The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-11
OVER HINES HEAD
Rail Men Plan Appeal Direct to
President Wilson.
Palmer Prepares to Act Thru
Federal Courts.
SAYS STRIKE CALL is lLEGAL
Maintenance OfsWay Men Are in
Defiant Mood.
Say They'll Not Pay Attention
to Injunction.

Washington. Feb. 11.-Attorney
General Palmer today was studying
the railroad situation to be prepared
to act in case he is asked to intervene
in the controversy between the rail-
road administration and fourteen rail-
road unions demanding immediate
wage increases.
The railroad administration regards
as illegal the order sent to 100000
ma ntenance of way workers to hold
themselves in readiness to quit work
February II unless their demands are
met.
Officials of this union here today
were planning an appeal to President
Wilson over the head of Rail Director
Hines as a last resort, they said, be-
fore putting the strike into effect
Do Not Expect Strike.
Meanwhile Hines was to meet with
officials of all the unions to give them
AN answer to their communication
handed to him late yesterday.
Hines later was to have a separate
conference with President w. G.. Lee
of the Brotherhood of Railway Train
men, who refused to sign the COM
munication. Altho he refused to dis
cuSS the details of the communication
it is understood he objected to it on
the ground that it might cause further
delay in the negotiations.
According to L. E. Shepherd of the
Order of Railway Conductors, the
unions are determined to act if their
demands are not met.
Railroad administration officials say
privately they do not believe the
unions will strike. They are making
every preparation. however, to meet a
strike situation if it develops.
Illness answer to the demands of
the union will be delivered at a gen
eral conference late today. it is
planned. Altho Hines has given no
direct indication what the answer will
be, the belief is entertained that the
full demands of the workers will not
be met.
Won't Wait for Wilson.
Director General Hines will make
answer to the wage demands of the
two million railroad workers on his
own responsibility and from the stand
point of the railroad administration
and will then report to the president,
il was said today at the White House.
Mr.. Wilson then will approve or dis
approve the decision.
Heretofore the president generally
has passed upon wage decisions be-
fore the railroad administrators an
sWer was given to the union repre-
sentatfves No reason was assigned
for the departure from the usual Gus
tom in this case. In the light OF
urgent demands of the trainmen and
the strike issued by officers of the
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way
Employees, both railroad administra-
ton and White House officials regard
the situation as extremely grave. Mr..
Hines has held long conference with
Secretary Tumulty, who has submitted
memorandum on the subject to the
president Mr.. Wilson still has this
memorandum before him.
| 3 Conferences between Mr.. Hines and
the brotherhood officers were to have
been resumed this morning, but at the
appointed hour neither side was ready
to go ahead and the meeting was post
poned until $3.50 o'clock this after
| noon.
Won't Obey Any Injunction.
! Detroit, Mich. Feb. 11.-Main-
tenance of way workers and railway
shopmen will pay no attention to any
Injunction issued restraining them
from striking, A. E. Barker, grand
president of the brotherhood, declared
today.
| 'The government, when 1t suits its
purpose. tells US that the war is over
and the Lever act does not apply. Also
when it suits it's purpose, it tells us
| the war is not over and that the act
is effective.
/. no 1nJunCllOI Will uCleI US iiAe
strike order has been issued and can
not be recalled Barker said.
Barker placed little faith in the re-
port from Kansas that the newly
passed industrial relations law would
Be called into play in the case of
strike.
| 'I believe the law is unconstitu-
tional AT any rate, they will need e
Hot of jails if they attempt to carry
it out. We shall disregard any order
which tells us we are not free te
strike" he said.