Arizona republican., 1920-02-24
STRIKE TALK |S CURRENT AMONG RAIL WAY UNIONS
Trend Of Events At Wash ington Displeases T h e Leaders Of IA Organiza- tions-Discuss Plans For Demanding Veto Of Re organization Bill
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 23-Railroad labor is not satisfied with the way things are going over it's wage de- mands. This was indicated in confer ences today of union officials and gen eral committeeman, called to pass on the presidents settlement proposal. Passage of the railroad bill by the sen ate tonight only added more bitterness to talk of the union workers.
 Strike Talk Heard
 Arrival oe committee chairmen- union leaders closest to the rank and file brought out strike talk. Higher officers were inclined to discount this evidence of the workers feeling. but hotel Hobbies buzzed with possibilities of the situation. There were indica- tions that the union heads who have dealt with Director General Hines were worried lest all they accomplished might be wrecked. Committee chair men spoke frankly of the sentiment in the local groups, describing it thus
 Their temper is not such as to war rant us being optimistic
 May Demand Presidential Veto
 Union spolSesmen believed there was no way to avoid a direct appeal to the president to veto the Cummins -Esch measure. They declared it must be done to satisfy the workers who have not had a close up'' of the situation. But as to hope that the legislation might yet be blocked, there was little ex- pItSSiOH. J<dDCF S appear to congress-. having been rebuffed, some leaders were said to have assumed the attitude that the legislators were trying to see how far they can go by nagging us.''
 Heated discussion marked all con- ferenees of the 15 organizations which met separately. None was able to fin ish examination of the documents transmitted between union officials the director general and the white house. as delegates continued to insist on assaultng "the unfairness with which congress and the government has dealt with us.n The presidents pro- posals is by no means sure of accept ance by the unions. It drew attack from various angles according to in- formation which leaked out of the se- cret meetings
 Claim Cause For Strike
 The gist of the strike talk as ex- pressed by several union officers. was that the railroad organizations have reasons to assert their strength through a walkout, but it was deemed inadyisable, by them at least. to carry out such program. One leader de- ciared that the action of the brother hood Of maintenance of way employees and shop laborers. in issuing the re- cent strike call had hurt the workers cause materially. He characterized that sort of thing as "damning us in the eyes Of the people,"
 Leaders were confident of their power 10 call ;r strike which would tie up all transportation, but their attitude was that peaceable means should be employed if possible.
 Because of the dissatisfaction which permeated all meetings. most of inc Individual organizations probably will not complete the formulation of their views of the settlement proposal for several days.
 mon officials who conducted neso- liatlons with MT. Hines were called together tonight but the nature of the conference was not revealed.