New-York tribune., 1920-02-11
President May Order Re-
call of Strike Decision
of 100000 Workers
Effective on Tuesday
Trainrnen Demand
Raise by Feb. p
Hines Informs Executive
Increases Would Boost
Living Cost by Big Rates

~ AAo ASs~SNS
From The Tribune's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1O.-Presi-
dent Wilson is expected to intervene
tc prevent the threatened strike Of
railroad employees of the country.
More than 100000 men are press
ing the railroad administration for a
settlement of their wage demands
before the roads go back to their
owners March l. Strikes, already
called or threatened, are being used
as weapons to force Director Gen.
eral Hines to give answer.
Mr.. Hines will meet the union
representatives again tomorrow in
conference, and it is expected that
the demands Of the Brotherhood of
Maintenance of Way Employees.
who have called a strike for Febru-
ary II, will be taken up at that
time. W. G. Lee, president of tie
Railway Trainmen, also is pressing
fer reply to the demands for in
creases put before Hines three
weeks ago.
Must Have Definite Answer
Mr.. Lee has informed the Direc-
tor General that the men in his or
ganization "are very insistent and
must have a definite answer very
soon." 1t became known to-day that
three weeks ago Mr.. Lee notified
the railroad administration of the
intention of the trainmen to in
validate their wage agreement and
that the thirty days notice required
under it expires February %. less
than a week before the roads 90
back to private ownership.
Mr. Lee refused tonight to discus,
the situation. He said he would va
main in Washington until to-morrow
night, and it was the general belief
that before then Mr.. Hines will give
MN definite answer. or the pros;-
uent himself take up the case of the
maintenance of way employees and
demand that they recall their strike
order for February II, ON the ground
that 1t is in violation of their apree.
ment, inasmuch as the required thirty
days notice was not given.
The entire situation was placed he
lore the President to-day in long
memorandum from the Director Cen.
eral of Railroads. Mr. Hines is under
stood to have pointed out the exact
situation which confronts the carriers
and to have expressed the opinion that
further wage increases mean further
increases in freight and passenger
rates, wnicn would be disastrous to
business and which would not be taken
kindly by the country, as adding furth-
er to the cost of living and as some
thing the government should not dc
on the eve Of turning the roads back
to private hands.
White House Plainly Disturbed
The President is fully expected to
back up Mr.. Hines in his size-up of
the situation. White House officials
plainly were disturbed tonight by the
situation, but were hopeful the Presi.
dent viii be able TO convince the rail-
road employees 1T is impossible for the
government to grant their demands at
this time
These officials expect the President
to point out the necessity for eyery-
BODY in the country doing his utmost
~ TINS time not to increase furthe.. the
burdens OF others through adding to
the cost of living. He will appeal to
the spirit they showed during the war
to carry them through this period Of
readjustment without insisting upon
greater wages.
So far as officials here know officer.
and membership of the other brother.
hoods are not in sympathy with the
strike views of the trainmen and
maintenance of way employees. They
10 not feel this is the time for labor
70 press its demands by strike. and
have not minimized the effect on the
United Mine Workers of the strike
asst November, and the loss that orrani-
zation suffered in public estimation bv
Other Unions Hold Aloof
1t is understood that Mr.. Lee conn.,
munlcated to the heads of the other
unions the nature of his plans in at
tempting to force Director GeneraI
Hines to grant an increase. Although
The correspondence has not been made
public, it was said the representatives
'f the other big unions replied they had
no objection to Mr.. Lees pressing his
demands at Washington if he saw an
opportunity to profit by such action.
but for the present they desired to hold
aloof.
It was pointed out. however, that the
waik-out Of the members of one union
would tie up the railroads throughout
the country and paralyze operations.
despite the willingness Of train crews
to stay on the job. The existence IN 3
some states of laws requiffng trains ia
maintain full crews and forbidding
heir operation unless with all required
employees would prevent the operation
II trains.
The charge was reiterated tonight
hat the president of the Brotherhood
u Maintenance of Way Employees wa.