The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-08-07
Speculation About What
Happened When Harding
and Cuyler Met
PRESIDENT SWEPT
LATTER OFF FEET
Then CuyIer Found Himself In Different
Atmosphere When He Met Railway
Executives - President May Send
Letter to Them
By DAVID LAWRENCE
Especial Dispatch to The Reformer.l
(oltyripbt l011

topeclal dispatch to The Reformer.l
Copyright 1922.
WASHINGTON, Aug. THE biggest
OF question marks rests today on a
chapter of White House history in con-
nectlon with the railroad strike. What
happened at the conference between
president Harding and T. Dewitt Guy
Ter, president of the Association OF Rail
way Executives, on Thursday July ~!
ana another query pertains TO what
happened between the time Mr.. CuyleI
left the White House and the meeting
OF the railroad executives in New York
six days later
President Harding has felt compelled
to authorize the Washington newspaper
correspondents to send broadcast the
statement. he did not alter the proposal
ne made to Mr.. Cuyler with respect to
the return or seniority rights to the
railroad strikers. This significant de-
nal was made because Mr. Harding was
told an impression has been spread that
the original offer had been modified after
Mr.. Cuyler had left the White House
Such foundation as exists for this i'm
preston may be traced to the discussion
which took place in New York last
Thursday when the railroad executives
met.
Those who heard what was said at
the New York meeting have quoted
ldent Harding's letter with consider
able surprise
When Did Surprise Come?
Mr.. CuYler didn't say when that sur
prise occurred. Mr.. Harding has re
Vealed that the plan he drafted in hi
own handwriting was shown to Mr.
luyler on the day he was at the Whit,
House, namely Thursday July 81 II |
Mr.. Cuyler said he was surprised. ht |
must have referred to the effect made |
upon him when Mr.. Harding first read
hlm that letter. He couldn't possibly |
have referred to the impression which |
the former letter made upon him when |
IL was typewriter and merely repro |
dueed what Mr.. Harding had shown him /
before
Mr.. Harding was confident when Mr. /
Cuyler left here that the proposals would |
be accepted and that the meeting of the
railway executives would merely ratify /
the program. Mr.. Cuyler must have
gwen the President the impression he
would accept the proposal. though under
protest. Otherwise the entire adj
wouldn't have been so
cocksure the strike was over the day Mr..
Cuyler called. Every statement given
at the capitol and the executive end of |
pennsylvania avenue was aieng that
line II
What Probably Occurred.
The most plausible explanation of the
whole business would appear to be this: |
Mr. Cuyler and President Harding had |
a long conference in the morning at the
White House office and then had another |
long talk in the evening at the executive |
mansion. Under the spell of Mr.. Hard
mg's warm personality and persuasive |
Mr. Cuyler felt the influence
OF presidential command. He had been
told that If the proposals weren't ac-
tod Erra glsaH 4
worse and the country would suffer and
that as a move Of eXpediency in the
interest of the public welfare irrespec-
tive of the question of principle. en-
seniority rights, the plan should be ac-
cepted
Mr. CuyIer went to New York to SEE
what he could do. When he got theI
he found an amazingly hostile atmo.
phere. He saw he would be unable [ }
turn the tide even If he fought hare
Secretary Hoover had been asked /,
make the plea for the administration
convince the executives. It is said that
when Robert LOvett in a quiet and nm
dramatic way stated that he couldn't
20 back on the loyal men in his employ.
On emotional outburst of applause swept
the meeting.
Harding May Alter Plan.
So Mr.. Harding's arguments made
tives organization didn't carry convic-
ton. He has the alternative of modify
ing his proposal or sticking to his guns
and laying the case in person before the
railway executives. Mr.. Harding may
decide to reply by letter to the execu-
Iives pointing cut that since they have
agreed to abide by all the decisions of
he labor board as contemplated by the
act. the seniority dispute
might be resolved by the board later on.
The President has let it be known that
substantial progress has been made bv
he announced acceptance by both sides
1f the principal point in his proposal
recognition of the United States labor
boards decisions. Some formula must
he devised. however for the actual re-
turn of the strikers even though the
seniority question is left undetermined e
rs some roads would have to dismiss 5
to receive back into their /
employ the men who went on strike.
Several roads can take both groups back ,
and eliminate later but eastern roads
claim they couldn't handle the surDlus
and ouoht not to be expected to carry
that extra expense.