Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-03-02
ASK WILSON VETO
ON RAILROAD BILL
Director of Farmers National
Council Wants Measure Killed.
SEE BREAK OVER WAGE PLAN
Officials of 100000 Rail Workers
Doubt Power to Keep the Men
Lined Up-President Not to
Act Immediately.


Washington, Feb. 25.-President Will
son was asked by George p Hamp-
ton, managing director of the Farmers
National council, to veto the railroad
bill OH the grounds of public policy
Mr. Hampton's request was by let
ter. lie asked that the president per-
sOnally or through Secretary Tumulty
receive delegation next Thursday, and
that he defer action on the bill until
the farmers representatives have a
chance TO express more fully their rea-
sons for opposing it.
The president was told that the re-
turn of the railroads would mean an
Increase of -four to five billion dol
lars in the, cost of living because of
the increase in freight rates, and that
$1,000,000,000 of the increase would
be passed on to the farmers. This in
crease, Mr.. Hampton said, could not
be borne, as agriculture now was in
a ''precarious" position.
See Split In Rail Ranks.
Threats of break in the affiliated
railroad employees organization mill
tated against immediate solution of the
questions before the representative of
the 100000 rail workers comforting
here on President Wilson's proposal
for settlement of their wage de-
mands.
Because of the wide divergence of
views held by the committeeman called
to Washington to consider the White
House policy, executives of the organi-
cation admitted that they did not know
whether they could hold the strength
they had gained when it was agreed
ten days ago that the organizations
should affiliate to consider the pro-
pOsal.
In every conference, it was said, de-
mands for an appeal to the president
to veto the railroad bill continued to
grow more insistent. The leaders,
therefore, were confronted with the
task of explaining to the local chair
men the basic reasons for their ten
tative acceptance of the presidents
plan, while the latter were bitterly at
lacking the governments general pol
icy and the manner in which it had
dealt with the wage controversy.
The leaders also were forced to COM
bat moves of radical elements in sew
eral directions. They said these might
take definite form at any time.
Disagree on Action.
That the general committeeman are
not by any means united in favor of
the presidents proposition was indi-
Gated by private discussions among
the executives as to courses of action
in event the plan is rejected. E. j.
Manion, president of the Brotherhood
of Railroad Telegraphers was said to
have suggested that the whole con-
troversy be referred to the general
membership. This proposal has not
gained Roadway among the other ex-
eeutives, it was said, but it serves to
Indicate the trend of thought of the
| leaders.
President Wilson will not act Inn
mediately on the compromise railroad
bin passed Monday by the senate.
1t was announced at the White
House that the president had directed
that the measure be referred to the
department of justice as soon as il
reached the White House from con.
gress.
The executive has ten days in which
to pass upon the act before it can be-
come law without his signature.