Norwich bulletin., 1920-04-20
RAILROAD STRIKERS TO PRESENT
 DEMANDS. FOR LIVING WAGE

Washington, Aprol 1S.-Underterred by the refusal of the railroad labor board to hear them today representa- tives of the railroad strikers announc ed that they would present written com plaints, together with demands for a living wage" to the board which to- morrow will begin formal hearings on the big wage controversy.
 The board hatly declined to receive, entertain or consider complaints from strikers, declaring it. would only hear those who were adopting every reason able means of avoiding interruption of railroad service.
 The board will proceed with the wage dispute involving claims of nearly two million men which failed of adjustment when the bipartisan board ceased to function April l. Heads of the four brotherhoods and the chairman of the Association of Railway Executives all of whom were present today, will attend.
 Timothy Shea. president of. the Broth erhood of Railway Bremen and Engine men, said tonight that speedy settle ment would be urged Refusal of the board to hear strikers, Shea said, would have the effect of sending all of the strikers back to work, many of whom had been led astray, he thought, in the belief that the board might recognize them.
 Delegations claiming to represent rail road men of all crafts in various cities who have quit work appeared at the offices of the board today demanding as- surances of a substantial guarantee of increased wages" which they said would send strikers back to work. They com posed an unorganized association, they said known as the Railroad Workers o1
 America, insisting that they still re- tained their membership in the recogniz'
 ed unions, since they had not struck
 but had only gone on vacation" After adopting rules of procedure fol hearing disputes, the board admitted sev eral delegations.
 1 Immediate protest was entered by W N. Doak, vice president of the Broth 1 tended that the officers of the eightee1 ] railroad organizations present represent !, ed the men unless they had quit theil l jobs, in which case they were no long l CT employees of1the railroads, or member
 of the recognized unions.
 l General dissatisfaction with the board | acvtion was expressed by the railroa'
 workers Edward McHugh, represent
 ing strikers in New York and New Jer | sey, declared that he would continue hi 1 efforts to obtain some assurance of a increase from the board, adding tha 5000 men in the New York district woul not go back to work until such assur ance was received.
 The railroad workers envoys declare that they would not return until the
 had iron clad" assurances of an adjust | ment of their grievances. They woul present their formal demands, they sait and then go totheir men and await a de | cisi33n granting increased wages Vigof ous objection was expressed by thes representatives to the term Striker
 They claim that they have not struck a
 there has been no order from the official
 of their unions adopted by referendum
 vote, but that they merely laid dow , lstheir tools until they get more pay.
 Yardmen from St Louis declare the are not sufficiently represented befol the. board by the recognized unions ar demand that they be allowed to legisla for themselves.