Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-08-11
RAIL EXECUTIVES
SILENT ON REPLY
TO THE PRESIDENT
Will Respond to Hardings
Peace Proposal But Do Not
Announce Their Stand.
WEsTERNERs FAVOR PLAN
BY Associated Press to Every Evening

BY Associated Press TO Every Evening
New York. Aug. 11.--Heads Of 14s
American railroads today appointed a
committee to recommend reply 10
president Harding's latest proposal for
settlement OF the nationwide rail
strike.
II was not indicated by these leaving
the conference chamber what would
be the nature Of the reply to the ad-
ministrations' suggestion that the
matter of seniority--at which the ex-
ecutives had balked Mt their last meet
ing here should be left to the Rail-
road Labor Board
#. Dewitt Cuyler, head Of the As
sociation Of Railway Executives. was
named x-officio head OF the commit
tee. with Judge Robert s. Lovett. Of
the union Pacific as chairman.
The membership was reported to be
approximately the same as that which
rejected Mr.. Harding's first proposal.
From the start sharp division in
! the voting strength was apparent.
which was SO closely defined as to be
almost sectional
The Eastern division appeared un-
alterably opposed TO acceptance OF the
Presidents plan. because 1t provided
that the question OF returning strik
ers with seniority rights unimpalred
should be shunted back to the United
states Railroad Labor Board for final
decision.
The attack was led by l.. r. Doree
president Of the Delaware and Hudson
w. w. Atterbury. OF the Pennsyl-
vania, A. H. Smith, Of the New York
Central. and Frederick Underwood. oil
the Erie.
To accept the plan. they maintained
would be TO jeopardize. at the hand,
of the Labor Board. their promises ts
non strikers and new employees tha
neniority rights would he based or
loyalty.
As third ground for refusing th'
Presidents offer to let the Labo
Board act as mediator, the belligerent
declared they already were in sight o
an open victory over the strikers. ant
urged that they be permitted 10 con
tlnue without interference. a "flnisl
fght."
President FELTON,, OF the Chicago |
, Great Western, acknowledged spokes
man for the Western and South
western lines, was looked upon as
leader In the movement to ratify tn
peace proposal.
His group stands for ratification. nc
because they have any more faith
. the decision Of the Labor Board. br
. because they want thei strike settle
and their shops restored to normal. I
addition they want the food will OF th
:, public which. they helieve, woul
swing to the strikers the Associa
: ton Of Railway Executives shoul
q again turn a deaf ea1 TO Presider
u Harding.
l. Prior to the general meeting, offlcta
= OF Eastern roads went into conferenc
The only statement forthcoming frol
: them was that they intended to cor
slider President Hardine's propositio
9 with an open mind.
l. At the time the Eastern executive
n met, no Western rail chiefs apparent
r ly had arrived at the Grand Centr'
a Terminal.
: New York, Aug .11.--Haley Fisk
u president of the Metropolitan Life II
surance Company. which is lar,
o investor in railroad securities, went b
y fore the conference of Sail executive
called to act on PresiAnt Harding
peace proposal shortly y,fter noon {
% day. 1t was reported he carried an in
i portant message to the executtv
~ from financial interests.