The Washington herald., 1922-07-28
SECRECY PREVAILS
Rail Executives to Meet
Tuesday to Discuss
Presidents Plans.
SENIORITY STILL
STUMBLING BLOCK
Governors of States Agree
To Cooperate With
Sec'y Hoover.

Peace or a truce in the rail strike
was believed 20 be close at hand fol-
lowing a day Of conferences. extend
ing far into the night At the white
House between President Harding
and representatives Of the warning
factions.
Although the utmost secrecy pre-
vailed during yesterdays confer
ences and the statements at the
close were noncommittaI. there is
growing belief that the end OF the
strike is not far OF. In some op-
timistic quarters the Impression
prevailed that an order would go
to the striking shopmen today 60
night declared. however. that he
had no intention Of Issuing such an
order.
The attitude OF the executives. Il
was understood. was UNCHANGED
concerning the seniority rule. the
chief obstacle 70 peace. notwith-
standing pressure brought 10 bear
by the President 60 induce them 70
abandon this stand.
Conference Began Early.
The basis OF an armis;ice. there
fore. has about narrowed down TO
| this: That the striking shopmen re-
turn to work with the assurance
that the Railroad Labor Board WIN
| grant them a rehearinG Of their
grievances and assume Jurisdiction
| over the much-disputed seniority
question IL was pointed out that
this plan might be followed without
the acquiescerce Of the railway .x-
ecutives. The men would return
to work and IL their old places. un-
der the seniority rule were denied
them. they could carry the dispute
TO the Labor Board. which would
then proceed TO deal with the Sc
1 niority question.
President Harding began his con-
ferences early yesterday morning.
beginning with T. Dewitt CuyIer
president of the American Associa-
/ tion Of Railway Executives After
Mr.. Cuyler had left the White
| House. Mr.. Jewell. the shopmen's
chief. and the presidents Of the
various shopcraft unions arrived
from Chicago and went at once into
conference with Mr.. Harding They
remained in session for a short
while and then left the White
House. bat returned in the afternoon
and spent more than three hours
with the President. Mr.. Cuyler also
returned to the White Horse later
in the evening.
VIII Call Executives
After comforting with the Pr.si-
dent more than two hours last
night. Cuyler emerged from the
White House and announced that
he would call a meeting OF the
railroad executives in New York
next Tuesday TO lay President
Harding's proposition before them.
Cuyler denied that the President
had asked the executives TO recede
from their position concerning the
seniority rule. He stated that no
definite program would be laid be-
fore the conference Of the execu-
tives and explained that the pur-
pose Of the meeting would be to
talk over Mr.. Hsrdings views.
which. he added. he was mot at
liberty to discuss at this time"
Events of PsrIey Kept secret.
Only the most noncommittal state
| meLts were given oat b. tho sh NJ
men after the conferences and
nothing was forthcoming from the
White House.
Jewell made this statement:
our conference this afternoon
was a continuation OF our confer
ence this morning. at which we
continued our statements Of our
views OF the situation. There can
be no statement now as to what has
been said at the confe. ences"
Cuyler made a similar statement.
merely saying that he had present.
ed the viewpoint of the executives.
Both CuyIer and Jewell stated they
would remain in Washington to
await developments.
Immediately upon their arrival
from Chicago and before going TO
the white House the strike leaders
had a conference with william II.
Johnston. president Of the Interna-
tional Association OF Machinists.
Johnston st white House.
Mr.. Johnston then went with them
TO the White House. The others
who accompanied them were Tim
othy Healey. president OF the fire.
mems organization; J. W. Kline.
president OF the blacksmiths: J. A.
Franklin. president Of the boiler
makers; NJ. F. Ryan. president Of
| Continued on Page Tsoo.