Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-03-03
Workers With Exception Of One Group Agree To
Cooperate With Govt Under Provisions Of Rail-.
road Measure PRECEDENT in Letters to Executives
and Unions Urges Representatives Sit On Board
in Effort to Agree On Wage Q1e;tim- Action
Removes Prospects Of Strikes
TO GIVE LAW A TRIAL

Washington. March Definite
tlemenI Of the railroad wage corCo-
versy which mas been pending since
lasr August. Representative Of
railroad workers with the exception
of one group, agreed ID cooperate
with the government and the rail-
roads IN giving Trial Of the new
administration acr with its arbi--a
rion clauses and President Wilson III
letters 10 both the association Of
railway executives and heads Of the
% workers organizations. requested
that they select Representatives. 10
sit or the bipartisan board. Prompt
action was urged by the president IN
order thai the negotiations between
employer and empioye might not Ds
longer delayed.
The one g-oup Of workers which
has NOT entered into the agreement
TO 90 along with the president" was
the brotherhood of maintenance Of
WY employees which recently with
drew from the conference between
union heads and the railroad admin
isrrarion. Committeeman from the
local unions viii --aet II Chicago
Thursday and Il was believed would
follow the lead Of the other workers
II compliance with Mr. Wilson s ~e-
quest
In q stat anen- tonight explaining
their position The union spokesman
declared rhat although they could
not approve Of The transportation
act they had as. aed 10 aid n giving
tne law Irial in me interest o.
railroad labor" and as American
citizens"
Notwithstanding the facc tnat la
Dor N general anc railrOad labor III
particular with the full desperation
and support of other bodies repre-
serring American citizens. urged the
Congress- not 70 pass the railroad
II,
return II 10 Congress" the union
statement said, we, are now OFF,
cIauv advised the president has
signed the bill and il Il the law
"T.ahors criticism ana protests
against this Legislation are a MAJ
ter of RECORD and were presented ~
Congress. The Presider.t and The
public We have not changed our
views IN s,Gard 10 LhIs Legislation
and therefore do not endorse rns law,
however. Us American citizens W.
felt that in the Interest n the rail
-uad labor here A. nothing ar TO-
IS 10 DO az D. essen except 10 COOP
crate in ne prompt creation # the
machiney-v provided for II law
IN the case of the brotherhood Of
main tenance Of way employees and
shop laborers Cnls orgarlza non mas
not had duly authorized representa-
tfves IN the last conference. There
fore. II compliance with their exam
iuation il vas necessary I'd convene
such Representatives with their ex-
animation which rher will d. IN CHI
cago ThUrsday. March :.
The President III ms leLAsf SAID ht
had TUNED over direction OF the pre-
lininary wage- negotiations 70 Direc-
tor General Hines. whC was entrust-
ed with details of the winding UP OF
government control by the President
in mis- prociamation turning back
the roads. Both the railroad execu-
rives ana union heads were asked 70
notify the director general Of their
representatives on the board and
were informed -ha1 Mr.. Zines would
arrange for me first meeting u
which VIII be determined all ques
lions Of procedure.
Agreement from unions 10 give
sne law d thorough trial was regard
ed as making remote prospects OF
strikes.