The Washington herald., 1922-08-24
UffEk By Biz FUK
Twenty Carrier Heads to
Meet Labor Group in
New Conference.
14S STAND FIRM'ON
SENIORITY ISSUE
Minority Deny Their Ac-
tion Is Break From
Main Body.


NEW YORK. Aug. 23.-Reachinr
deadlock in attempts TO set,l. the
railroad strike on a national ba,i.
minority o6 carriers today moved
FOR settlements on individual roads.
The proposition Of separate agree
ments was submitted by the leader,
Of the brotherhoods who have been
acting as mediators in the shop
mems strike.
The brotherhood chiefs mad. In.
counter-proposition after they were
informed that the entire American
Association of Railway Executives
would not recede from its stand on
the seniority question. which has
been the stumbling block to all
previous negotiations.
Expected 90 Confer To-day.
1t was expected that the brother
hood officers and the presidents OF
about twenty carriers would get to-
gether tomorrow in an effort TO
I draw up separate terms Of agree
/ ment.
The remainder Of the lts mem
bers Of the association, according
/ TO their announcement. are through
attempting to effect a peace and
will fight the strike 10 a finish.
The executives. when they met
/ In the morning at the Yale Club.
were informed by T Dewitt Cuy-
Ter. president Of the association. of
the tentative agreement reached
with the brotherhoods heads last
/ week.
The carrier presidents then voted
unanimously not to back down
from the position as outlined to
President Harding. which was that
there would be no compromise on
| the seniority question.
Demsnd, Full Seniority.
Cuyler's commission took the
message to Warren s. Stone and
other heads of the labor group.
! who later appeared before the main
| body OF executives. Stone. IL was
understood. said there could be a
settlement only on one basis and
/ that was that the men be takeK
hack and given their status OF June
| 80, the day the strike became effec-
tive. In other words. full senior
4 ity. which the carriers had re-
/ jected. was demanded.
stone was told that this was un-
acceptable, whereupon he asked IL
any Of the roads would be willing
to consider separate peace. The
mediators left and later a majority
| Of the presidents withdrew from
the meeting, leaving about twenty
who were willing to talk separate
peace.
Prominent Men In Minority.
| Included in this minority meet
ing were Hale Holden. president
Of the Chicago. Burlington and
/ Quincy: A. II. Smith. president ~
the New York Central; W. W. Tn
derwood. head Of the Erie: Daniel
willard. president Of the Baltimore
and Ohio. and Howard Elliott. Of
the Northern Pacific
No definite engagement was
made with the brotherhood chiefs.
but Il was anticipated that the MI
4 noriy group and the union of ais
I would confer agan tomorrow.
The minority was careful to ON
nhasize that their action could not
he properly interpreted as a break
from the main body.
We are Of one accord on the
seniority question" said Holden.
the spokesman for the group. We
are. however. willing to discuss
with Mr.. Stone a reasonable basis
for settlemsnt"
Jewell -Accepts Challenge"
Bert NJ. Jewell. leader OF the
striking shopmen. declared railroad
executives have closed the door
70 peace, and that a settlement of
the strike Is impossible in view
4 Of their stand on seniority.
Workers. he said. have onered
every concession. while the rail-
roads offered none and introduced
the extraneous issue Of seniority.
The 100000 striking employees
accept the challenge Of the rail-
roads" said Jewell. we will re-
double our efforts. confident Of vic
tory" The shopmen, Jewell de-
clared, are hghting not only their
own battle but the battle Of all the
unions to prevent disintegration-
Could Take Back All strfkers-
Railroads, representing from
60. 600 10 10000 miles of track. or
o5 per cent OF the total mileage
Of the United States. were in the
group which decided to attempt
separate agreements with the
striking shopmen.
These roads il was announced.
are in a position to take back
practically all their employees II
| the strikers consent TO a modinca-
tion Of their seniority demands.
The roads still negotiating are
Chicago A. Northwestern: the ST.
Paul. the Burlington, the Rock
Island, the Northern Pacific. the
New York Central. the Erie. the
New York, Chicago and St Louis.
the Lake Erie & Western, the
Chesapeake & Ohio. the Norfolk &
Western, the Buffalo. Rochester d
Pfttsbursh, the Baltimore a Ohio.
the Norfolk G. Southern the Wheel
ing and Lake Erie. the Lehigh g.
New England, the Minneapolis
and ST. Louis, the Louisiana and
Arkansas and the Alabama &
Vicksburg.
Hale Holden. president OF the
Burlington, was chosen chairman