Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-06-26
UNION LEADERS
EXPRESS FEAR OF
TRAFFIC TIEUP

CHICAGO, June 25.-Heads of fiji
ten railway mems organizations in
conference today declared. the, rail
Situation the most n1enacing they
had ben called upon to face since
the war and expressed doubt Of their
ability to prevent complete "paraly-
sis of transportation unless they are
given cooperation by the railway
labor board now considering wage
demands. ......- ......
1.-THE men have reached the break
ing point in patience" declared W..
G. Lee, president of the Brotherhood
Of Railway Trainmen.
Judge R. M Barton, chairman. Of
the board, Issued a statement in
which he said the wage decision
would be made as soon as possible,
but in justice to the roads, workers
and the public, proper elaboration
must be had.
w. n. Doak, vice president Of the
railway trainmen's organization, de-
c1ared the board had demonstrated
the futility of such methods of est
Ting wage disputes.
"The board members are sitting
as advocates" he said, instead Of
as judges
Lee B1ames Wilson
w. G. Lee, president of the Broth.
erhood of Railway Trainmen and
spokesman for the union leaders,
laid responsibility for the present
situation at the door of President
Wilson in a statement issued before
the meeting opened.
Mr.. Lee charged that the president
had permitted the railway admins
tration ITO daily along" for nearly a
year after the men presented their
demands, and that it took the presi-
dent forty days to appoint the rail-
way labor board after the Esch- Cum
mings bill authorizing it had be-
come law.
1--WE are her to discuss some way
of avoiding the danger because OF
the governments delay in passing
on our wage demands" Mr.. Lee said
Unless immediate action is taken
we fear the transportation system
will be paralyzed. We don't know
why there should be any longer de-
lay by the railroad board. Every
pressure possible has been brought to
bear to get decision.
Zone Of the biggest dangers to be
faced now is the one big union idea,
propaganda of whic his responsible
| for the sporadic strikes now going
on. It is up to the powers to decide
| whether they want the one big union
idea, which caused strife in 1894, or
| whether they want the strong, sane
! organizations which have kept the
men in a reasonable mood for many
! years"
| Mr.. Lee denied that the unions
were planning to call a general strike
, to force a speedy decision by the
/ wage board.
| Board Reseuts Criticism
| Meantime the labor board is hur-
rying its efforts to reach decision.
| Board members believe they are be-
ing made the goat" for past blund-
ers and are said to highly resent de-
mands that they rush a decision.
| One member pointed out that the
government had had more than a.
year to deal with the workers de-
mands and had been unable to do
anything.
| Nov, after holding hearings for
six weeks, we are expected to study
| the data presented and then agree
on decision lin few days. he
said.
I'VE have about 100 questions to
be dealt with and they can't be dis
| posed of i ma few weeks
| Chairman Barton admitted today
he had wired President Wilson an
! answer to his telegram, urging an
| early decision, but refused to say
lWhat it's contents were.