The Washington herald., 1920-02-12
HINES REFUSAL
PUTS DEMANDS
UP TO WILSON
Increase for Railroad Men
Laid Before President
For Adjustment. Z
STRIKE THREAT DENIED
Director Ends Negotiations
And Gives. Chief Execu-
tive Recommendations.

tive Recommendations.
Detroit, Mich. Feb. l1.-Fifteen
chief executives of the Brother
hood of Maintenance OF Way and
Railway shop laborers today were
sent to various sections Of the
country to direct the strike called
for February II, 1t was announced
at headquarters today.
1T is up to Washington now"
said A. E. Barker, grand presi+
dent. There will be no change
In strike plans unless demands
are granted"
President Wilson has again been
called upon to- settle the wage de-
mands of the railroad brotherhoods
and to Danish, IL possible, the spectre
OF a nation wide strike that has
thus far followed in the wake of
the requests for additional wages.
The entire controversy was put
up to the White House last night
after Walker d. Hines. Director
General of Railroads, had finally
rejected the demands of the brother
hoods and thereby ended the negotia-
tions which he had carried on with
their representatives for many
weeks.
At the present tihe .Ehe disposi-
tion Of the brotherhood chieftains
Is not to talk strike. nor threaten
one. but to await the action OF the
President before deciding a final
course of action.
Hines Statement.
The fruitIess finish of their con-
ferences with Director General
Hines was told last night in the
following carefully prepared state
ment by him:
Since February the Director
/, General has had frequent confer
ences with the chief executives of
| the railroad labor organizations for
the purpose of devising means for
dtsposing of the pending claims for
wage increases. During these con-
ferences the executives of the labor
! organizations have expressed their
views with great ability and frank
n"Ss. Tho Director Genera, T. = -ot
. been able - sF- &c yEitE ne "a as %
, how tn problem shCHld l., atSs
1 poEed O. in view a. ths. eartE ss.-
Siins,;ion 81 Fedevai eaatroI. and g.
nov isEiug' before the f'rsss1rI.t
I t'se- rsptsss .&sSti6rs r. sae exsrs-
i ives OF ia ~ xsntEatisux aEf niso
his own reptt-t for -fe pur;sose cf.
obtaining the prssIc ceEEs aeclxior
In lh@ prsfniaAJ. in .aay event the
ccnterCHcss hrve been decidedly
{ helpfCi n hrinRfr- CEt . sleafrr
development as to the real issues
involved and as to the character of
the evidence pertinent to those is
| sues and the discussion throughout
has been characterized by courtesy
| as well as candor and with a sin
cere purpose on the part of all to
try to find a solution"
w. G. Lee, head OF the Brother
hood of Railway Trainmen. and one
of the leaders in the negotiations
with MIR. Hines, said:
Amy reports regarding a propos-
ed strike or the possibility of a
strike are absurd. I. myself. have
never delivered an ultimatum to the
Director General OF Railroads, nor
have ! threatened to call a strike.
nor has my Organization threatened
! strike. We will await the action
of the President"
The Brotherhood of Railway
Trainmen, though, have served
thirty day notice on tfhe Railroad
Administration. effective February
%, of abrogation Of their existing
wage contract.
With the railroads returned to
private ownership on March I. any
action taken by the President. II
was set forth, will necessarily have
to be sneedy. While the inability
OF Mr.. Hines and the representa-
! tives OF the brotherhoods to agree
! is largely on the matter of wage in
| creases. and could be smoothed over
! without Intervention from the
White House IL IL were a matter
of working conditions. the real
meat of the matter, so far as the
! men are concerned. is the demand
| for more money.
All-Dny Session.
The Director NGeneraI and the
brotherhoods' representatives. were
in session all yesterday. and the
chief point of interest was NJ.
| Hines presentation of what he con-
| sidered the Railroad Administra-
ton could do. When his plan WIS
rendered to the union leaders. ,thev
retired considered it AMI finally
! rejected lit. Meanwhile. at noon.
Mr.. Hines held a conference with
Attorney General Palmer who re-
turned to Washington last night
from a political tour in Missouri
Await Presidents wori.
l.: is extremely unlikely that Mr..
! Palmer, in the event Of y tIeat-
encd strike, will talk on the pos
sibility of injunction proceedings.
Ever since the coal strike -insunc-
itch. il has not appeared probable
that the government we nd again
| reaort to the courI'. 1t could how
ever. either under the raslroai con-
| tso: law or the Lever act. take le-
gal steps to prevent a strike.
What action the President will take
on Mr.. Hines report and the demands
of the brotherhoods within the aex:
few days is problematical, The oeud-
| ing railroad bill contains a sect; IN
creating a board Of wage adjustment
that in the future will hear and lecide
all claims for increased wages and
letter working conditions on tee part
of the men. The President mas in
! form the brotheerhoods that IN NV
of the imminent REIMBURSEMENT OF
+! Federal control of the roads. IL would
be better for them to aviit the ap-
pointment OF the wase adjustment
board. and he might pr1IrtsH them
that he would recommc.J to the hoard
that certain increases be Irsniel This
course was deemed the logical one f,r
tt, President to follow.
The fly In the intment. though.
ould be the refusal of the brotherhood
! men to await the appointment of the
hos rd and a declaration from then,