New-York tribune., 1922-09-07
Chief Of Executives An
rnounces Mem Are Rush.
ing Back to Old Places
by the Thousand Weekly
Failure of Walk-Ol1t
Declared in Sight
Roads Spokesman Denies
R'lmored Parleys With
ENJOYS From Shopmen

Hcpores IhaC representatives OF 100000
railroad shopmen have been confer
ring with railroad executives to settle
the strike here, were flatly denied to-
| night by 7. Dewitt Cuyler, president
of the Association Of Railway sTxecu-
tives, who in formal statement an
noanced that .'the collapse of the strike
is in sight"
THE statement in some of the morn
ing papers to the effect that settle
ment of the shipments strike has been
effected is absolutely without founda-
tion," Mr.. Cuyler said. "There have
been no conferences, either by this as
sociation, or by any of the executives,
with Mr.. jewell or others representing
the shopmen who left the service OF the
companies. The statement that / had
curtailed my holiday is also entirely
without foundation. On the contrary,
l stayed away longer than expected"
Old Men Among Recruits
Mr.. Cuyler asserted that the recruit
ing Of shopworkers had been pro-
ceeding for the last week at the rate
of from five to six thousand men q
day, half of whom appeared to be the
older and more experienced men
among the strikers. and that this gen
eral return to work had virtually
closed the gap left by the strikers.
Mr.. Cuyler's statement follows:
The roads are standing squareiy on
tho platform adopted by them at their
meeting on August 20, 1922. The ex-
ecutiyes are unit as to this, and are
entirely satisfied with present condi.
tions, as will be evidenced by the facts
set forth below: @
"On September l the railroads had
Approximately S05,000 employees en-
gagged In the maintenance of cars and
locomotives, as against about 100000
in June, 1922--the best evidence that
the collapse of the strike is in sight
During the past week the railroads
have been recruiting their forces at the
rate Of some FIVE or six thousand men
day. 1t Is estimated that at least
/ half of these are the older and more
I experienced men among the strikers.
They are voluntarily returning to work
/ on terms which do not violate the
/ obligations of the railroads to either
| their loyal employees or to the new
| employees.
Eeld Places for Strikers
Sin many cases it was July 10 and
in others July II before the railroad
companies set about seriously to re.
! cruit their forces. Prior to these dates
they generally held the positions OF
their striking employees open for them
/! without loss of seniority and other
rights. On July 10 the railroads has
| at work In their shops and rount
! houses approximately 155,685 men. Or
(, July 20 the total number Of these en-
! ployees was only 162,749.
/ From this it may be seen that prac
| tically the entire progress made in re
! cruiting new employees has been since
| July 20. On July 81 the railroads had
| 19i,440 employees Of this class; OF
| August 15, 237,340; on August 81 ap
proximately $4,000.
/ "These figures do not include re,
/! turns from some fifty railroads, wA}ea
it is estimated have at least 1897
! men at work, making total for the
entire country of approximately
! 3o5, 900.
I lO0,uVU Rem3lucu dt NOKh
! "Since the rights of the loyal me,
| who remained at work and of the new
men engaged during this Difficult
Period have been prominent in publ,
discussion, it is interesting to not
! that there were about $4,000 loya
employees and that about 10000 ney
employees have been added. The sun
total Of these two groups far exceed
/ the number of men who went out OF
! strike.
s.The maintenance of equipment was
materially improved in August and vii
;be still further improved in September
"The car loading figures issued
weekly show that during the two
months of the present strike the rail
roads have loaded with revenue freigh
over 100000 more care than they loadet
during the same eight weeks OF 1921
! when there was no strike.
"Fors the week ending August q
! bituminous coal production was In
creased to about 6,700,000 tons fron
about 1850 900 tons the preceding week
{ The probability is that the week end
/ ing September will show that tn
railroads loaded over 100000 tons
! which is more than an average week.!
output.
Essential Transport Provided
"While, obviously, the commerce O
the country cannot be carried with th'
| same speed and facility as would hay'
been possible had no strike taken place
| at the same time the railroads are pro
viding transportation for all esscntia
/ purposes. Evidence Of the ability o,
the roads to render effective transpor
tation was furnished ON Labor Day
when the volume of business, the great
est in the history of the roads, wa
handled without friction end with only
| the usual delay incident to heay,
/ travel.
sThe railroad companies deeply sp
preciate the support which had h@ei
given them In the present strike by Ia
public opinion of the country.
! IF the people of the United State
Twill continue to evidence their good vii
| just little longer they will see th,
/ present strike terminated in such
way as to add greatly TO their protec
tion against unwarranted attempts 4
! interrupt transportation In tho future.