The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-08-23
ROAD HEADS
To STAND PAT
ON SENIORITY
Railway Presidents Go Into
Session to Vote on Reply to
Mediation Proposals ls-Can
Awaited by Brotherhoods.
COUNTER PROPOSAL UP
(Rx Associated Pressl

NEW YORK, Aug. 23.-Americen
railroad presidents went into session
this afternoon at the Yale club to vote
on a resolution embodying the reply
to be made to last weeks proposals
by mediating brotherhood chiefs for
settlement of the shopmen's strike.
1t was understood that the carriers
heads at their morning session had
voted unanimously to stand pat on
their refusal to reinstate strikers with
full seniority rights, but that the reply
would contain counter-proposals which
would leave the doors to peace open.
This reply, it was expected, would
be conveyed to the mediators late to-
day.
A statement issued by the brother
hoods mediation committee read:
The mediation committee of the five
transportation brotherhoods has re-
turned to New York to be of any serv-
ice possible to effect a settlement
We are holding ourselves in readiness
to confer with the executives when
ever they desire and are keeping in
touch with union officials"
To Transmit Answer
1t was announced that a meeting of
the mediation committee and the COM
mittee of executives who drew up the
resolutions would be held at the
Grand Central terminal at o'clock
today, at which time the answer of
the carriers would be transmitted
''The strike can be settled. because
it must be settled, because the public
demands a settlement" the statement
rIa
operating the trains form that part of
the public which knows best why set
tlement must come. We hope that
patience will establish peace. and we
believe newspaper propaganda by
either side will produce nothing but
embarrassment for both sides.
Two Hour Discussion
The executives convened In the
the proposals and adjourned at 1880
than two hours.
Although no official statement was
forthcoming, it was reported that GER
tain counter proposals had been under
discussion.
This was taken to indicate that
should the executives not accept the
doors to peace would still be left
open.
'The situation looks mighty ser
ious," Howard Elliott, of the Northern
Pacific, said to colleague on leav.
ing the meeting.
Heads OF the western lines entered
the conference full of optimism-as
(, they have entered each of the two pre-
vious conferences when President
Harding through his peace proposals
adopted the role of mediator.
WHAT Strike Settled.
| Frankly and unresevedly these
western chiefs want the strike settled
and express a willingness to make
any practical concession which will re-
| lieve their roads of a growing short
age of usable rolling stock with
bumper crop nearly upon them and
coal mining already being resumed on
a large scale.
Gas we have already indicated, :"
said the president of a large road
which serves the upper Mississippi
valley states terminating at Chicago.
I'VE believe we could take back every
man without having to release sin
gle OF the new men now in our shops
| Need Men Back.
| "The seniority question? Well, we
are not In position to dictate We
need our men and are willing to take
them back with their old rights If it
can be arranged to the satisfaction of
those now in our employ"
! Opposing this attitude, and with
forces more compactly mustered were
the heads of the powerful eastern
roads led by L. F. Loree of the Della
ware & Hudson. W. w Atterbury, of
the Pennsylvania, A. H. Smith of the
New York central, Frederick Under
wood of the Erie, and E. ]. Pearson
Of the New Haven. Their roads are
in excellent condition; their shops are
well manned; they are near to the
largest labor markets, and they main
tain they are ready to back their
pledge to stand by the loyal men who
refused to strike and the new men
whom they hired on promise to put
them ahead of strikers on the senior
ity rolls"
Willard May Join.
The only eastern president about
, when this group expressed any up-
. easiness was Daniel Willard, who it
was said might join the peace al
| any price" delegation from the west
? Of which Hale Holden, president of
, the C. B. G. G.. and S. NJ. FELTON, oil
! the Chicago Great Northern. were
J pointed out as leaders.
Several developments of late yes
terday injected spirit of uncertainty
t into the ranks of the executives and
: brought predictions in some sources
> that a re-alignment would set in a:
t soon as these new factors were recog
t nized at the conference
$ The granting of 20 per cent In
| crease to about 300,0 900 steel corpora
5 tion employees was generally looked up
: on as a sinister omen for the "die
E hards" element. 1t came "a hours be
s fore this session it was declared, a.
= the ultimate argument of the powerful
banking interests who invest in bot
Y steel and railroads andNwho for week
e are known to have urged the rail exc
/ cutives to capitulate, was the view
l. in some quarters.
4 Another factor the significance o
d which there was much speculation
was the expected arrival from Europ'
e today on the same ship of three east
8 ern rail presidents, who it was be