The New York herald., 1922-08-26
CONFERENCE ENDS
Further Talk Is Futile,
Well Show Them We
Know How to Fight
Jewell Declares.
BIG FIVE GIVE UP HOPE
Quit as Mediators, Saying
Neither Side Will Bulge
on Seniority.
ROADS SEE STRIKE WON
Formerly 100 P. c. Closed Shop
Now in Fragments, One
Executive Declares.
ROADS SEE STRIKE WON

The railroad brotherhoods yesterday
abandoned their efforts to end the
shop strike because" they said, both
parties insisted throughout the nego-
tiations that their respective conten-
tions were based on principles which
could not be set aside and which must
be observed at all costs"
The issue on which the conference
split was seniority. Seventy per cent
OF the roads withdrew from the dis
cussion after Wednesdays meeting
because the strikers refuse to work
unless their seniority rights are re-
stored. The remaining 80 per cent
hoped to find way around by letting
unsettled disputes hang fire for thirty
or sixty days and then submitting
them to arbitration. but the shopmen
refused again.
"Nothing More to Suggest"
This is the fourth time Intervention
has failed. In letter to Daniel VIII
lard, chairman of the executives COM
mittee, and Bert NJ. Jewell. president
of the shopmen's union, the FIVE broth
erhood mediators said:
I'VE reluctantly notify all concerned
that we consider further efforts fitife
and with much regret announce that we
have nothing more to suggest"
As soon as the conference broke ur'
leaders of the shopmen's unions wired
20 their iieutenants throughout the
United States:
I'VE have gone the full limit in the
interest OF peace. II We must fight
tce'H shoto irc knoto hotc. Now that the
issue is again clearly defined and false
hopes OF early peace disspated the fight
must be renewed with increased vlgor
and every man must do his full part TO
bring II to an early and successful con-
clusion. What will be your answer to
the challenger"
Raiload executives and labor chiefs
packed their bags last night and re-
turned to their homes, satisfied that
nothing further will be gained BY talk.
Before leaving for Chicago Bert NJ.
Jewell leader of the shopmen, said:
I'VE shall be content 10 let the condi-
ton OF equipment prove chat the rail-
roads cannot operate with unskilled
strike breakers. We can and we will
fight for our terms and for a nation
wide settlement"
Say Roads Have Won.
A railroad executive declared the
roads have won. Jewell had 100 per
cent. closed shop" organization on July
|, the day the strike began Now. he
said, the six shop craft unions are in
fragments. These are the carmen. boiler
makers, machinists. blacksmiths, sheet
metal workers and electricians. They
were organized under Government con
trci during the war. IN normal times
they employ 400, 900 men.
In his message to the strikers Mr..
Jewell said:
THE leaders Of the so-called stand
patters among the executives have
boasted that their stand would be tho
big gun that would finish this fight.
They have boasted that as soon as the
men saw how confident the roads were
they would come running and crawling
back begging for their Jobs under any
conditions that the executives chose 10
make. Are they good judges OF men1
The answer is for the men TO make.
Your officers in your name accepted the
challenge they made.
Shall a small coterie OF men change
free men into slaves by making men
suffer loss of their rights earned by
years of service for exercising their
rights as men to lawfully strike against
intolerable conditions?
I'VE believe the railway executives
are mistaken. and this mistake Is in
some measure due TO the fact that the
news OF the conference and OF possible
peace have deferred our membership
from actively prosecuting the strike, and
the executives mistake this we'll intended
inactivity for apathy and indifference.
Despite the boast OF tho executives
(Which sounds like the little boy whls-
tiIng to keep UP his courage), we know.
and Government reports show. that the
number OF bad order cars and engines
Is increasing daily and at an alarming
rate. with honest and adequate inspec-
tion enforced the number would be
doubled over night.
'"rhe conferences have shown that the
group Of roads which have been con-
ferrlng will at present make no conces-
sions, They stand firm on the position
of the Association OF Railway Execu-
tives, which refuses seniority rights.
Cannot Compromise Seniority.
This refusal Of seniority rights to
union men IL is now clear. Is not for
the purpose OF keeping promises to
strike breakers but solely for the purpose
OF disciplining the men Tor a legal and
justified strike. This is a position which
the men cannot compromise.
ITO go back TO work under such terms
would mean defeat. when, as a matter
of fact, we are victorious. The break
down of equipment and the shortage Of
Continued on Page Two.