Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1919-12-30


Demand U. S. Control.
At the conclusion of a five hour
session. President Gompers dictated this
statement:
"On Friday last. number of the rep
resentatvies of the railroad organlza-
tions, both shopmen and the train
service, met at my office and we dis
cussed the situation regarding the rail-
road legislation and issued an invitation
to the executives of the ten shopmens $
organizations affiliated with the Amer
lean Federation of Labor and to the
four railroad brotherhoods, asking them
to meet in conference with me here to-
day. We began our meeting at 3 o'clock
and adjourned after S. The entire time
was taken up with a discussion of the
bills. We reached these conclusions:
''That it is the sense OF the conference
that the control of the railroads should
be exercised by the governmnt of the
United States for period of not less
than two years, in order that proper
test may be made as to government
control.
"That such test has not been given
fair opportunity during war-times or
since.
Would Extend Beneficial Features.
This conference is opposed to legis-
lation making strikes of workers I'm
lawful. 1t is the sense of this conference
that penalty clauses in pending legisla-
ton on railroads against workers ceasing
their employment should be eliminated.
That the conference favors the
enactment of beneficial features of the
bills which tend to establish better re-
lations between the employees and the
carriers.
That the beneficial clauses should be
extended to the sleeping car and Pullman
company employees
Expect Return as Set.
While the conference recited the de-
mand of organized labor that the govern
peace time test of two years, the union
officials explained that they had no
reason to doubt the carriers would be
returned back March /. the date speci-
fled by the president, regardless of the
enactment. meanwhile, of legislation for
the protection of the properties.
Mr. Shepherd, president of the order
of railway conductors, was the only big
four brotherhood head at the confer
cnce. the others being represented by
deputies. While there were many ami
mdtcu eptetAeS SCutidf ulSOuSSlohS
of the Cummins railroad BILL with its
drastic anti strike provision, it was said
that the railway men were of one mind
in opposing the section making strikes
illegal. Union representatives, however,
said they had assurances that the house
would not accept the labor section of the
Cummins bill.
Willard Comes on Mystery ParIey.
Soon after the conference got well
under way, President Gompers, who pre-
sided returned to his office and con
ferred for an hour with Daniel Willard.
President of the Baltimore and Ohio
The visit of Mr.. Willard to
federation headquarters had not been
ment as to its possible meaning, but, on
leaving, the railroad president declined
to say what he had discussed with Mr..
Gompers.
The latter also declined to talk about
r. r. Executives Also Oppose.
There were reports in congressional
circles that some railway executives
were opposed to the labor section of
the Cummins bill and later it was sug
gested that this may have been one of
the questions discussed by Mr.. Gompers
and Mr.. Willard. Elimination of the
section, senators and representatives op-
posing it said. would make it possible
for the conferees to reach speedy
agreement. but it has been announced
that the whole strike question had been
put back for consider ration after agree
ment on all other sections.
As labor officials were entering their
conference senate and house conferees
on the Cummins and Esch railroad bills
were concluding their first meeting, at
which they set out to harmonic the two
measures.