The sun., 1919-08-08
SHOPMEN TOLD
THEY MUST ALL
RESUME WORK
BY Walkout They Repudi-
ated Authority of Own
Officers.
FORFEITED RECOGNITION
President Says Demands Will
Be Heard Only Through
Accredited Agents.
FORFEITED RECOGNITION
specia, DespatcA to TEE sus.

Special Despatch to TEE suS.
WASHINGTON. Aug. THE Govern
ment will not deal with the demands
of the railroad employees until all Of
them return to work. Flat notice to
this effect was served on them to-
night in a letter made public at the
White House by the President.
With railway employees estimated
at 10000 already on strike and the
number constantly growing, this let
ter, addressed to Walker d. Hines, d.
rector General Of Railroads, said in so
many words that the issues raised by
the employees through their organiza-
tions could not be even considered
while the strike situation continued.
The letter to Mr.. Hines followed a
day Of serious conferences. A num-
ber of conferences were held in Mr..
Hiness office, and twice Mr.. Hines
went to the White House to confer
with the President. When Mr.. Hines
first went to the White House he left
the conference for a time. sending for
w. T. Tyler, chief OF the division OF
operations of the Railroad Admins
tration; Frank McManamee, his as
sistant, and w. S. Franklin. assistant
director of the division of labor,
former railroad shopman. These men
conferred with Mr.. Hines, who went
back and conferred later with Mr.
Wilson.
Just before 6 o'clock Mr.. Hines had
another conference with the President
This time he had a draft Of state
ment for the public. The President
took this statement, and from 1t COM
piled the letter to Mr.. Hines, made
public later on.
While the President gave no inuma-
| ton tonight as to what the ultimate
decision with respect to the wage de-
mands OF the shopmen might be. II IL
regarded as significant In this connec-
! ton that the Director-General IN ms
letter to the President. and the Presi-
dent In his last message to Congress- ex-
pressed the view that the men were
entitled to some relief.
Text Of President's Letter.
The letter in full follows:
MY Dear Mr.. Director-General:
"I am Just In receipt OF the letter
from Senator Albert b. Cummins, chair
man Of the Senate Committee on In
| terstate Commerce, which set me free
to deal as think with the difficult
question OF the wages of certain classes
OF railway employees, and take ad-
vantage OF the occasion to write you
this letter. in order that may both
| in the public interest and In the In
terests OF the railroad employees them
selves make the present situation as
clear and DEFINITE as possible.
IT thought II my duty to lay the
question in its present pressing form
/ before the committee OF the Senate, be-
cause I thought I should not act upon
this matter within the brief interval
of Government control remaining. with
out their acquiescence and approval.
| Senator Cummins's letter. which speaks
the unanimous judgment of the COM
mittee. leaves me free and indeed i'm
poses upon me the duty to act.
"The question OF the wages of railroad
shopmen was submitted. you will re-
member, to the board OF railroad wages
and working conditions of the Railroad
4
not reported upon by the board until the
18th of July. The delay was unavoidable
because the board was continuously en-
gagged in dealing with several wage
matters affecting classes of employees
who had not previously received con-
sideration. The board now having ap,
prised us of this inability. at any rate
for the time being. TO agree upon recon-
mendation. II Is clearly our duty to pro-
ceed with the matter in the hope OF dis
posing Of It.
| Demands to he Considered.
you are therefore authorized to say
to the railroad shop employees that the
question OF wages they have raised will
be taken up and considered on Its merit,
by the Director-General in conference
with their duly accredited representa-.
tives. hope that YOU will make II
clear TO the men concerned that the Rail.
| road Administration cannot deal with
| problems OF this sort or with any prob
lens affecting the men, except through
the duly chosen international officers OF
/! the regularly constituted organization
| and their authorized committees
| MATTERS OF so various a nature and
affecting so many men cannot be dealt
with except in this way. Any action
which brings the authority OF the au.
| thorized Representatives OF the organiza-
tion into question or discredlts II mus
oonismusd on sisth Paes