Evening star., 1922-08-12
Fate of "Finar' Proposal to
Be Settled at ParIeys
This Afternoon.
GOVERNMENT LEADERS
TO BE AT CONFERENCE
Hooper, Hoover, Davis and Cum
minis Expected at White House
When Unions Reply.
Bv the Associated Press.

noon announced that they had
agreed ON a response to President
HardinE's latest strike settlement
y proposal.
The response was understood to
be a rejection of the proposition to
leave seniority OF strikers to the
decision of the Railroad Labor
Board, but NO statement was made.
Promise of an carly answer by the
eeven striking shopmen's unions to
President Hardings latest and final
strike settlement proposal was seen
in an announcement from the White
House that the railroad union leaders
had made an engagement to call at
c:3o o'clock this afternoon on the
President
There also wore Indications given
by the union chiefs themselves as
they went into conference shortly
after 10 o'clock that the discussions
which have been in progress for two
days had reached a point where 1t
would not take long to formulate the
response to the Presidents proposal,
The labor leaders again today refused
TO challenge the suggestion that
the reply of the unions would be a
rejection of the proposal.
Executives to Follow.
Tho union leaders. in filling their
engagement at ESQ o'clock at the
White House, will give their reply
two hours in advance of the presen-
Of
conditional acceptance, voted yester-
bday in New York. The executives
committee, appointed at the general
meeting of executives IN New York
and directed to present the response
of the arrangements TO the Presi-
dent. was scheduled to arrive in
Washington just about the time the
union leaders were due to reach the
White House. The executives COM
mittee had-an engagement to see the
President at 4:30 o'clock.
The reply of the unions, it was In
dicated, will be presented to the
President not only by the chiefs of
the seven unions on strike, but by
the whole body of railroad labor
leaders. including the officials of the
operating brotherhoods. who have
been in conference here. 1t will be
signed. however. only by the unions
on strike.
Hooper Sees President.
. Chairman Hooper of the Railroad
Labor Board conferred with the Presi-
dent during the morning. Mr.. Hooper
IN Woc y, ipo sir
day. and during that time has con-
terred both with the President and
with the union chiefs.
Chairman Hooper. On leaving the
White House, said he would be present
when the union leaders call on the
President. and it was intimated in
other quarters that Secretaries Hoover
end Davis and Chairman Cummins of
the Senate interstate commerce COM
mittee also would be at the White
House at the same time. Senator Cum
snins had long conference last night
with the President.
Assemble "Hazard" Data
Several hours of discussion by the
railroad labor heads yesterday
ment AS to the nature of proceedings.
hut no one challenged the reiterated
prediction that the Presidents sug-
Sestion that the shopmen return to
work and leave the question of their
seniority rating to the Railroad Labor
Board would be rejected. The general
conference appears to have been more
concerned yesterday with assembling
data as to hazardous" conditions re-
kulting from the shop strike, which
are leading members of non-striking
labor groups to refuse to handle
araius in particular sections.
Whether the government would re-
gard the action of the railroad eXecu-
1i:es as an acceptance of the PreSi-
Sl,nt's plan in view of the conditions
attached remained to be determined
~ hen the text of the reply had been
studied Press forecasts of the con-
ditions fixed by the rail heads were
k1sken in some administration quar-
hers as attacking the basis of the
PRESIDENTS plan. but authorized COM
aucnt was hacking.
4. =. VIII Give Protection.
Pending actual presentation of the
scp!ies OF both sides at the White
Mouse. overnight developments in the
Srotest walkout movement among the
1rain service brotherhoods indicated
that this phase of the problem might
byershadow soon the direct effect of
.he shop strike itself. The cabinet
had much information on the subject
at hand when it met yesterday, but
nrcss reports brought in new advices
every hour.
!, majority of the walkouts reported
,.ere in protest against the employ
,rcnt of troops and armed guards in
connection with the shop strike. The
Federal government is concerned only
So far as deputy marshals at various
,,oints are classed as armed guards
frbere are no federal troops on strike
-juty. National Guards, under order of
Governors being the only military
Force employed thus far.
Nevertheless, it was authoritatively
,sted for the administration yester-
fay that no strike of any character
!, Guild prevent the government from
Erecting its agencies to protect life
d property where necessary. Be
: opd that broad assertion of govern
b. kntal purpose. no comment on the
4, Tctsst walkout situation was avail
ybIe In administration circles.