New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-08-13

committee faosed over into the Cabi-
met room. After that the President
salts rnatei between the two meetings.
il President Harding urgently re-
Z 'ssted every one present at botb con-
Sciences. including Secretary Of Com
srsercs Hoover, Chairman Cunnins of
sne Senate Interstate Commerce Corn
r,fttee. and Chairman Hooper of the
Railroad Labor Board not to discuss
what had occurred at the White House.
On departing Mr.. Cuyler said that
the railroads had submitted their
reply. but that he could add nothing.
He admitted that he might return fof
ing, but said no definite arrangements
had been made about this.
Some Lines Have Little Room
/. The whole difficulty of the railroads
in accepting the Presidents proposal
lies in the fact that certain lines, mo-
tally the Pennsylvania, have taken on
such large numbers Of skilled ma
sehinfsts to fiji the places of the strls-
ing snssraen that i will be impossible,
they say. for them to take all the strik-
sers back without breaking their prom
sises of steady work to the new men.
= II is understood the rail executives
told President Harding that while most
-of the roads would be able to take their
striking shopmen back, the disposition
of all was to stand by the roads which,
in taking on new men, had guaranteed
~them steady employment.
Ii is said that the reply of the strike
officials is modification or the Presi-
dents proposal to settle the seniority
question by reference to the Railroad
Labor Board in the other direction
from that taken by the executives. The
.shopmen insisted that there must be
"a decision by the Railroad Labor
Board in advance of the return to work
-ss TO the question of strikers getting
back their seniority rights.
- Not the least interesting phase of the
situation tonight is that both the ex-
eeeutives and the union officials had
! justifying their answers to the Presi-
dent. AS matter of fact the state
.srents had been prepared for distribu-
tion before the White House confer
tences began, and it was confidently ex-
apected that they would be handed to
the newspaper men at the conclusion Of
the White House session.
President Holds Up Statements
- President Hardngs urgent request
that nothing be said about the confer
ence. and that neither side make any
statement, prevented the publication of
these statements. SO that officially at
least both replies and the Qualifications
which the two sides make of their re-
plies are withheld from the public
Mr.. Harding is extremely anxious to
prevent either side from making a
statement before an agreement which
will make it the least bit more diff
cult for either side to make some con-
= cession.
= Senator Cummins indicated, before
going to the White House, that the
heads Of the railway employees or
canizaticns had sought a conference
with President Harding. At their re-
quest Senator Cummins arranged it..
They desired to stress the Importance
of seniority and to present their views
on the question of other railway unions
getting into the strike, something
which, they said, they would regard as
unfortunate. One reason they are any,
lous for q settlement is that they do
not want other unions drawn into the
trouble.
The brotherhood chiefs, headed by
Mr. Sheppard, of the conductors, and
Warren S. Stone, president of the en-
gincers, took the shipments reply to
the White House. They were in con-
ference with the President, Chairman
Hooper Of the Railroad Labor Board,
Secretary of Labor Davis and Secretary
o. Commerce Hoover for almost four
hours. They emerged from the Execu-
tive Office almost two hours after thu
time at which the railroad presidents
were to have been received. The two
eonferences partly overapped, for
w:1ilc President Harding was meeting
the delegation of executives the labor
chiefs were in the Cabinet room with
Secretaries Hoover and Davis.
No further word was given out from
any source as to the contents of the
replies to the Harding proposal There
was no denial, however, by any of the
union leaders Of the persistent reports
that tne shopcrafts' answer was virtu-
ally fat rejection. The conditions
attachcd TO the executives reply were
declared to cover ten typewriter pages.
No Suggestion by President
Mr.. Sheppard said after the confer
snce that "tbe President made no new
said to leave a committee in Wash
ington which could be called in again
at any time ard that five of their mum
/. Der would remain
Our representatives of the organi-
cations not on strike came over here to
tell about our troubles, growing out of
the strike in keeping our men at work,
explaining to TIE President the bad
shape OF the equipment generally" Mr.
Sheppard added.
1--WE offered our good services to act
ns mediators in any way possible and
we are prepared to. do anything to
help out the situation. We do not
know what he will do about it.
. "Wa rl1hr7i+tnd ctaYeponr ~
of now VIC felt and looked upon the
whole problem and carried with us the
formal reply of the shopcrafts. Every
. thing we did was advisory and we don't
] want to do anything which will muddy
. the waters"
j Asked if the brotherhood chiefs of
fered a formal suggestion to the
president for settlement of the strike
Mr.. Sheppard repled:
That's what we came here for"
He would not discuss the plan in any
way and added: I've should not speal,
until the President has"
Case In Brotherhoods' Hands
The shopmen," he continued, "have
! left their case entirely in the hands
of the brotherhoods, and under the cir
rumstances we will not rive out any
copies of the statements presented to
, the President until later. When we
60 we will give them out together.
II don't know that we've done a bit
! OF good. I'm q good Presbyterian, but
shere are times when / lose hope"
Mr., Sheppard declined to discuss the
GoSs Utility that thare c,i0hf ha on ip