The Washington herald., 1922-07-13
UNIONS SDENY FORCE
~
Jewell B | a m e s Roads
Hired Gunmen" for.
Violence. ,%s,, s,s5
'sfqf
ON
LABOR BOARD HEAD
is STILL HOPEFULs
More Troops Are Sent to
Clinton, ILL.,, Where
Riot Is Feared.

CHICAGO. July Ia.-Hope, Of n
speedy settlement in the strike Of
100000 railroad shopmen wer.
smashed tonight when railroad ex-
ecutives rejected the proposal Of
Ben W. Hooper, chairman Of the
United States Railroad Labor Bosra
that they begin peace negotiations
with the strikers.
The railroad officials advised
Hooper that they could not pariey
for peace under present circum-
stances" and this was taken TO
mean that they would continue 10
refuse to enter negotiations as long
as the shopmen are on strike.
The communication reiterates the
position Of the railroads that the
strike is conflict between the Ia
Dor board and the shop crafts
unions which the carriers prefer.
not to enter as active participants.
VIII Not Enter Conference.
The railroads. it is stated. have
no intention of entering any confer
ence which has as its object the
abrogation, mobilization or even the
reopening OF the decisions already
handed down by the board srect-
ing wages and working conEft .orz.
and which resulted in the stvlks of
shopmen.
Following Hooper's receipt - fae
communication Of the rsrron1 rem
resentatives President Bert u lew
ell. of the associated shup crsfts
unions. would make no conraent-
although Jewell's recent secret ses-
sions with Hooper led VI % the
latter's proposals 10 the carriers.
VIII Wire Pre.Idsnt
Jewell said. however thsL he
would dispatch a telegram - Ptcei--
dent Harding in the morrirs re
refused to intimate what Hf egs-
tents would be. but IL wa htiieved
that It would deal length.ly with
the latest refusal Of the cgr-sCrs 10
negotiate with the shopm. a.
The text Of the carriers reply TO
Hooper is. in part:
Replying to your inquiry Of
Messrs. Bush. Colo. Lore and Fell
ton on the occasion OF your call
this morning, we beg TO say that
while we. as chalrmen OF confere nee
committees relating to railroad
matters in the several sections Of
the country are without author ty
to speak Ior individual companies.
we have no reason TO believe that
meeting between the railroad COM
panies and representatives Of the
striking employees can be arranged
under present circumstances
Is Not Their Issue.
This strike is a refusal to ac-
cept the results Of the arb "a -icn
of the United States Railroad Labor
Board pursuant TO law. after eN-
haustive hearings in which all par
ties concerned were fully Her-d
After respectful conside stion ~
your inquiry. the conclusi, sens
necessarily to follow. becaU ~ ths
strike thereafter. called in deaaEca
Of the decision and orde of tls
United States Railroad Labor Sos "a
-decis'on number lOs6-and the
controlling provisions OF the trans
portation act, that the issue thus
raised is not one for consideration
between the carrier and the repre-
sentatives of the organized crafts
on strike. except through the fur
ther orderly processes before the
United States Railroad Labor Board.
as contemplated by the transporta-
tion act.
Such Farley Intolernble.
This conclusion is confirmed by
statements which have appeared in
the public press to the effect that
these representatives are willing TO
abandon this strike and return TO
service only on condition that they
be relieved from acceptance Of the
mature decision OF the labor board
in the case referred to.
No conference for that purpose.
Is in our judgment. permissible nor
tolerable. because Il would place the
carriers participating therein in ap-
parent cooperation with those on
strike in seeking TO find means 10
subvert tn decision OF the labor
board
''on the other hand, a prompt re-
call OF the strike order would per-
NIT resumption OF former methods
OF conference and permit the con-
sideration of any matters which
representatives of employees might
desire to submit"
BIsmes Hired Gunmen.
Jewell issued a statement tonight
which. besides denying the unions
are responsible for violence that
has occurred in the strike, indi-
Gated he expects the wslkout 70
continue in force.
| Jewells statement was inter
preted as a reply to the proclama-
tion Of President Harding calling
on all citizens to aid in maintain
ing order. Jewell emphatically de-
MED the strikers, as a body. are
inciting violence at shop centers.
and declared IL has been caused BY
q few irresponsibles" and by gun
men hired by the railroads"
He quoted recent union orders 90
the men threatening any OF them
who committed violent acts with
expulsion.
The strike will be won by or