Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1920-02-12


discuss wage demands
of the 100000 railroad
employees which are to
be referred to him today by Director
General Hines.
The union leaders will see the
/ President on the south lawn of the
White House. where Mr.. Wilson
spends a portion each morning. Be-
fore meeting the officials the President
will study in detail the report on the
wage negotiations which Mr.. Hines
will submit thru Secretary Tumulty.
Selection OF their spokesman was
left by the President to the union rep
resentatives, who chose acting Presi-
dent Jewell, of the railway employees
department of the American Fedora
ton of Labor; President Manion of
the Order of Railway Photographers,
and Timothy Shea, acting president
OF the Brotherhood OF Engineers and
f'iremen.
1t was said at the White House that
the President had been giving the rail
road situation serious thought for sew
eral days, and that it was his own
suggestion he see. the union men. He
was understood to have felt he could
handle the situation better il he saw
! the representatives personally.
White House officials expressed
concern at the gravity of the problems
presented. Union officials. with the
exception of the maintenance of way
employees and the Brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmen, apparently vera
willing to leave the case in the hands
Of the President.
Statements setting forth views of
both sides in the cOntroyersy-giv
the reasons which the unions de-
manded an immediate increase IN
wages and the other explaining why
Director General Hines could not see
10 such increase on the eve of the
Turning back OF the railroads to Jri
vatr ownership were in course of
preparation this morling and will be
presented 10 Mn Wilson today.
lust how much time the President
will require in considering the state,
lioyed it would be short
Whe.h her he upholds the views of d.
rector General fines or decides that
the demands of the employees are Just
and should he granted the opinion
was expressed that a settlement Il.
naly will be made through the ms.
chinery to be set up by legislation
now pending which will govern the
returH OF the rail properties 10 their
former owners
As prepared for presentation to the
White House the statements did not
include the separate grievances OF the
brotherhood OF Railway Trainmen
ana Mr. Hines arranged 10 confer fur
Their today with w G.. Lee, president
OF that organization Likewise Mr..
Hines will confer with a committee
representing the maintenance of wa
whose officers have called
a strike to become effective Feb II,
The action OF the maintenance of
way men i'll calling a strike has not
been understood by railroad admin
officials and the conferences
today was expected to clear up the
confusion. Neither Director Hines or
Attorney General Palmer would dis
cuss the possibility of meeting the
proposed strike through injunction
proceedings.
To Open Headquarters.
Detroit Feb. l2-Strike headQuar
ters were 10 be opened in fifteen cities
to-day by divisional officers of tho
brotherhood of Maintenance of WAY
Employees and Railway Shop Labor
ers from which the nationwide strike
called for Feb. Il will be directed
Final plans for the strike have been
made, union officials here declared.
and only an agreement between repre-
Sentatiyes OF the men in the Wash
lngton and President Wilson, they
said, will avert the walkout It such
agreement is reached it must come be-
fore SATURDAY night or the strike or.
der cannot be rescinded
Allen Barker, international presi
dent expressed hope that today's con
leronces at Washington, IN which G.
i. Malloy vice president Of the union
was TO participate might bring an
agreement i'll the wage controversy
MIR Barker was in full accord. how.
ever with the position taken By Pres
ident Lee OF the trainmen's union that
demands Of the workers could not
longer be held in allegiance in the face
.,f MANNING living costs