The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-12-30
BROTHERH'D CHIEFS
MET MONDAY
To Draft Declaration of Principles
Concerning Railway Bills in Con-
ference-President Wilson's
| Statement Regarding Strike
and Rights of Public, Is
Variously Interpreted.

Washington, Dec. 2S.-The atti-
tude of organized railway employees
toward the anti-strike provision of
the Cummins railroad bill will be
formally stated in a declaration of
principles to be drafted by the heads
Of all the brotherhoods at confer
ence here Monday with President
Gompers, of the American Fedora
ton of Labor. :
Labor leaders declared today that
nothing drastic was to be expected"
but the general view among organi-
zed workers was that the affiliated
trades would stand by the Railway
Machinists' Union, which voted to
quit work if Congress enacted the
anti-strike provision. Senators and
Representatives now in Washington
expressed the opinion, however, that
the House never would accept the bill
as it. came from the Senate and that
even if it should pass President Will
son would veto it.
The possibility, of a presidential
veto has been given serious con-
sideration by members of Congress,
who realize the necessity of enact
3irg proper legislation before the
roads are handed back to their own
ers on March 1. Labor leaders in dis
clssing this eventually, also called
{. attention, today to this statement by
the President in his message to Con-
gtess, four weeks ago.
Right to Strike.
The right OF individuals to strike
is inViolate and ought not to be In:
4arfsredswith by any process of gov
eminent, but there is a predominant
right Of the government to protect
all of it's people and to assert its
power and majesty against the chal-
lenge of any class"
Variously Interpreted
This one sentence was variously
interpreted-by brotherhood officers
as a virtual announcement by TIE
President that he would not sign a
bill denying the right to strike and
by Senator Cummins and others as
notice by the President that even the
right to strike was inviolate the
public stood over and above it.
. May Kill Section.
Regardless of what action might
be taken by the brotherhoods, the be-
lief prevailed in congressional cir
cles that when the Senate and the
House conferees got through with
the Cummins and Esch bills no YES
tige of the anti-strike section would
remain. The conference will begin
work next week after Senator Cum
Minis and Senator Kellogg, Republi-
can, Of Minnesota, return here from
North Carolina.
.N. Houxe Of Senate Differ.
All of the Senate conferees voted
for the labor clause and are expected
to make hard fight in confer, ice
for its retention. On straight Senate
test an amendment to elimina; the
section was defeated, 80 to "a. Some
idea of the attitude of the House,
however, was given today by men,
bers who said that the anti-strike
clause could not command fifty
votes in that body.
Brotherhood Chiefs Meet.
The heads of the four big bro
therhoods and the ten affiliated
trades will be here Monday for the
conference with President Gompers
which was called for the specific
purpose of considering pending rail-
road legislation. Committees repre-
senting the six shop trades have an
appointment that day with Director
General Hines for discussion Of wage
demands, but it was SAID this might
be deferred until Tuesday.
To Make Wage Demands.
It was emphasized at federation
headquarters that the two confer
ences had nothing in common, al
though it was admitted that the
situation respecting wage demands