Omaha daily bee., 1919-12-27
Will Not Submit to Enactment
Of Cummins Railroad Meas
ure With Drastic Anti-Strike
Clause Provision.
CONGRESS is WARNED
AGAINST PASSING BILL
Heads Of All Brotherhoods to.
Meet in Washington Monday
To Define Precisely Position
On Pending Legislation.

Washington. Dec. 26.-Organized
railway machinists. through their
president, served notice on congress
today that they would not submit to
enactment of the Cummins rsifroad
Till, with its drastic anti-strike pro-
vision.
Voting more than month ago, o8
per cent of the .i25000 members OF
the union favored an immediate
walkout IN event of the bills passage
by both houses of congress. but the
result was not made known through
fear that he brotherhoods might ap
pear in the light of attempting to
coerce the lawmaking branch of the
governmet.
The machinists, according to Will
lam Fl. Johnston, president OF the
International association, are the
only railway employees who have
taken a strike vote. but the heads of
al the brotherhoods. II in all, have
been summoned to meet here Mon
cav to consider pending railway leg
islation and define precisely their po-
sition on the clause in the Culnmins
bill, which would prevent strikes and
put strikers in Jail
Gompers Issues Call.
The call for the conference was
issued bv Samuel Gompers. presi-
dent of the American Federation of
Labor, but Mr.. Gompers and other
leaders refused to discuss probable
action by the brotherhood leaders
President Wilson'S Christmas eve
announcement that the roads would
be handed back to their owners
March |, was distinct disappoint-
ment to labor leaders, who had been
for two-year EXTENSION of
control. They agreed,
however, that if the roads were to
go back il was good thing TO let it
be known
There was no meeting of house
and senate conferees who have been
assigned the stupendous job Of try
ing to frame a new railroad till out
of the Esch and Cummins measures.
This work. however. will begir next
week. in the hope of final enactment
of railroad legislation some time in
the next two mo;.ths.
Main Point Of Difference.
The a7ti-strike section is known
to be the main point of difference
and while it was left intact in the
bill passed by the senate. house lead
ers frankly expressed doubt today
whether the house would accept it.
At all events senators and represen-
tatives alike are anxious to hear
from the brotherhood meeting Mon
day, WITHOUT indicating change In
their own positions bv reason Of any
of principles from organ
lied employees Of the roads, 60 far
as the conferees are concerned the
labor section will not be considered
until they have reached an agree
ment on all other disputed ques-
tons.
Must Use Strength.
Cleveland, O., Dec. 26.-Represen-
tatives of three big railway brother
hoods, with headquarters in Cleve-
land, will be represented Monday at
two meetings of the railway union
officials in Washington, one to con-
slider pending railway legislation, the
other to arrange for cooperation
in obtaining wage increases.
The return of the roads to their
owners in March does not lead the
brotherhood's chiefs to fear their
demands for increased wages will
be neglected. they said.
Timothy Shea, acting president of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen and Enginemen, said the
brotherhood representatives would
insist that the roads be returned
without any restrictions being placed
upon employees.
The employees. Mr.. Shea said,
must be permitted to use their eco
nonic strength to oppose injustice
just as they were permitted to be-
fore the government assumed con-
troll of the railroads. This does
not mean, Mr.. Shea said, thats they
wished to become involved in a
strike. but that they must be per-
mitted to retain their rights as