New-York tribune., 1920-02-13
President Expected to APP
peal to Workers. Patri-
otism in Conference on
Demand for Wage Raise
Considered Likely
He Will Deny Plea
Action To Be Based on
Belief Walk-Out Would
Increase Cost of Living

From The Tribune's Washington Buredu
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-Pres-
ident Wilson has taken personal
charge Of the negotiations with the
representatives of railroad en-
ployees who are asking increased
wages before the carriers are turned
back to private ownership March 1.
The President will have a con-
ference tomorrow with three rep
resentatives of three of the organi-
cations which have asked the rail-
road administration for wage ad-
vances and which so far have been
unsuccessful in obtaining such ad-
vances from Director General Hines.
The three men who will talk the
situation over with the President
are B. M. Jewell, acting president
of the railroad department of the
American Federation Of Labor;
Timothy Shea, acting president of
the Brotherhood of Railway Train
men and E. j. Manion, president of
the Order of Railroad Telegraphers.
These three were selected to-day at
a meeting here of brotherhood Of
ticials and are expected to present
broadly the general complaint of all
organized railroad labor, that the
high cost Of living necessitates a
further wage advance and that it
should be granted before the return
of the roads. While still hopeful,
the feeling among union leaders to-
night was that the President was
more likely to refuse than to grant
the relief they seek.
President Fully Prepared
The conference is set for tomorrow
morning, while the President is taking
his customary outdoor breathing spell.
Mr. Wilson is fortified with mass Of
information supplied by Director Gem
eral Hines and with statistics show
ing the advances in the cost of living
and with other data to support the
Administration view that the cost Of
llvlng may be counted upon to drop
within the next few weeks
Some of this information has been
in the Presidents hands for several
days, and he was said tonight to have
fully digested it and to be thoroughly
prepared to go into the case of the ra l.
road employees from every possible
angle.
The final decision is expected from
the President himself For the time
being the negotiations between the
representatives Of the railroad en-
ployecs and Mr.. Hines are at a stand
still and will not be resumed until
Mr.. Wilson has acted, or unless he
I asks that the complaining employees
go back to the railroad administration
for further consideration of the ques-
tions involved.
Strike Order Discussed
While it was generally understood
tonight that the three men who are
going to the White House will repre-
sent all organizations on the outlines
( OF the common complaint, there was
tlsome doubt as to how far the Brother
hood of Maintenance Of Way Employees
will go to agree with any decision Mr..
Wilson may make in their special case.
j. B. Malloy, vice-president of that
| organization, talked over the situation
to-day with Mr.. Hines. With the COM
mittee appointed from the organization
for that purpose he discussed their
grievances and the strike order which
it has sent out for next Tuesday. Mr..
Hines told them the matter is now in
the hands of the White House, and,
while the labor officials had nothing to
| say after the conference, there was
manifest disposition to wait Until it
becomes apparent just how the Presi-
dent will appsoach the problem.
Another disturbing factor is the at
tItude Of W. G.. Lee. president of the
Brotherhood Of Railroad Trainmen, an
organization distinct from that repre-
sented by Mr.. Shea, who is one of the
White House conferees .of tomorrow
Mr., Lees organization gave the pre-
scribed thirty days notice, January 90.
OF its intention to invalidate the exist
ing wage agreement with the Railroad
Administration, and SO far Mr.. Hines
has not been able to persuade Mr.. Lee
that this action should be rescinded.
Mr.. Lee would not discuss his attitude
to-day, but he is known to have insisted
at meeting OF all the railroad organiza-
tions that his own organization re-
serves the right to take such action az
1T may see fit independent Of what
others may do.
Whether Mr.. Lee would dare to 20
contrary to the decision of the organ
nations is a matter of speculation.
officials were plainly concerned to-
night over what he might see fit to do.
but were inclined to be hopeful that
the President will be able to present
the governments position so clearly
and suggest such an appealing waygout
of the difficulty that Mr.. Lee would not
dare play lone hand in opposition.
II Mr.. Lee should take such course.
it was said, he could cause q great
amount of trouble, and might seriously
tie up most of the carriers of the coun-
try, but in the end he would risk the
prestige of his organization and that
Of himself personally, and. officials be-
lieve, would be badly beaten.
Employees Demand Congress Act
Among the demands which the rail-
road employees have put up to the Al
ministration, it became known to-day.
is one that Congress show Willingness
to get busy at once on legislation
which viii bring down prices. This
complaint was one of those made to
Mr. Hines, and by him transmitted to
the President. Employees also asserted
Congress should pass legislation which
i would put time limit on cofd stofars
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