Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-20
Call on Congress, in Memorial,
Not to Pass Redrafted Rail-
road Reorganization Measure
Now Before Legislators.
INFORMAL CONFERENCE
IS ALMOST BROKEN UP
Charges That Members of
Congress Had Been Called
Into caucus" to Be Dictated
To by Labor Denied.

Washington, Feb. l9.-Organzed
railroad workers and union labor in
general holding the re-drafted rail-
road reorganization bill to be de-
structive of the employers constitu-
tional privileges and liberties tonight
called on congress to defeat the
measures in its entirety. ....
Representatives OF the Is railroad
unions, at the close of an all-day
conference, attended by President
Gompers and Secretary Morrison of
the American Federation of Labor,
made public memorial to congress
embodying this declaration:
The pending bill deprives citizens
employed upon railways of the in
violate right to enjoy gains OF their
own industry. The returns to cap
ital are fixed upon an arbitrary basis,
the rate which the public must pay
and wages which labor must receive
must accommodate themselves ito
this basis fixed for capital This act
makes the public and labor sub
servient to capital. For these rea-
sons herein set forth and many 9TH
ers, we request and respectfully
urge that the bill be defeated in its
entirety" ... ...
Will Protest to Wilson.
During the all-day conference in
formation was given out that letters
of protest against the wage pro-
visions OF the bill would be sent to
President Wilson and Director
General Hines. Later it was decided
to make the first fight in congress
and intimations were given that if
defeated there the workers then
would carry the battle to the White
House, hoping that the president
might veto the legislation.
While the labor representatives.
were in session, Director General
Hines, in conference with a conf
mittee of leading railroad execu-
tives, received a pledge of their CO.
operation in the establishment OF
committee of experts to gather
data bearing on the wage problem.
The executives expressed a desire
that solution of the wage problem
be expedited, and Mr., Hines said
that the time and method of con-
stituting the committee of experts
would be recommended to the pres
ident as soon as conference with
the railroad union officials could be
held.
Conference Nearly Breaks Up.
Charges by Representative San
ders, republican OF Indiana. that
members OF congress had been
called into caucus" to be dictated
to by union labor on the railroad
reorganization bill almost broke up
an informal conference between con-
gressmen friendly to labor and la
Dor leaders.
Mr.. Sanders said he had received
an invitation to attend caucus
in the house office building and
found instead all assembly at which
labor leaders were prepared to pre-
sent their commands to the legisla-
tors.
Il charge that this meeting was
called to defeat the railroad bill" he
shouted, in order to foist govern
ment ownership upon the country"
llHiiSuiotSiN NSpi CSNildtifS MS"u,
democrat of New York. arose and
declared "the man who will say this
meeting was surreptitiously called Is
a liar"
A dozen congressman present, in
cluded Mr.. Sanders. jumped to their
feet and turmoil reigned until the
chairman had called the meeting to
order. Representative Mead con-
sented to withdraw his assertion in
sofar as it might have been con-
strued to include Mr.. Sanders.
Denying what he said was the i'm
plication OF Representative Sanders
that the meeting of the house mem
bers and labor leaders had been
called as Caucus" Mr.. Gompers
explained that no meeting place
could be found other than the ma
jority caucus room i'll the house Of
hce building.