Arizona republican., 1920-02-13
RAILROAD WAGE
 DEMANDS GO ID
 WILL SON I ODAy
Labor Representatives Will Demand Either Guaran- tee of H. C. L. Reduction or Assent to Wage In- crease-Fear Wilson Will Refuse Demands
Republican A. p. Leased Wirei

Republican A. p. Leased Wirei
 WASHINGTON, Feb. 12-Presi-
 dent Wilson will be asked tomor-
 row by spokesmen for the more
 than 100000 railroad employees
 that definite assurances be given
 Of an immediate reduction in the
 cost of living, leaders in the wage
 negotiations declared tonight. As
 an alternative, the union represen-
 tatiVes will claim increased wages,
 demands for which were not
 pressed at MT. Wilson's request
 last summer.
 Representatives of the workers, it was intimated tonight, base their hope for higher wages largely on the in creased cost of living since the last general wage increase in 1918. The cost of living question, while always to the fore in the negotiations which the union men have had with Director General Hines, will be employed to the full extent of the unions power in the conference with the president, it was indicated
 Immediately after the announce ment from the White House that the president would see a union commit tee Of three personally, a meeting of all union heads interested in the con- troverSy was called. and preparations were begun for possible presentation or verbal claims in amplification of
 
 through MT. Hines The employees will be represented by E. M. Jewell, acting president of the railway employees de- partment. American Federation of Labor; E. J. Manion. president of the Order of Railroad Telegra phers and Timothy Shea, acting president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Bremen and Enginemen- The conference will be held on the south lawn of the hIte House where MT. Wilson spends a portion of his mornings.
 Fear President Will Refuse Demands
 There was unmistakable evidence tonight among the union officials of a lear that the president would refuse 10 grant their wage demands. A few said frankly they could see no hone or settlement favorable to them. Their view seemed to have been based on the argument offered in rebuttal by MT. Hines as the union leaders pre- seitea new statements or proposals.
 Director General Hines, in trans hitting data on the controversy to MT. "lison today. was understood to have made suggestions relative to a final disposition of the problems
 Ihe director general in his confer that he could not grant their demands because Of the early termination of federal control and explanied that passage of pending legislation was ex- pecteu to set up machinery to pro- vide Impartial and unbiasedn hand ling of the wage claims. The Inion argument to this was that they vereo thus compelled to face another delay with no assurances of relief
 Whlle fhe controversies with the other unions were acquiescent because Of a switch in the center of interest from the railroad administration lo the White House, MT. Hines conferred with representatives of the Brother hood of Maintenance of Ways em- ployes and shop laborers, who have called a strike of their 300, 900 members Tuesday, officials of the Brotberhood Of Railroad Station Employes and members of the Longshoreman's union.
 Other Casas Pendinq
 The conference with the maintenance or way workers resulted practically in placing their demands in the same cate gOry with those now before the presi- dent Mir. Hines told tbe committee frankly that he could not agree to their demands for higher pay at this time but informed them of his willingness to leave the case open pending de- cision of the president
 Differences between the railroad ad- and the station employees and longShoremen were understood to have been settled several weeks ago, but MT. Hines told them at that time ne WOUl4 0lScuSS InelF grievances 1ur- ther whenever they desired. r. J. Coyle, president of the station em- pIoyes, said after the conference he had not been given what he intended get ting" but that the question had not been disposed of finally.
 White House officials indicated strongly their feeling that the crisis has not passed even though the nego- tjations thus far have been harmoni- 1 ous. Developments have come so ra pidly in the last 4S hours that fur ! ther chan ges-any one of several which 1 might prove serious-would not be sur | prising.
 Counter to this, however, was the 1 suggestion offered in many quarters | that regardless of the outcome, rumors | of a general strike of all rail work CTS ! were not to be regarded seriously at | this time because of the pending legis- | lation. It was pointed out that federal ! wage boards have failed to satisfy few | pe the organizations which come be- ! fore them with grievances and that | the railroad employees generally have | confidence in any report which such a | body as is proposed in the Cummins- 1 Esch bill would make in their case. i