verge of a revision tonight, as the
/ president was represented as being
desirous of Withholding his state
ment Of the case if the unions
chiefs and the railroad presidents
could hold out any prospect OF a
mutually satisfactory settlement.
Heads OF the seven railroad la
Dor organizations on strike met to-
day with the officials Of the unions
not involved in the controversy,
{ and after some delay reached de-
! cision to take almost the entire
i group to New York for discussion
fwith the executives. Though Of
fcers of the five organizations of
train service employees, the engi-
neers, flremen, conductors, brake
men and switchmen, Will be the
only ones actually to meet the COM
! mittee Of railway executives, their
chairman. Warren s. Stone, eeclar-
| ed they desired close at hand all
| the strike leaders and the, spokes-
men for all the other railroad
unions. Some objection to this
( plan developed among the strike
leaders. but they finally arranged to
! send most Of their group, including
! e. NJ. Jewell, teir chairman, to
New York, and to call in all con-
cerned in case any settlement pro-
posals emerged from the discus
sion.
Mr.. Stone and the brotherhood
i officials who will meet with the rail
executives declared they were not
! taking any prepared proposition to
/ the meeting with the manage
i ments.
81 wouldn't be fool enough TO
put It in the newspapers if 1 had
| one, anyway" Mr.. Stone remark
! ed.
L. E. Sheppard, president Of the
Order OF Conductors, said the de-
nand Of the strikers for full Sc
niority status in case Of their re-
| turn TO work could not be modified,
and the views Of the strike leaders
I appeared to coincide entirely with
this position. The seniority question
has been the crucial issue in the
/ strike situation ever since the or
carnations now out Of service
agreed to order their men back
! pending rehearing before the Rail
road Labor Board Of wage cuts
which Went into effect July /.
President Harrison, Of the
! Southern Railway, who announced
early this week, after attempting
unsuceessfuny to deal separately
; with the striking unions on the
basis Of granting them the sem
| iority demand. that the Southern
would proceed to employ outside
J men. iss.aed a statement today de-
| claring that people all over the
/! South now demand that this
strike be fought out" Public opin-
ion could restore normal transpor-
tation, he said. but if it supports
the determination of the striking
shopmen to disregard the tribunal
/; set up by congress to Go them
justice and agrees that they may
1 write their own pay checks. then
there may be resumption Of work
| on that basis. but freight rates
! must be again increased
President Harding. who was un-
derstood to be preparing his mes
(; sage to congress. held discussions
/, concerning it during the day with
Senator Lodge. Republican leader
T; in the senate. 1t was considered
certain. advisers said, that he
would not request legislation 20
deal with the rail strike, although
it was regarded as probable he
would assure congress that such
request would be made if the
situation necessitated.
1t was said to he his intention
! to explain the whole industrial sit
uation in the light Of steps taken
by the administration with refer
ence 20 the strikers and it was con-
sidered probable that he would ex-
press a determination to give fed
eral aid and protection to efforts
to keep the railroads running. This
determination it was suggested, in
clined him to delay his pronounce
ments for few hours ct least, lest
they affect the continued efforts of
non striking unions to mediate for
the strikers.
Railroad traffic is continuing %
maintain fair volume, according
to reports to the Association -
Railway Executives. during the
-.,.- -.aa;n. a,1nrS. : 81 aa1 ca &c