Norwich bulletin., 1922-08-02

Railway executives today rejected the proposals Of President Harding that the striking shopmen be reinstated without forfsiting seniority rights but accepted conditionaIly the other two suggestions made by the White House for set ,ment of the nationwide strike. This announce ment was made by Desident Loree of inc Delaware and Hudson. after the heads of 14s roads had met here today. considered Mr. Hardinss programme, drafted a reply and adjourned.
 The rcrly to President Harding was put on the wire 10 the White House as coon as it had been drawn up by Fub-committee headed by Robert S. Low stt of he Union Pacifce and approved unanimously by the general conference The proposals conditionally accepted were that wage decisions rendered by the railroad labor board should be accepted by all and that law suits resulting from the strike should be withdraEin by both sides for settlement by the board.
 The railroad heads baked on the seniority question after Secretary Hoov- CT. appearing before them earlier in the day as the representative of President Harding had told them the adn1inistra- tion considered that the issue of the au- thorltv Of the railroad labor board far transcended that of seniority.
 Referring to the coal strike as com rflcatinr factor in the rail situation, MT. Hoover imnlied that B conditions were different the administration would not have taken the point of view 1t had as- rured and urged thn roads to ck-oper- u;s with the govsr1incnt in upholding the labor board.
 Mr Hoover was fLlloUe ed later in the day by Judge Loye.t. who asserted flat iv that there was no moral or practical reason for the roads ;e c fer their stand. This was learned aitLF- Mir. Hoover. following a 2o-minuss address. took the rrt- train back to W5f hinEton.
 Nr. Hoover indicated to the executives that vhile the ad1inisti stion did not iutrrd 10 helittle t.c importance they sttachsd to seniority it considered the f~rio- issue the upho.ding of the labor frard and the return of the men tc work.
 The vote of the railway executives to- day to reject the programme outlined by President Harding for settlement of tht r-filon-xide strike first was announced as l4snimous. 7his later was corrested to 2s5 to 2 T. ?. Loree. chairman of the easterr -o-s.ieuce. explaining he had cast tw' votes against the reply sent the Whit House because he did not thing tn -xecutives had taken a strong enougi EsId against the seniority proposal
 Nir. I.oree. who voted for the Delawa. and Hudson and Kansas City Southern sdded that he was quite in sympath. tn his fellow executives as far as the. nal gone.
 I, became apparent from the yer, 7pening of today's conference that tn seniority question would be the wedg which would divide administration an railway executives.
 The only question which arose dur Ing the short period during which tn presidents proposal was under discus sion was how enTphatical.y the repl rejecting his plan should be worded. Tn the ballotinE. each road was giv pn one vote for each 1000 miles 0 rack lt operated. The reply, drafted D .he standing committee, was adopted b vote Of 2e5 to g.
 This. however. represented unanimou 5iza7proval of cne presidents plan. tn TWO dissenting votes being cast by E. Loree. chairman of the eastern cor ference. representing the Delaware an Hudson and the Kansas City southeri with the explanation that he wished tn seniority proposed turned down eve more decisively.
 Presidents A. H. Smith, of the Ne York Central. apparently crystallized th Eentiment of the rail chiefs when in th midst Of thgr discussion. he threw uT sn the conference table a bundle of 4C .eierrzrs from foremen and superv DTS rf the road, announcing they wou nave Co resign. if the seniority rankin sf ths rtrikers was returned.
 Immed ately others leaped to their fe fo testify 70 a similar condition amor officials on their roads. Resignation rould be wholesale. from sub-foremt Q general managers. if their person pledges 10 protect present employees cou sot he made good, they declared.
 What we want the government to 10 let US alone ito let use settle tn rriks in our own way" declared Nj Smith
 eve have organized new shop fore tud are getting the roads back to no nal Unless the government ceases interference. we will have far wor rrlke on OUT hands. You must stai sv those who stand by you to mai ain discip.ize. if strikers are reinstat rith seniority rights it will be impossih o maintain discipline
 Acceptance of President HardinE troposal would result in complete q norzlizafion of Americas transportati ystcn and the system of honorable C psration between employer. and emplo Ipon which it was founded"
 Samuel Felton. president of the CT ago and Great Western, understood LEe ltaAfuA tNAAAA dAHuHE represent ives of nnid-western roads was stro his support of Mir. Smith and tho rho echoed his statements.
 Those who framed the associations ,iv Co the White House made 1t pla hat the new employees and those VI lsciined to join the strike had do much to uphold the railroad labor boal he importance of whose authority t resident had emphasized through St etary Hoover. The committee set for the letter very distinctly that they f hrnselves bound morally and legally .ack up the pledges they had given he workers now manning the shops.
 The executives contended that,
 tanding hv present employees. they VI ut upholding the railroad labor boa ? Fhich In resolution adopted on u