The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, August 1, 1922, Page 1

i Se ¥ THE WEATHER UNSETTLED STABLISHED 1878 \ HE BISMARC BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA, TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1922 LEWIS SUMMONS OPERATORS FOR WAGE PARLEY President of United Mine Workers Calls Conference to Be Held in Cleveland OPERATORS AGAINST Indicate That They Will Not Participate in Meeting Called by Lewis (By the Associated Press) Pittsburg, Pa, Aug. 1.—The Pittsburgh Coal Producers’ As- sociation today declined the pro- posal of John L. Lewis of the United Mine’ Workers, for a four state conference: to settle the coal strike, but declared in a message to Mr. Lewis that it was willing to meet the mine work- ers’ organization in this district to “negotiate a wage scale for | the district.” i (By the Associated Press) Philadelphia, Aug. 1—A joint wage conference of operators and miners of the Central Competitive. Bitum- inous fields, to be held in Cleveland next Monday for the purpose of ne- gotiating a basic agreement designed to terminate the present coal strike was called today by John L, Lewis, international president of the Unitea Mine Workers. President Lewis also .summoned the general policy committee of the union to meet in Cleveland at the same time for the purpose of acting promptly upon developments as they may occur in the joint wage confer- ence, All men will remain‘on strike until an agreement or a definite un- derstanding is reached. In connection with the call for th. interstate conference, President Lew- is gave out the following statement: “In issuing an invitation to the coal operators of the central com- petitive field to assemble in joint conference in Cleveland on August 7, I am. actuated by the ‘highest con- sideration of public welfare and tha impelling necessity for an early ad- judication of the issues involved in the bituminous and anthracite coal fields. | Industrial Convulsion. “This strike, unparalleled. in its magnitude is now in its eighteenth week and constitutes an industrial convulsion which menaces the finan- cial social fabric of our nation. Aside from the tremendous personal sacri- fices so bravely endured by the mine; workers the strike is exacting penal-| ties from every citizen of our land and is closing down the channels of commerce and disturbing the realms of finance and credit throughout the civilized world. Its effect will con-' tinue to be felt long after its ter- mination and the burden will fall heaviest upon those least able to bear it. “In consideration, of these facts,; and notwithstanding the powerful po-| sition of advantage now enjoyed by the mine workers, we have resolved to again attempt to assemble a con-j| ference where passion will be al- layed and reason predominate. We} are able to fight indefinitely but; much prefer the pursuits of peace to! the ills of industrial warfare. We) feel that the American public will support our offer to meet at the con- ference table and will encourage the corporate interests involved to have their representatives present,” It is expected the make-up of the conference will follow as nearly as possible those of other years. The| miners will probably be represented by eight men from each of the four states. The representation of the operators will depend dpon the num- ber that respond to the call. It'has| been repeatedly stated by leaders of} the union a conference would be call-! ed as soon as astarances were had/ that sufficient tonnage would be rep- resented to make possible a basic) wage agreement. Nothing could be learned as to the amount. of tonnage pledged to attend the meeting. WILL CONSIDER IT. Chieago, Aug. 1.—illinois coal operators will pass on John L, Lewis’ invitation for a central competitive field conference when the state opez- ators scale committee meets here Friday, Dr. F. C. Honnold, secretary of the Illinois Coal Operators’ asso-! ciation said today. Dr. ed that his. personal 0} the sentiment in Illinois would be in line with that expressed by Indiana. NO CONFERENCE—KAVANAUGH. St. Louis, Aug. 1—“There will bej no point interstate conference of the former central competitive field,” and “Mr. Lewis knows this to be true,” W. W. Kavanaugh, president of the coal operators association of the Fifth and Ninth districts of Illi- nois, said here yesterday. “There is nothing further to say at this time, Mr. Kavanaugh issued a statement yesterday that’ covers the case,” is the statement issued from Mr. Kavanaugh’s headquarters here today. Mr. Kavanaugh is an election of- ficial and could not be reached per- sonally for a statement early today. day. 1 INDIANA OPERATORS REJECT. Indianapolis, Aug; 1.—Indiana oper- ators will not attend/ the conference called at Cleveland by President John L. Lewis of the miners’ ‘union for the (Continued on Page 3) 10 REPORTED DEAD AS FAST TRAIN CRASHES INTO CROWDED EXCURSION TRAIN CARRYING NEGRO PASSENGERS ‘Ry the Associated Press) Cincinnati, Aug. 1.—Ten per- sons were reported killed and 25 to 30 injured in a head-on col- lision today between a north- bound negro excursion train and south bound passenger train No. 11 from Dayton, on the Cincin- nati, Lebannon, and Northern railroad at Lester station, a sub- urb of Cincinnati today. ¢ The south bound train No. 11, composed of five cars behind ihe locomotive crashed into the:north bound ‘special excursion train of three cars, carrying several hun- dred negroes to a picnic at . Highland Grove. The two trains came together “with a terrific force, telescop- ing each other. The splintering crash and the INCENDIARISM TS CAUSE OF BiG FIRE LOSS Heavy Increase in Losses of Insurance Companies Dur- ing 1921 Is Shown DEFALCATIONS ALSO Increase Shown in Losses of Surety Companies During Readjustment Period Incendiarism has caused immense losses to insurance companies oper- ating in North Dakota, in the last, year, it is shown in the annual re- port of S. A. Olsness, commissioner of insurance. Losses during the year 1921 to fire‘insurance companies far exceed those of other years in amount and percentage of the risks carried. The condition, it is pointed out, 13 not confined to North Dakota but isa sequence of the rapid descent from} peak prices of 1919 and. 1920, and is general throughout the country. The report’ shows that the stock fire insurance companies of the coun- try operating in North Dakota col- lected $3,491,581.53 in premiums dur- ing the year, 1921, and losses incur- red amounted to $4,003,439.84. This is in contrast to the report for the preceding year which showed the companies collected $6,150,474.69 in premiums and incurred losses of $3 626,108.28. The bysiness included is all that is written by fire insurance stock companies, including hail and | tornado insurance. Coincident with the losses sustain- ed by insurance companies is an in- crease in losses during the year 1921 for fidelity and .surety companies, the number of defalcations being lar- ger than usual. The total amount of losses paid in 1921 was $181,043.62 as compared to $86,450.27 in 1920, while the amount of the premiums collected was $257,110.63 in 1921 as compared to, $86,450.27 in 1920. Discussing the increased fire loss- es the insurance commissioner says: “Heavy fire uosses ard complained ot by all private companies writing this line of insurance, except farm miu- tuals. That incendiarism is-playing a large part in said inctease of fire losses is conceded. That the defla- tion in values of property insurance at peak war prices is responsible for and inducive, to such incendiarism is also evident.” Recommendations. Old line life insurance companies, the report shows, wrote $35,341,125.59 worth of risks in 1921 as compared to $63,208,783.00 in 1920,, while the terminations, which includes lapses, dedth claim payments and cancella- tions, was $49,112,947.90 in 1921 as compared to $31,874,629.15 in 1920. The decrease for the last year is said to be due chiefly to lapses. However, the number of new insurance com- panies in the state during the last year was 13 and it is anticipated that the number will increase this year. Recommendations made by the com- missioner are for the most part re- iterations of previous recommenda- tions. He urges, as did Insurance Commissioner W. C. Taylor in 1914, "| authorization for employment of an | actuary-examiner. He also urges a law providing supervision over in- surance rates similar to the Minne- sota law, the establishment of one or two standard classes of accident pol- jcies, that the state provide accident and sickness protection either as a separate department or as an exten- sion ofthe Workmen's Compensation Bureau, that the standard policy of life insurance be revised and that the insurance commissioner be made re- ceiver for defunct insurance com panies. VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS GO TO POLLS Richmoffd, Va., Aug. 1.—Democratic voters if this state went to the polls today to decide who shall be their nominee for the seat in the United States senate now.vccupied by Claude A. Swanson, who has been in con- gress more than twenty years. Mr. Swanson is opposed by Westmoreland Davis, a former governor. hiss of the steam were followed by the scream of the injured. The cars were entangled, twisted into each other, and presented a. terrifying aspect as those with- in sight of the scene of the crash ran to render aid. . Most, of the fatalities were among the negro occupants of the train bearing the excursion party. When the two locomotives rushed together each rebounded from the impact hurling their tenders back through the cars in the rear. ‘ Word was telephoned immedi- ately to Cincinnati and fire ap- paratus, ambulances, life saving squads and patrol men and fire- men were rushed to the scene to give what aid was possible. IMANY KILLED | AND INJURED (By the Associated Press) Paris, Aug. 1—Forty persons were i killed and fifty others injured in a | collision between two trains of pil- grims to the grotto of Lourdes, one of the famous world’s shrines early ‘today. The collision occurred near Ville Comtal. 20,000 CARMEN QUIT CHICAGO'S STREET LINES Three Million Workers Hunt Improvised Methods of Transportation (By the Assoclated Press) motormen, conductors on surface and elevated lines went on strike at 4 o’clock this, morning and. the greater part of the working portion of Chicago’s nearly three million persons:,was. forced to seek, improvised. transportation. | As usual: all rolling stock -avail- able, including every variety of wheeled, pullable, pushable or motor- ized vehicle was inadequate and the brunt of the traffic fell on “shanks’ mare.” Thousands started early afoot and from well before dawn streets and avenues leading to the business and manufacturing districts seethed with pedestrians. Streets in the downtown district with the calling of the strike, automatically became one-way thoroughfares. But even that action by the police de- partment was not enough to avoid tangled jams of traffic. Hundreds of jitney busses from sur- rounding towns were on the job with the break of day. They were sum- moned days ago by Charles C. Fitz- morris, chief of police, when a strike appeared to be inevitable. Negotiations have been under way between the surface line workers and i the surface line owners for several | days after posting of ‘an order, for a wage reduction of approximately 17 per cent. There was no statement from company officials as to when an ef- fort to resume traffic would be made, but the Chicago Herald and Exam- iner in a copyrighted news story published today said{ the strike meant a wat'to the finish between the lines and the employes. The newspapef said the advange gpard of an army pf 56,000 potential new em- ployes hhd been~ ‘a! CHiesgé three weeks and that plans had been per- fected for an’ attempt to restore traffic quickly. City authorities have prepared to use at any moment the entire po- lice force of 5,000 men, and it is un-! derstood certain units of the Il nois national guard have been or- dered to be in readiness for duty. RANCHERS ARE OPTIMISTIC { Shields, N. D., Aug. 1—Farmers and ranchers west of the Missouri river have every reason to feel op- timistic these days, after a long per- iod of depression. Cattle have’ never looked better. The west-of-the river country has never seen such a heavy growth of grass. Haymaking will continue un- til snow flies. The only drawback to a great supply of winter feed is that help is scerce. For several. winters past the ranchers have been short of feed. Hay was shipped in last winter at prohibitive pricey, but the herds were kept alive. With good prospects for other rough feeds besides grass the farm- ers and ,ranchers once more feel prosperous. WOOL BLANKET TARIFF VOTED Washington, Aug. 1.—Tariff duties on woolen blankets ranging from 20. cents per pound and 30 per cent ad valorem to 40 cents per pound and 40 per cent ad valaiem, were approved by the senate by a vote of 33 to 24, The Underwood law rate ras 25 per cent ad valorem. \ IN COLLISION! Chieago, Aug. 1.—Twenty thousand | and guards! ASKS OFFIGERS TO WATCH LWW. THROUGHSTATE cular Letter to All Sheriffs, State’s Attorneys ‘WOBBLIES’ RAISE ANTE Red Card Costs $2.50 This Year Compared to $1.00 Last Year i States Atorneys and, sheriffs in North Dakota are called upon by At- j torney-General Sveinbjorn Johnson in a circular letter sent to them to- day to protect harvest workers against I. W. W. organizers who al- ready are active in the state, accord- ing to reports reaching his’ depart- ment, “The right to work as well as the right to organize is a constitutional right, and should be protected,” says the Attorney-General. “You . may count on the fullest cooperation from this office.” Investigation of all complaints of unlawful activities of the I. W. W. will be investigated and wherever the evidence warrants it arre: i be made, according to Mr. Jol First reports received of the ac- tivities of the I. W. W. were from Cass county. According to these re- ports organizers of the I. W. W. forced a man who refused to take out a red card to jump from a train moving 25 miles an hour. The I. W. W. organizers who ride the trains, according to reports here, have raised the price of the red card. Last year harvest workers from. Bis- marck going north were compelled to pay $1 for a red card. The charge made. this year is said. to be $2.50. Regular organizers of the “wobblies” are riding freight trains and forcing alternative is to force them eff the train. The attorney general’s letter fol- lows : Complaints have recently come to this office that men who come to the state to work inthe harvest field aim in’ threshing are being .thréatened: with bodily harm by I. W. W. organ. 'izers and that firearms are freely ‘used to intimidate these men. The latest complaint—and it is conclusive- ily established by proof—is thgt men {are and have been thrown off fast {moving freight trains at the point of ja gun, upon refusing’ to accept the ‘alternative of paying $2.50 for a red ,card. We shall.investigate all these ‘cases and wherever the evidence war- {rants it arrests will be made. Will you please co-operate locally jand see that men who want to work and to help to save the crop are pro- jtected against threats and intimida- tion at the hands’ of,any person. The right to work as well as the jtight to organize is a constitutional | right and should be protected. You may count on ‘the fullest co-opera- tion from this office. Yours truly, SVEINBJORN JOHNSON, Attorney General. CAPITOL P. 0. "TS PROPOSED Would Facilitate Mail De- ; liveries to Capitol . The, pastal department has begun | investigation of a proposal to estab- lish an adjunct of the local postof- {fice in the state capitol here, accord- jing to word received by Postmaster Reed. It is probable; that if the plan is | adopted, one or two men will be sta- tioned regularly in the capitol to re- jeeive and dispense mail, and to route ‘it for outgoing trains, There is held to be especial need for such a branch to handle registered mail. The proposed plan would also, it is said, make it possibse to get out much of the state capitol mail on local trains Nos. 7 and 8, in the afternoon, | and to make No, 4 in the evening with ‘much mail. which now cannot be routed in time for it. COTTON CROP | IS ESTIMATED | Washington, Aug. 1.—This year's reotton crop was placed at 11,449,000 jbales of 500 pounds gross weight in ;the second forecast of the scason ‘announced today by the department of agriculture, basing its estimate on the condition of the crop July 25, which was 70.8 per cent of a normal. There was a decline of .4 points in condition from June, 25 to July 20 the condition of June 25 having been 71.2 per cent of a normal on which the first forecast of the season 11,- 065,000 bales of 500 pounds gross weight was based, The average change in,the last‘e2n years between June 25 and July 25 was a decline of 3.9 points. 1 JEWELERS’ CONVENTION. Fargo, N. D., Aug. 11.—The North Dakota Retail’ Jewelers association will open a three days’ session here tomorrow, ,{the work on the bridge proper, but the card upon all men they can; The | To the Sheriffs and State’s Attorneys: ' TRIBUNE [21 THREE FORCES ARE NOW BUSY AT NEW BRIDGE Asphalt Crew and Road Con- struction Crews on Both Sides of River Working [RAIN DELAYS WORK Contractor on West Side Road Loses Time and Materials Through Rain | Three separate forces now are en- |gaged in completing the Missouri river bridge and the road approaches on each side, with the work in, full blast. ‘ The work on the west side of the river has been delayed by’ heavy ‘ains. The contractor is working in sandy soil. Hard rains in the last ‘several days have washed away much jof the grade thrown up on the first i Section of the road from the bridge jto a point 1,000 feet west, causing considerable loss to the contractor. | Haggart Construction company has completed laying the asphalt surface} on the bridge roadway on the first’ | two spans of the bridge and probaily ‘will finish the job within a couple of days. This will mark the last of the delay occasioned on the road on ithe west side by. washouts and some work needed on the east side may de- lay the use of the bridge. Contractor Burnstad has machin- ery on hand and is plunging into the | work of building the road on this side of the bridge. He has sublet the concrete culvert work to William Noggle of Bismarck, who also 1s starting in this work today. Mr, | Burnstad said today that the dirt ih which his men will work is for the most part fairly moist and loose so , that fast time ought to be made, in | building the road. | A ‘great deal of machinery was ‘brought here for the job, somé of it being on the road for a week. Within afew days it is expected; that not less than. 100 men will be} working on the bridge and its road japprodches, ‘Removal of the dirt! jfrom the Northern: Pacific viaduct is\ | one ofthe first steps in the final pro erm i ed % Government. engineers were ex | pected in Bismarck today to look ovet the bridge project. ‘VERDICT IS IMPOSSIBLE’ \This Was Jury Foreman’s Statement in Obenchain Case Los Angeles, Aug. 1,—Willing to remain out “a -week, a month, a year” if necessary, but admitting that a “verdict is impossible,” M. E. Pad- dock of Long Beach, foreman of the jury which today was to attempt to decide the fate of Mrs. Madalynne| Obenchain, tried for the second time for the murder of J. Belton Kennedy led the deliberators into what prom-| ised to be another brotractedy es-, sion. j James M. Rhodes, said to lead the jurors favoring agquittal thought a} ; verdict would be reached. “We are; {taking up certain lines of testimony which have not been considered by many before,” he said, Foreman Paddock stated to the court stood seven to five and the im- pression-about the hall of. justice was that the majority favored acquittal. IRREGULARS FIRE BARRACKS In an Attack Two Irregulars Were Killed.—24 Captured (By the Associated Press) Dublin, Aug. 1.—The Free State forces lost only four killed and three wounded in the capture of Tipperary. The casualties to the irregulars are unknown. The official statement describing the occupation’ of the town says that before the attack began the irregu- lars blew up the water mains, The irregulars had érected barricades in the streets. In an attack on Golden, a village near Tiperary, Friday night, two ir- regulars were killed and 24 made prisoners. Kilrush and‘. Kilkee, in county Clare have been occupied by the na- tionals. The fleeing irregulars set fire to the police barracks and the customs stations at Kilkee. Simon MacIner- ney, a prominent lescer of the irregu- lars, was found hidden in the Re- publican headquarters. WM. KENNEDY DIES. Dickinson, N. D., Aug. 1.—William Kennedy, aged 74, one of the earliest pioneers of Stark county and one of the best known residents of the coun- ty, died at his ranch home near South Heart on Monday afternoon of last week following an illness of asthma. The direct cause of his death (Leased Wire of Associated Press) PRICE FIVE CENTS Soviet Leader Alexander Grigorawitsch Schiich- iter is a new force in the affairs of ithe Russian Communists. He has ‘been named Soviet minister to ‘Vjenna.. COAL NEED IS FOUND THROUGH GOPHER SURVBY Administrator Says That Im- mediate Shipments of Fuel Are Needed GOVERNORS ARE BUSY (Ry the Assocluted Presa) ' St. Paul, Minn, Aug. .1—An ad- ditional 600 returns of questionnaires were received by. Ivan Bowen, state fuel ‘administrator this morning, completing. approximately one third of the survey of the fuel situation in the state, The latest returns, Mr. Bowen de- clared, continue to indicate the need of an immediate shipment of coal to many farming sections as well as an amount for the’ winter consider- ably in excess of previous’ estimates. None of the largest dealers‘in the state’s industrial centers have yet reported and their reports, expected within’ the’ next ‘two days, are ex- pected greatly'to swell the estimated needs of the state. Some reports have also been recived from north- ern Towa, which Mr. Bowen has cir- cularized at the request of Govern- ‘or Kendall. Word received from Governor Nestos today informed the Minne- sota administrator ‘that 1,800 ques- tionnaires have been sent out to North Dakota coal dealers to learn the present supply and the approx- imate needs in that state, Governor Nestos believes that considerable out of the Dakota needs will, be filled by lignite coal, mined in that state. He has also advised that 100 carloads a day can be sent to Minnesota if suf- ficient labor can be secured to do the mining. TO LEASE MINES Lansing, Mich., Aug. 1.—Governor Groesbeck today took preliminary steps toward securing an internal coal supply for Michigan institutions and utilities, Upon his recommend- ation, the state administration board adopted, a resolution authorizing a committee to attempt to secure op- tiong of the coal in the 14 mines in the Shadow district, take over the mines ,and operate them under state control. * ELECTION IN KANSAS TODAY Industrial Law Is Probably Most Important Issue (By the Associated Press) Topeka, Kan., Aug. 1,—Candidates for nomination for the scores of pub- lie offices in Kansas today awaited the returns from the polling booths. Indications were that an unusually heavy vote would be cast. The industrial eourt law is proba- bly the most important issue of the gubernatorial race, at least from the point of view of organized labor, which has taken a resolute stand against it and endorsed F. W. Knapp, for Republican candidate. Tom MeNeal, are the only two mas- culine Republican candidates for governor who have declared them- selves definitely opposed to the court. The Democratic candidates have al! expressed themselves as antagonistic to it, To Receive Bid: The city commission will receiv: the city for the winter and on the proposed new main sewer south of the Northern Pacific tracks. At its meeting last night the city commi sion, after allowing bills, sat a board of e a lization, approving final figures on city property. TURNER CO: RMED. Dickinson, N. D., Aug. 1.—Official notification of the confirmation of the appointment of C. C. Turner to the office of registrar-receiver of the Dickinson Land Office was received in Dickinson yesterday. The announce- ment stated that the nomination had been confirmed by the senate on July was pneumonia which was contracted several days before his death. 2ist. . He and] t Settlement cision reached by the labor board, ment, BAKER IS HELD AFTER POISONING OF 300 PEOPLE (By the Associated Press) New York, Aug. 1—Charles Abrahamson, a baker, who had heen: discharged from Shel- bourn’s restaurant at Broadway and 26th streets, was arrested on a homicide charge today fol- lowing an investigation of the poisoning of more than 100 per- sons—three of whom are dead— who ate in the restdurant yes- terday. Officials of the medical examiner's office reported that a quantity of berry pies, baked before Abrahamson left the res- taurant’s employ, had been heay- ily charged with arsenic, MISSOURIANS VOTING: TODAY Democratic Race for U. S. Senator Is Chief Feature (By the Associated Press) St. Louis, Aug. 1—Missouri polls opened this morning for the first pri- mary election in which women of the state have taken part. The weather prediction is fair and hot. Nominally, because of the har- vest season, the rural vote would be light, but political leaders are look- ing for a fairly heavy ballot because! of the activity of the women voters and the bitterness with which the campaign has been waged. ! ' The Democratic race for United States senator, between Senator James A. Reed and Breckenridge Long, third assistant secretary of state, under President Wilson has overshadowed every other issue. There are four parties in the fiela —Republican, Democratic, Socialist and Socialist-Labor. The Republican ticket alone in St. Louis is six feet long and carries the names of 210 primary candidates and 52 commit- teeman. Under the stripf ballot sys-| tem in use the votes must draw a line through the names of all candidates not voted for, instead of putting » cross in front of the names ‘of the men of his choice. In a test it toot newspaper man who knew who he wanted to vote for, seven minutes to cross out the other names. PUBLIC SQUARE IS SCENE OF | NEGRO HANGING Hot Springs, Ark. Aug. 1.—Bunk Harris, negro, was taken from officers here at nine o'clock this morning and hanged in a public square fol- lowing the death early today of Maur- ice Connelly, an insurance solicitor who was shot last ntght by a negro burglar. HARVESTERS ARE ARRIVING IN NORTH DAKOTA: Fargo, N. D., Aug. 1.—The United States Employment office here has ordered 1,000 harvest hands for Mi- not, of John Mitchell, Minneapolis} representative of this service, Mrs. |M. B. Bowe, in charge of the local} | office announced today. Five hundred | were ordered for Bottineau county | | and 1,000 for other parts of the state. Duluth goes into effect today. | Mrs. Bowe also said that 3,000 men | had gone from Aberdeen into thej southwestern part of the state dur. ing the last week. Like MRS. RIEMAN DIES. | Dickinson, N. D., Aug. 1.—Mrs. Carl Rieman, aged 50 years, a resident of Stark county for the past 19 years, died very suddenly at 1:30 o'clock last Tuesday morning at her far home near Dunn Center, Dunn coun- ty, where she had been residing since last fall. Until last fall Mr. and Mrs. Rieman and family had lived on their farm in Stark county, 16 miles south- east of Dickinson, HARDING URGES COMPROMISE PLAN ALL SENIORITY. RIGHTS TO MEN Chief Executive Also Urges that All Lawsuits Brought by Either Side Be Withdrawn and that Labor Board Settle All Controversies.—Railroad Executives and Shopmen’s Strike Leaders Go Into Conference to Consider Plan of (By the Associated Press) New York, Aug. 1.—President Harding’s proposal for settlement ot |} the nation-wide rail strike made pu blic today in connection with their consideraton at a meeting of 148 road heads, were three in number. The first sets forth that the employes should abice by the wage de- The second would provide that all lawsuits brought by either side in connection with the strike should be withdrawn and arising out of the walkout should be left with the labor board for settle- that dispute The third proposal,'and the one calculated to provoke the most dis- cussion when the conference meets again this afternoon for a vote of acceptance jor rejection—suggests that strikers be taken basis of seniority which they enjoyed before they walked out. The conference of railroad presidents assembled to discuss Presi- dent Harding's proposal. for settlement of the nation-wide rail strike, adjourned until this afternoon with out taking action after Secretary of Commerce Hoover had presented the administration position. i back on the SENIORITY PLAN (By the Associated Press) Washington, Aug. 1. — President Harding's proposal for the ending of the rail strike provides with refer- ence to the big controversial point of seniority that “all employes now on strike be returned to work and to their former positions with seniority and other rights unimpaired.” STRIKE LEADERS MEET (By the Associaced Press) Chicago, Aug. 1—Executives of the six federated shop crafts went into conference today to consider Pres- ident Harding’s proposals of a set- tlement of their strike. -Chairman Ben’Hooper of the labor board was present at the meeting. He was met at the train on his return from a conference with the president and escorted to the conference by A. 0. Wharton, labor member of the board and B. M. Jewell, head of the shop crafts... Mr, Hooper said that orig- inally he had: no intention of being present at the conference but had agreed to do so when urged by Mr. Wharton and’ Mr. Jewell. He said he had no message to transmit from President: Harding and» refused) to discuss the strike ‘other than to say that he did not plan any immediate session of the labor board in connec- tion with it. At Chicago were most of the nine- ty central chairmen of the shop erafts workers and _ several other leaders, including B. M. Jewell, pres- ident of the railway shopmen, Employers’ department of the American Federation of Labor and Timothy Healy head of the striking firemen and oilers, Mr. Jewell pre- sided. Chairman Ben W. Hooper, chairman of the United States la- bor board was also on hand and it was understood he bore authority to speak for President Harding in| case * it became necessary. The New York meeting included executives of 148 leading railroads, The president's plan, union offi- cials said included restoration of seniority rights of strikers, subject to the rights of men who stayed at work. Old employes who remained on the job would gain such addi- tional rights as they acquired during the strike. As men at the foot of the seniority lists are the first laid | off in slack times, many workers who struck would lose assurance of steady employment. Men hired by the roads since the strike began would be given only rights acquired by them and would not have rights above old men who went on strike. Other provibions of the peace plan were that the shopmen would accept the recent wage reductions of the | railroad labor board pending a re- hearing by the board and that they would agree to abide by decision of the board in future. The railroads were to discontinue “farming out” of shop work. The question of na- tional and regional adjustment boards to expedite settlement of la- bor disputes would be discused fur- ther. Reports of violence were confined to one from Columbus, Georgia, where a party of negroes working in the Central of Georgia shops were attacked by a group of whites and one negro beaten and the arrest of a strike leader at Amarillo, Texas, on a charge of assault with intent to murder in connection with the stab- bing of a non-union worker. LOWE HEARS HELLSTROM CASE Minot, N. D., Aug. 1—Judge John C. Lowe at noon today adjourned un- til 2 p. m. this afternoon the hear- ing on a motion to quash the tem- bids next Monday night on coal for) The $5 rate from the Twin Cities and} porary restraining order against the committee of 45 issued on the peti- tion of Frank 0. Hellstrom of Bis- marck. The main point on which the defendants seek to have the order quashed is the fact that there never has been any summons issued 07 served, the defendants alleging that from this fact there is no action pending therein. CONVENTION OPENED Sioux Falls, S. D., Aug. 1.—The an- nual convention of the South Dakota Federation of Labor to be held here has been postponed from August 7 to October 2, according to an an- nouncement this morning by Henry A. Tripp, secretary.