New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-15
Hooper Admits
His Rail Peace
Plea Has Failed
Conference Has Developed
Fundamental Obstacles,
Says Board Chairman;
Loses Hope of Settlement
Issues Merely Cleared
Wage and Shop Rules Are
Principal Points ON Which
Roadsand UnionsD Disagree
By Gilman Parker

SI1lSANC, July 19.--AILeT an Hil-ddy
conference between Ben w. Hooper,
chairman of the Railroad Labor Board,
and B. M. Jewell, director of the shop
mems strike, in an attempt to settle
the controversy, Mr.. Hooper issued a
statement tonight virtually admitting
the failure of his efforts and asserting
that it was evident the differences at
stake were fundamental.
The two sides, he said, found they
could agree on some points at issue,
notably abolition of the contracting Of
work, but on others, such as procedure
for adjustment of wages and the re-
storation of seniority rights to the
strikers, they were wholly unable to get
together The sole virtue discovered by
Chairman Hooper in the parleys was
| that perhaps as a result of all this
| discussion both parties have clearer
conception Of the issues"
|. Taking part also in the conference
were Timothy Healy, of the Firemen's
and Oilers Union, and P. E. Crowley
and J. E. Murray, representing the
New York Central Lines ..
Firemen and Oilers Out Monday
Other important developments of the
day were:
Timothy Healy, president of the
brotherhood of Stationary Firemen and
Oilers. announced that an order had
been sent to the 5000 railroad work
ers of that organization, sanctioning
strike next Monday morning. Many
OF these workers are employed at round
houses and their going out is expected
further to cripple the movement of
LOGON olives. Some already are out on
| sympathetic strikes.
b. r: Cradle, president of the
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way
Workers, denounced the move made by
| I. c. Carroll, head of the organization rs
Chairmen's Association, to precipitate
strike Of the 400 900 maintenance
workers, accusing him "of waving the
red flag" and declaring that such a
strike, if called, would be unlawful.
He added that only twenty-four out
OF 1877 general chairmen want a strike.
Mr.. Cradle left for Washington late in
the day, presumably to see President
Harding.
Clerks, freight handlers and express
and station employees of the Big Four
Railroads began the taking Of strike
vote.
The Wabash Railroad, in starting in
| junction proceedings in the Federal
Court at Little Rock, Ark, sought
s1,5o0,o0 damages from the strikers,
which the road claims it has suffered
at their hands. These proceedings, it
| is believed, were filed with an eye to
the Coronado coal case decision. An
other road, the Baltimore & Ohio, in
seeking an injunction at Indianapolis
said it had incurred 500 900 damages
named Mr.. Jewell as the chief defen-
dant, and accused him and the other
strike chiefs of violating the Sherman
act. The same road later obtained a
F., temporary restraining order at Ham
mond, Ind.
Hooper's Statement
Chairman Hooper's statement after
to-day's conference said:
! "For several days l have been en-
deavoring to find some common ground
upon which both parties could stand
consistently with their own interests
and with the supreme rights Of the
public.
| "Conclsely, the respective positions
Of the carriers and the leaders of the
labor organizations are as follows:
THE preliminary question of con-
ference between the railway executive
and the heads of the organizations
was disposed of agreeably to both
sides. 1T was suggested that the Rail
road Labor Board reopen or resume
the strike hearing held two weeks ago
10 this both parties readily agreed
Such hearing, with an intervening
recess, would have furnished ample OBJ
portunity for private conference Of the
representatives of the two sides.
| 1T was suggested by me, however,
that it was useless to have the hearing
and conference unless there was a
prospect of reaching an agreement.
Both sides concurred in this.
After a full discussion it was con-
clusively evident that the differences
were fundamental.
Mr.. Jewell and his associates sue-
gested four things for consideration.
set out in the order of their impor-
ttiance-namely, the contract question.
| the protested rules embraced in board
occasions, the recent wage decision and
| the establishment of national ad-
Iustment board. Incidentally, they de-
manded that after satisfactory ad
lustment of the four matters named
all men out on strike should be rein
stated in their former positions with
out impairment Of their rights of semi.
GRITTY. 70 - 'ei'-
Wipe Out Contract System
THE carriers suggested that thew
would undertake to meet the first re-
guest of the employees by wiping out
the contract system on the two or
three roads where it still exists. Thev
expressed the belief that this could he
done and the boards decision aoai, 81
TINS practice made effective on ali
roads. vi al
The railway executives further
agreed to establish regional boards If
adjustment similar to those alreadv
IN operation for the train and eng;ne
service men, eng 'fie
The executives would not agree that
the strikers, when they returned to
the service, should take the position g
and the seniority of the new men and
Tue men VINO had remained in service.
AS to the rule decision and the
wage decision of the Railroad Labor
Board, the carriers took the posjt;on
that the shopcrafts were at liberty to
petition the board for a rehearino ~
these decisions, in which hearing the
carriers would participate and bv tho
result Of which they would abide.
MT. Jewell and his associates in
sisted that the carriers must agree IN
satisfactory modification of both the
wage and the rule decisions Of the
BOARD before the strike is called off.
Inc executives declined to consider
tnese two decisions, except in connec-
'ion wlth a rehearing by the board.