The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-09-13
new PLAN
OF STRIKE
SETTLEMENT

Trying to Il e a c h
Agreement on Basis
Of Individual Rail
roads
Washington. Sept. (By the As
sociaSed Press) On the basis of
reports to certain administration
leaders, a more optimistic view of
the railroad strike situation was
apparent today in government cir
c1es than in the past week.
Several officials. who have been
in close personal touch with
strike developments, declared that
settlement of the labor contro-
.versv on number Of roads was a
.tproba ble'' result Of the series of
conferences which they understood
to be in progress in Chicago.
The extent to which the nego-
.tiations might go toward effecting
a national settlement was not fore
cast lin these circles. but the hope
was expressed that partial peace
with key roads might serve-as
was the case in the bituminous
coal settlements starting
point for general settlement.
The Chicago meetings were said
to have been largely result of ef-
forts on the part of Daniel Willard
of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad,
who was understood to have asso-
ciated with him representatives of
about $4,000 miles Of operated
tracks.
Attorney General Daugherty in
statement tonight said the gov
ernlnent was not a party to any
negotiations between the railroads
and their employees but declared
that such, negotiations would not
be .interfered with by the tenn
porary restraining order issued at
Chicago.
..HThe suggestion that such neso-
tiations would Le interfered with
by the temporary restraining order
granted by Judge Wilkerson is in
my judgment wholly unjustihed.
Mr.. Daugherty said. The only
concern of the government is in
dustriai peace and the restoration
of transportation. Any conference
between the railroad executives
and their former employees to ad-
Just their grievances is in the in
.teresst Of industrial peace and would
not find any obstacle on the part
of the government
There was no development today
in connection with the legal back
fire started by the international
Brotherhood of Electrical work
ers, one group of striking crafts
through petition for a restrain
ing order to prevent enforcement
Of the governments temporary IN
junction. Conferences were held
between counsel for the union and
United States Attorney Gordon
with view to postponing the
hearing OF the petition, set for to-
morrow before Judge Bailey. but
it was decided 10 proceed with the
hearing as previously arranged.
Officially, the administration is
doing nothing to further the ne
nogtiations between railroad exc
cutives and labor chiefs with a
view to settlement Of the strike.
buf President Harding was said
to be fully informed as 20 what is
transpiring and is anxious to see
negotiations terminate in desirable
results.
Efforts to. obtain an official state
ment at the White House as to the
presidents views on the situation
resulted in an authorized state
nent that they could not with
propriety be disclosed at this time.
1t was pointed out that the Sit
uation rests in the hands OF a
number of persons, government as
vel, as railroad executives and Ia
Dor leaders. and 1t was lnolcateo
that any discussion 10y administra-
ton officials might emharras IS
those who are seeking a settle
ment.
While the rail situation was un-
derstood not to have been includea
in the subjects taken up tor eA-
tended discussion at today's cabinet
meeting. which was one OF the
briefiest sessions in some months
if was understood that some ret
erence was made to the status o.
the governments Injunction in view
of official statements that mou1-
hcation of the temporary ordef
would not be opposed wnen the
case was called in Chicago Monoes
ONE KILLED,
rupEE INJERFIl