The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-07-28
Rail Peace in Sight.


 Washington, July 2S-The paralyz- ing railroad strike is we'll on the way to settlement and President Harding was able to inform his cabinet when it met today that TOT the first tune in weeks the industrial skies of the nation are brightening and not dark ening.
 While everyone concerned with the peace plans adopted 'Sh-sh-h' at titude today-.'dOn'u breath or you may spoil it''-it was learned offer ally that from suggestions made and now under consideration by both rail- road executives and strike 1eaGers, 1t is considered entirely probable that the workers will be back at their jobs on all roads within a week.
 At least the strike will be 90 per cent. over,i was the optiT -Ic view point of one cabinet offfcel
 Harding Watches All Angles.
 So far IS could hy- ascertained to- day, Presiden Harding laid out no cut and dried program of settlement in the conferences which continued at the White House until nearly mid night last night and which probably will be continued today and tomoI- rise What the President did, ac- corG-nG to administration spokesmen today. was to impress on both sides the incalculable gravity of the whole situation and to point out that a set tiement must be speedily effected if the country is to escape one of the worst winters in recent seasons.
 Members of the Interstate Com- merce Commission. from their expert knowledge and confidential reports on the railroad situation had in- formed the President that unless the strike is settled, within two weeks the entire railroad structure of the coun- try is threatened with collapse be- cause of impaired equipment and lack of fuel
 President Harding did suggest, it Was learned today, that the strikers rt tuln to work Enmediately-on all roads if possible and if not then on those roads willing to restore the se- niority rights vacated by the strikers when they left thesh ops four weeks ago
 advisement by the striking shop probable that within IS hours the leaders will inform tNe White House of their willingness 70 return.
 Union Leaders Conrerring.
 Meanwhile the shop craft leaders are conferring among themselves and T Dewitt Cuyler. president of thaq Association of Railway Executives. has called 9 meeting of the heads of 14S railroad systems for New York next Tuesday This Will be one of the greatest single gatherings or railway executives in years and the policies there adopted may have an import ant bearing on future railroad h1s- tory,
 Settlement of the whole controversy apparently hinged today around the question of seniority rights of the strikers. That was the rock which broke the railway labor boards ef- forts to settle the walkout ten days ago and it still remaTns the big oo- stacle in the pathway of the Presi- dents efforts.
 B. M. Jewell. national director of the strike, and his six shopcrafts as- sociates informed the President last night, it is understood that the strike could be called off within 24 hours upon the assurances that all the roads of the country would restore the semi ority rights of those men WHO went out and upon assurances that the latest wage cut decreed by the rail- way labor board would be made the subject of a rehearing.