Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-02-13
WILSON ISSUES
I[HhATUh ON.
WAGE DEMANDS
Secret Proposal to Settle Rail
Way Controversy Made by
President IN Conference
With Leaders


vllson today made proposal to the
conservatives of the railroad broth
.,boods for settlement of their wage
demands and the men agreed to give
Il consideration.
The brotherhood men would not say
what the proposal was, Timothy Shea
acting president Of the Brotherhood
oi Firemen and Enginemen announc-
ing that they would make no state
ment today.
The white house was expected to
issue a statement later in the day.
Meantime there was no intimation
whether the president had offered a
substitute for an increase in wages
in the nature of continuation of
fight on the high cost of living, or
whether he asked the workers to de-
lay pressing their demands until the
railroads were returned to the pri-
vate owners March l.
Men Must Decide
B. NJ Jewell, president of the rail-
road department Of the American
Federation Of Labor. announced that
the presidents proposal would have
to be put up to the men" before any
announcement could be made by the
union representatives.
Besides Mr.. Jewell and Mr.. Shea,
E. j. ManiOn, president of the Order
Of Railway Telegraphers was present
at the conference. The president met
the representatives on the south porti-
co Of the white house and read
statement which he had prepared af-
ter a study of the report on the wage
negotiations presented to him by Di-
rector General Hines. The conferene
lasted about fifteen minutes. The
president was in his wheel chair.
This was the first conference the
president has had outside Of the sick
room since his illness began last fall.
Conference Advised
Mr. Shea Immediately notified the
other union officials who have been
cOnferrlng with Mr. Hines, advising
them to call conference to consider
the presidents statement. He indicat-
ed that the conference would con-
sumo most of the day, and might be
continued tomorrow. He said there
was no disposition on the part of the
union men to act hastily and that |
ney desired to make a complete ex-
ANIMATION of the presidents statement
peloFe reaching decision.
me presidents proposal, whatever
was was not expected to stay the |
'a'Ae OF the maintenance of way en-
p'oyes called for next Tuesday.
eecrelary Tumulty declined TO sayl
saelner the president had refused |
'Pevillcaliy the wage demands, saving
u'a. every one wants to settle the
sumo and that the brotherhood |
.IsD, .'.sis should have an opportunity to
..''Siuer the Presidents suggestion or
~0pOsal without outside interference.
Hines Backed Up
'ne presidents statement that the
sso,ernments policy was "based on
~ ,ss'lce 10 all interests" is in line with
'inai word presented to the union
,e' ,saue's uy Director General Hines at
we last conference with them
,a su' Hines was understood to have
ha ae men that with the return of
ns 'Vaus 70 private control under
bon., ,sw railroad bill an impartial tri-
ma na, ior consideration of their de-
T'a,us would be created
ssa0 i. n,hes was understood to have
iDcs"a" sss''eu 10 the president that If an
iAs s'sase .1 IN pay was granted the men.
f,si.s. ausus would seek an Increase in
c,ssS.s p. rates, which would mean in
uOia"1 eu liVing costs. Inasmuch as the
rs@Dus as were pressing strongly for a
ihsra ~. III ilVlng costs officials said
0r..,a S was reason to believe that tha
ansaas sn' had employed this in his
''r 70 l.l the union spokesmen.
wA. Wilson Looks We'll
Srs,ISsaI. Isn the he railroad men greeted the
Ds ou' v"s.. lhey told him he was look
yr..ldsO. Iase Jus Just been shaved" said The
Tba a'n. that helps a bit"
chsI, y president, sitting in his wheel
vrsnDsa a corner under the portico
stb XIV ~ n blanket shook hands
+ Drsssa,Dl ~ men when Secretary Tumul.
tAroussan....e sssn.ed them. They stood nm
svsresa,. s"Oul the conference with their,
hands h''S ,, on but their hats in their
. pUt ,h ! ne president pressed them
dsnOs..na .nelr hats on, because Of tba
lftsr asss, s but they refused. u '"e
bent asSaS lSsading his statement the pres
aon q Ssa bIs them to give considers
ID @ i a's ~ suggestion and they pr.n,-