The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1920-02-13
MR,WILSONMEETS
R. R. union HEADS
COnterS With Three Brother
hood Leaders.
WITH HINES is off

The President Makes an Effort to
Avert General Strike of Railroad
Employees.
Washington, Feb. 13.-In an effort
to avert Il strike OF 100000 railroad
employees, Presiden. Wilson held
conference at the White House this
morning with Is. NJ. Jewell, acting
president of the American Federation
of Labor; w. J. ManiOn, president Of
til, Order of Railway Telegraphers,
and Timothy Shea, acting president of
The brotherhood of Firemen and En-
ginperS.
This is the first conference the pres
iGcnt participated in since the begin
ming of his illness.
1t was said at The White House the
president had been giving the rail
road situation serious thought for sew
eral days and it was his own Sugges-
ton he see the union men. He was
understood to have fell he could
handle the situation better if he saw
the representatives.
Mr. Hines memorandum, which was
sent to the White House was under
stood to have embodied the claims and
arguments of the union officials with
whom he had been comforting since
February ).
While railroad administration Off
Gals and union Representatives ap-
parently were inclined to regard the
situation as quiescent, White House
officials expressed concern at the grav-
ity of the problems presented. With
out disclosing what these were, it
was asserted the general public did
not realize the serious nature Of the
issues involved
Union executives, with the eXcep-
ton of maintenance Of way employees
and the brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmen, apparently were willing to
leave the case in the hands of the
president. Although there was dis
satisfaction because living costs had
not been reduced, it was evident the
union men felt another opportunity
should be afforded for adjustment Of
the differences which have been held
in allegiance a. the presidents request
since they were submitted last July.
Mr.. Hines has made Il tentative APP
pointment to meet J. 3. MallOy, vice
president of The brotherhood of Main
tenance of Way Employees and Shop
Laborers, and his committee of ten to
discuss the organizations alleged
grievances. These led to its call for
strike next Tuesday of IFS $4,000
members.
w. G.. Lee, president or the Brother
hood of Railroad Trainmen, also was
to confer with the director general on
his individual reasons for inyalidating
the agreement with his organization.
Notification of intention to break the
agreement was sent to Mr.. Hines on
January %. Under the thirty-day
clause this will leave the orsaplsa=
ton without working contract with
the railroad administration February
%, six days before the roads return
to their owners.
The action Of Mr.. Lee admittedly is
giving the administration officials con-
Germ. While his representatives have
participated in all sessions of the gen.
eral conference, Mr.. Lee contended his
organization has reserved the right 70
press its grievances for adjustment,
separately. He declined to add to his
statement of Wednesday, which as
serted the traiumen had waited suffi-
GENTLY long for the government to
force down living costs.
Denial hat any group of organized
workers possess an inherent right to
| strike is contained in a memorial to
congress, formulated at a conference
OF representatives of four large farm
ers' organizations, The National
Grange, the American Farm Bureau
Federation, the Cotton States Board
and the Association of State Farmers
| Union presidents. The memorial as
| sertS:
"Those who believe that labor has
! ali inherent right to organize a strike
believe that such organizations have
a right to starye the people Of the
cities to death, on the one hand, and
to destroy the property of the farmers
on ,he other. No such right has ever
existed and no such right exists now
The welfare Of all the people musi
ever remain superior to that Of any
class or group of people,