The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-15
FINAL DECISION ON
 WAGE DEMANDS ID
 BE GIVEN FEB. 23.
Representatives of Unions Tentatively Agree to Pres dents Plan for Adjust
 ing Controversy
By Associated Presa


 Washin gton, February 14.-The
 railroad wage controversy was re-
 ferred today to a general confer
 ence of union committeeman, called
 to meet here February 23, for
 final decision as to whether the
 demands for increased pny will he
 pressed on the government or
 passed on to the railroad corpora
 tions. soon to resume control of
 their properties.
 Representatives of the fourteen unions who have been eonferring with Director General Hines since February 3, and whose spokesmen laid their claims before President Wilson yesier- day. have tentatively accepted the White House proposal for a tribunal, created either by law or on the Presi- dents motion. to consider the demands. Final word must come, however, from higher union authority than the con- ference of union heads.
 While union leaders feared the eff feet of further delay on their member ship. the possibility of a general strike appeared more remote tonight.
 STRIKE ORDER POSTPONED r
 Officials of the Brotherhood of
 Maintenance of Way Employees and
 Shop LabOrers did not sign the Ict-
 ter accepting Mir. Wilson's pro-
 posal. and their strike, set for next
 Tuesday, was not called off until
 tonight. The brotherhood dele
 gates here, however, had teIe-
 graphed A. E. Barker. president of
 the maintenance workers. urging
 that the strike be called off.
 Barker compiled by postponins the
 strike indefinitely.
 The President tonight supplemented the action Of the union leaders with ~ telegram to Mir. Barker, calling uponl him to withdraw the strike order and to make sure that no interruption to. transportation occurs.- m f8
 MT. Wilson said he felt sure that the officials of the maintenance
 union would realize thnt "you can not in justice to your membership and the citizens generally of the United states persist In s course which k opposed to your obvious
 duty to the c0untry.n
 The Presidents telegram, addressed to MT. Barker at Detroit. follows;
 PRESIDENTS TELEGRAM
 "Yesterday l addressed to the chief executives of the principal railroad labor organizations, including the one of which you are president. message. a copy of which has been transmitted to you at Detroit I have just received response indicating the purpose of the organizations generally to conform to the principles of my message, to bring it to the attention of the mem- bership and to hold a convention here on February 23 for the purpose of car rying the matter into effect. I note with surprise and disappointment that your organization Is the only one ad dressed which has not expressed it's concurrence In this method of handling the matter. and I understand that no advice 'has yet been received of with drawal of your strike order, which was sent out several days ago. Tho director general of railroads explained this situation to your committee as soon as 1t presented to him advice of the strike orde-. and he has since sum marized the position os the government in a telegram to yoa which I fully in- eorse. I ask you to lrke al once tho necessary steps to withd NV the strike order and to make sure that no inter ruption whatever to transportatsen oc- CUTS on that account in this critical period I feel sure that you and your8 associates. upon full consideration, will realize that you cannot in justice to your mem bership and the citizens gen. orally of the United States persist 6n course which is opposed to your (Continued on Page Two)