The Washington herald., 1920-02-13
WILSON TODAY
MEETS UNIONS
ON RAIL WAGES
lWin Be Presidents First
| Conference Since Illness
! When He Saw Senators.
HINES SENDS REPORT
Brotherhood Chiefs to
Argue Raise from Stand
Of Increased Prices.

TEeNenllon OF the threatened ma
iion-wide railroad strike will rest di-
7ectly with President Wilson, when
IN the south lawn of the White
House this morning he will meet the
:hree men delegated by the railroad
1nions to present their demands for
wage increases affecting 100000 mep-
The three men who will see the
President are: B. F. Jewell. president,
-ailway department, American Fed
ration of Labor. representing the
ihopmen; E. ]. Magnion, president.
Order of Railway Telegraphers: and
Cimothy Shea. president Brotherhood
81 Railway Firemen and Engineers.
The Increase which they will insist
necessary will total about one
billion dollars annually.
Is First Meeting.
Aside from its nature as an
economic conference of first moment
o the nation, the meeting today has
he added interest of being the first
he President will have had with
anyone outside the Cabinet since last
December, when he received Senators
Fall and Hitchcock, and proved to
congress that despite his illness he
vas still functioning'' as the Chief
Executive
The Presidents progress. since
the onset Of cerebral thrombosis in
he latter part OF September, leads
to the belief at the White House
that he may even be able to pre-
side at the next meeting of the
'abinet. it is said. No apprehen-
% is felt by White House officials
hst the meeting today will act as
theck upon the Presidents steady
pprovement. and that he will meet
hc railway leaders fully equipped.
pentalIy and physically. to thresh
but with them the momentous ques-
Lions which they will present.
Hines Prepares Statement
1t was apparent yesterday that
Director General of Railways
wake. ~. Hines had refused longer
to continue the conferences with
the brotherhood leaders. and had
decided to pass the buck" to the
President. Mr.. Hines held a con-
ference this morning with Secre-
,ary TumUlty. and later prepared a
statement for submission to the
f.E,
ieneraI outlines his views on the
trainmen's demands.
;. B. MallOy. vice president of the
brotherhood Of Maintenance of Way
and Shop Employees. saw Director
Hines today and discussed the ques-
ton Of increased wages for the
members of his union. which it is
Indicated will walk out unless their
demands are satisfied by February
IL.
w. G. Lee. president of the Brother.
rood of Railway Trainmen. also con-
erred with Director Hines. and is
understood to have discussed the osIes-
ion of invalidating the contracts of
he trainmen which will continue in
effect only until February %.
1t is generally believed. however.
hat the whole railroad wage issue can
oe settled at the Presidents confer
.nce today. The representatives will
ooint out to the President that made
Iuate laws dealing with profteering
lave led to increases in prices beyond
he reach of their present wages. They
will declare that mounting costs make
t imperative that they have higher
-ates of pay.
When demands, based on increased
living costs. were first submitted by
he unions to the Railroad Administra-
ion. Director Hines instituted an in
sestigation of the prices of necessities.
He also asked for figures from the
Department OF Justice, which Is con-
iucting the campaign against prof.
eers. and these were supplied. They
showed, il is claimed. that the upward
rend Of prices had been arrested. and
hat reductions might be expected. On
his assumption Director Hines so far
las opposed the demands for general
Increases.