The Washington herald., 1920-02-11
MAY USE COURT
ORDER TO STOP
BIGRAILSTRIKE
Department Of Justice q
Seek Injunction If Neces-
say, Is Report.
HINES DECISION TODAY
Delegation Representing
100000 on Way Here
From Detroit.

ing, government officials Last nir4x
were seeking a way to prevent III.
economic catastrophe which would fol
low such a move on the part Of tins
railroad employees.
The Department OF Justice n w.
learned, may attempt TO stop thu
preach by using the power Of a Feo.
eral injunction against the Officers o
the railroad brotherhoods, who hau
threatened a countrywide strike un
less their wage demands are GRANTED
The Injunction. IL brought, would b,
similar in form to that taken ou
against the striking coal miners las
November at Indianapolis. and hold
the brotherhood leaders in contemp
of court for calling the strike which
would be set for February L.
While Department Of Justice oficiah
refused to state yesterday what theh
action will be, it is known that under
the terms of the Lever act they an
empowered TO bring the injunction n
such an emergency. The act specin
cially provides against the strike con
ungency as a conspiracy to preven
the distribution of food or fuel.
Critical Conference.
Conferences between the repre-
sentatives OF the brotherhoods and
director General OF Railway
Walker ID. Hines yesterday reached
ithe critical stage, although Tn,
last word OF the government wit
not be heard until today. when Df
rector Hines. IL was announced
will make the decision on the en-
tire railway wage question.
This decision was expected yes
lterdsy, but at the last moment thu
brotherhoods asked for a delay IL
iorder to prepare a final statement
lof their demands.
A delegation representing thu
100000 members OF the Unites
brotherhood Of Maintenance Of Wa,
Employees and Shop Laborers is OF
its way here from Detroit to con
fer with Director Hines and b
present at the conference in vhicl
tho governments answer VIII b.
isubmitted TO the railway men
This union. comprising nearly al
the men who repair the roads AM
work in teh shops. has gone aheA,
with its strike plans. and will cal
ia general Walkout by Saturday un
less their demands are met.
Demand Explanation.
Railway Administ alton Official
said yesterday that they would dc
mand an explanation from repre-
sentsuves OF the maintenance O.
wav men. as TO why they issued .
strike call which. they say. 'fs
clear violation OF our agreemnt wit
the unions that they would give u
thirty days notice before thct
men actually struck"
IL is the consensus Of opinion tina
the brotherhoods and the RailroaI
Administration. in their failure [
come 20 a decision. have reached a,
impasse. and that the leaders viii
call strike unless quick action /
taken by the Department OF Jus
ticc.
As a last resort. President Wilson
, who has been kept closely informei
Of the situation by Secretary TumuI
ty. may issue an appeal to tn
brotherhood leaders to call of tn
strike until commission can b
appointed to adjust the wage diff
fercnces. This was the exact pro
cedure followed by the President {
settle the coal strike. and il was ef
fective, the coal miners having re-
turned to work pending the adjust
ment OF their wage differences wit
the operators.
The fact that the railroads o
March l will be returned to thet
} original private owners will no
necessarily prevent the Presiden
from appointing a wage commits
sion. IL is believed. The opinio
is widespread that the PresideH
will await the effect of the deci
sion. which will be announced b
Director Hines today. before he de
cides that action on his part IL i'm
perative. Only the action OF tn
Department Of Justice in enjoin
ing the brotherhood leaders againt
striking can prevent the natior
wide strike il the Presidents offc
of mediation fails.
Detroi-. Feb. 1O.-Ten delegate
OF the United Brotherhood Of Msir
tenance of Way and ailroad Sho
I.sborers today were en- route
Washington to make last eftoI
TO untangle the wage puzzle. Ca
for a strike. effective February I
was made yesterday 10y Allen
Barker. grand president Tn
& committee is vested with full a.
| thority. il was stated at headqust
ters here. to enter into negotiation
. y,i'h the railroad administrstio
and accept any just settlement.
{, was dire,.ted to remain
Washington subject TO the call
all Director Hines until the day
the proposed strike.
J. u. MalIoy. vice president of ~
organization. will head and dire'
the committee. The MaIIoy commit
tee has been in Washington for SON
time trying to reach settlement
No violence Counternaneed.
President Barker. in a statemer
issued last night to be sent TO ~
300 900 workers in the United State
cautioned the men not to resort
violence and to always be lswahie
ing citizens.
Special representatives were SCI
to Kansas by the United Brother
hood OF Maintenance OF Way ar
Railway Shop I.aborers today
investigate the Kansas industrh
court law. according to o. c. Trasl
assistant grand president.
According to dispatches fro'
Kansas, the law will he used
prosecute members Of the brother
hood. IL they strike in Kansas. Fet
ruary II.
I'VE are sending special repr,
sentativex." Trask said. and unit
I'VE hear from them we can mas
no definite announcement regardih
the strike call there. The brothsl
hooA afnnd. for law lnd orasT.