Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1920-03-04
PRESIDENT TO
MEET UNION men
HOPES TO SECURE COMMISSION
THAT WILL SETTLE RAIL-
WAY WAGE DISPUTE


President Wilson Monday asked
the railroad executives and employees
to join In selecting representatives
for bipartisan board "for the pur-
pose OF attempting by conference to
agree" upon a solution Of the rail-
way wage problem under Section SOL
of the railroad bill.
In his letter TO the employees, the
president quoted from his communi-
cation to them o. last Saturday, say
ing that he believed such a board
would 60 far toward maturing the
wage dispute for final disposition, =
and asked that the brotherhoods Sc
lect ''such members OF representa-
tives as may seam appropriate to
conduct the conferences.
The preside1t also wrote T. De-
Witt Cuyler, chairman of the Asso-
citation Of Railway Executives, max
ing a similar request and adding that
since the transportation act had be-
come law, ".he way is open for the
Immediate handling of the wage mat
ter in accordance with the procedure
contemplated by that law"
Both sides were requested by the
president to forward the names OF
their representatives to Director
General Hines. who, the letter said,
would arrange for the first confer
ences at which questions of proce-
dure and representation which might
arise could be decided.
In his letter to Mr.. Cuyler the
president reviewed the railway stu
49, v&rocov, 40 tia ~ q
demands last August to the present
time. and recalled thatlast month he
had told the union representatives
that settlement OF those demands
ought not to be postponed for a
further indefinite period. and that
the matter should be handled by an
agency which could continue to func-
ton after federal operation of the
roads ceased.
II believe an will agree" said Mr..
Wilson, "that the matter calls for
the earliest disposition and for the
most active and earnest cooperation
to avoid any delay whatever In
bringing It to q conclusion. Section
301 of the Transportation act con-
templates that the carriers and en-
ployes may and ought to select rep
resentatives who will IN effect con-
stitute q bipartisan board for the
purpose Of attempting by confer
ence to agree upon solution OF
wage problems. subject to other pro-
visions Of the law"
Representatives Of the railroad
unions are understood to have voted
to give the new railroad law q trial
In bringing sa1ouf d settlement Oi
their wage demands.
It IL understood also that they de-
cided to hold In allowance plans ia
test the constitutionality Of the law
and not refer the controversy to the
union membership for q vote until
the law has been given fair trial.
This means, II is said that all dam
ger Of general strike at this time
has been removed. One of the union
officials said, I'VE are all good Am
orleans and desire to so along with
the president as far as we can"
Under the law the unions name
six Representatives and the roads six,
From each of the groups, the presi-
dent will select three and In addi-
ton he will name three represents
tives Of the public. The board Of
nine as thus constituted will be sub
ject to senate approval.
Decisions of the board will be by
majority vote, provided one Of the
majority is Of the public group. The
law does not make acceptance Of the
findings mandatory on either the
workers or the roads, but members
OF congress during debate on the
measure expressed the belief that
public opinion would compel accept
ance.