The New York herald., 1922-07-20
ALL ATTEMPTS FAIL
TO END Rail STRIKE
Hooper Finds No Hope Of
Breaking Deadlock Over
Seniority Rights.
AGREE ON OTHER ISSUES
Chairman Of Board Believes
Carriers Would Reopen the
Wage Question.
AGREE ON OTHER ISSUES

CHICAGO. July 10 ASSOCIATED Press).
Failure of all efforts to bring about
the settlement of the countrywide
strike OF the railway shopmen was
announced in a statement issued to-
night by Ben. w. Hooper. chairman of
the United States Railroad Labor
Board
"As there does not seem to be any
probability of reconciling the antipodal
views of the carriers and the men on
and none OF its members are not en-
gagged in any further efforts along
that line" The statement said.
At the same time the statement
had been reached between the rail
heads and the strike leaders on all the
five points In dispute except that OF
the return to the strikers of their
seniority rights. question which was
not originally in dispute between the
roads and their men.
Railroad executives through the West
ern presidents committee on public rela-
tions of the Association of Railway Ex-
ecutives. Issued a statement tonight
corroborating Chairman Hoopers state
ment that no further peace conferences
were being held and that the seniority
issue was the principal stumbling block
Hinges on Seniority.
There are now no conferences In
progress looking to settlement OF the
shopcrafts strike" the executives state
ment said. Chairman Hooper of the
Labor Board has held informal confer
encss with some railway executives. but
these have had no results and are now
at an end.
Since the strike was called the So
called question Of seniority rights has
arisen and has now become one Of i'm
portance."
Chairman Hooper's statement said a
conference was held last Saturday be-
tween B. NJ. .Gewell, head Of the shop
men; A. O. Wharton. labor member of
the board. and Mr.. Hooper and heads of
the seven striking organizations. when
Mr.. Jewell indicated he would be willing
to submit to his committee an agreed
program II the carriers concurred In 1t.
The program. Mr.. Hooper's statement
said, was as follows: First, that the
carriers which had arbitrarily changed
the wages and working conditions of the
employees represented by said seven or
ganizations. by means OF the contract
system, in violation of the Railroad
Labor Boards decisions. should with
rat He'd
to only few roads. as the others had
heretofore announced their Willingness
to cancel such contracts. The principal
of those that have not yet made such
announcement are the Erie and Western
Maryland.
Second, that the authority granted by
the Transportation act to the carriers and
their employees to set UP an adjustment
board or boards ne exercised by the es-
IA blishment of national adjustment
board, with the entire jurisdiction au-
thorized by said act. namely. the hear
ing of all disputes except those affecting
wages.
Seven Disputed Rules.
Third that the employees involved In
the strike proceed In conformity with
the TRANSPORTATION act in the settlement
Of the disputed rules and wages. seek
ing from the Railroad Labor Board
rehearing of the recent wage decision
and promptly submitting the seven dis
puted rules to the adjustment board with
the statutory right of appeal to the La
Dor Board.
Fourth. the carriers to withdraw or
dismiss all law suits growing out OF the
strike.
Fifth. all men now on strike. those
al
sence to be returned TO work and their
former positions with seniority and
other rights unimpaired.
"As a method for securing confer
ence fully representing the carriers ana
the employees concerned II was contem-
plated that the Labor Board should call
a hearing for that purpose"
Mr. Hooper. discussing the negotia-
tions, said he had submitted the proposal
to several railway executives with the
prou,ise that II tentative agreement
could be reached Il was TO be submitted
to other executives. Mr. Hooper said
ne understood the program had been laid
before a large number OF executives.
NV Investigation of the attitude OF
the carriers has convinced me" his state
ment said, that no serious obstacle is
Ia be found in any of Tie items above
enumerated. except the firth.
"Only sixteen or 2Ol Class roads
had entered into the contracting out OF
shop work. and most Of them have now
discontinued H." his statement continued.
And added that "the great majority Of
the carriers would be pleased to see the
few remaining roads withdraw from H."
The carriers raised no objection to re-
opening the wage decision and the dis
pute regarding seven protested rules, he
said. and declared that "the foregoing
disposition OF contracts. wages and rules
would remove from conflict all three OF
the questions upon which strike votes
we're taken"