The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1919-12-26
R. R. RETURN
CAUSES MANY
BIG PROBLEMS
Machinists Will Join Railroad
ers in Strike if Anti-Strike
Clause of Cummins Bill Re-
mains.
ANTICIPATE DELAY

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.- Ninety.
eight percent of the 125, 900 union rail-
way machinists voted in November to
strike with other trades in the event
congress enacted the Cummins rail-
road bill with its anti-strike provision.
In making this announcement today.
William H. johnson. president Of the
International Association Of Machin-
lists, said the vote was taken before
the senate interstate commerce COM
mittee reported out the Cummins
measure. and that the result was not
officially published because the asso-
citation did not want to appear in the
attitude Of attempting to threaten con-
gress.
The. machinists' membership II
around half a million. but not more
than 5000 Of this number is EN-.
ployed on railroads. 49,.
Many Problems.
Perplexing questions involving lab.
or, loom as the government prepares
for the return. of the railroads to pri.
vate operation on March l..
Conferees in congress on the rail.
road bill anticipate month Of nego.
tiations before reaching an agreement,
the conflict between the anti.strike
provision Of the senate ILL and the
voluntary arbitration plan of the house
bill presenting their most difficult
problem.
Meanwhile the railroad administra
tion will be confronted with the de.
mands of railroad employees for in
creased wages, accompanied by threats
of general strike.
Wilson Action PIeases Officials.
President Wilson's decision to delay
the return of the roads until March I
Is received with satisfaction by con
gress and railroad officials. Organic
ed labor wanted an extension of gov
ernment operation for at least two
years. The additional sixty days, how
ever, gives that much more time for
the presentation of demands for wage
advances to the government rather
than direct to the railroad owners.
Dissatisfied with the progress made
by the administration in its campaign
to reduce the cost of living, railway
brotherhoods' officials are preparing
to renew the demands which they
withheld temporarily at the insist
ence of President Wilson: "&'4 y etss'ssS
Members Of congress fear an at
tempt to use threats of strike to
force action on the wage adjustment
sections of the railroad bill
Conferees on the railroad bill will
not meet again until Monday.
CLEVELAND, O., Dec. 26.-Head:
of railroad unions here express sur
prise at announcement of the gov
ernment's plan to return the railroad:
to private ownership March !.
Warren S. Stone. president of the
Brotherhood OF Locomotive Engineers
would not make any comment
w. G. Lee. president of the Brother
hood Of Railroad Trainmen, said ht
hoped no antfstrike legislation woult
be passed before the change.
IF the people want anti-strike legis
lation, they can take up the matter
after the return of the railroads t
private control" Mr.. Lee said.
Shea Thinks II a Mistake.
Timothy Shea, acting president o
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men and Enginemen, declared the gov
ernment's plan to return the roads t,
private ownership March l mistake
He proposed the government maintain
control for two years longer.
"The public would then be so vel
pleased 1t would never return them,
he said. Il don't expect railroad EN-
ployes to strike and l don't expect tn,
railroads to attempt to lower wages
Employees will go on just the same.
I'VE want the roads to be returned
as they were received. with no restric
tions attached. The Cummins bill i
against the rights of citizens an,
should not be passed to hamper rail
road employees"