Evening journal., 1920-02-16

DETROIT Feb is-The strike OF
ponOo members OF The Brotherhood OF
Maintenance of Way Employees and
Railway Sh0r Iabn-ers. sci for tomo~-
row has boon indefinitely postponed by
Allen z Ra'fer International Pres
dent of the Union In accordance with
the request OF President Wilson that
ari'on be delayed until after the gen
efsl conference OF railway union COM
mitieemen. on February %.
WASHINGTON Feb i6.--The railroad
wage controversy has been referred 10
q general conference Of union commit
toemcn. called 10 meet here February
% for final decision as to whether the
demands for increased pay will be
pressed on the Government or passed
on 10 the railroad corporations. soon TO
resume control OF their properties
Representatives OF the fourteen
unions, who have been comforting with
Direcior-General Hines since February
3. and whose spOkesmen laid their
claims before President Wilson. on
Friday. have tentatively accepted the
White House proposal for a tribunal.
created either by law or on the Presl-
dents motion, 10 consider he demands.
Final word must come. however. from
higher union authority, the conference
OF union heads
~ While union leaders feared the effect
the possibility OF a general strike has
gone. Officials OF the Brotherhood Of
Maintenance OF Way Employees and
shop laborers id not sign the letter sc-
cepting Mr., Wilson's proposal and their
strike set for next Tuesday has not
been called on.
The President supplemented the action
OF the union leaders with a telegram
20 Mr. Barker calling upon him 10 with
d. aw the strike order and to make
sure that no interruption 10 transpor-
tation occurs Mr. Wilson said he felt
sure that the officials OF the mainten-
snce union would realize that you can
not. In Justice 10 your membership and
the citizens generally Of the Uniied
States. persist 10 a course which is op-
posed TO your obvious duty TO the
country"
The Presidents telegram. addressed
TO Mr.. Barker at Detroit. follows:
Yesterday ! addressed 10 the chief
executive OF the principal RAILROAD labor
ORGANIZATIONS, Including the one Of
Which. you are president. message. a
copy OF which has been transmitted 10
yOu at Detroit have just received a
response indicating the purpose OF the
organizations generally 10 conform to
the principles OF my message. 10 bring
Il 10 the attention OF the membership
and 10 hold convention here on Feb
ruary % for the purpose OF carrying the
matter into effect note with surprise
and disappointment thai your o~~aniza-
ton Is the only one addressed w y has
not expressed ltS concurrence this
method OF handling the matter and
understand that no advice has yet been
received OF withdrawal OF your strike
order which was sent out several days
ago.
THE Director-General OF Railroads
explained this situation 10 your commit
tee as soon as IL presented 10 him ad-
vice OF The strike order and h has since
summarized The position OF The Govern !
meni In a telegram 30 you which fully |
indOrse ask you ic take at once the /
sarv steps 10 Withdraw the siri e
order and 10 make SIRE that no Interrupt /
tiOn whatever 10 transportation Ocrurs |
on That account II this critical period. /
81 feel sure that you and you' asso- /
cia'es upon fuA consideration VIII 4
realize That you cannot in Justice 10
YOUR mrmbershlp and the citizens gen.
orally OF the United States persist In
a course whih Is opposed 10 your
obvious duty 10 the country. 10 the
direct and specific request Of the gov
ernment and llso 10 the altitude OF all
other railroad labor organizations. all
for the mer purpose OF Objectlng to
the procedure ! have proposed. which
is the only practicable method OF OBJ
tanning a prompt and reasonable set
Element OF the important wage ques-
tlons now pending ] also ask you to
send my message and It's lnclOsure 10
all yourimembers and give Them the
opportunity OF cooperating with all
the rest OF railroad labor In handling
the mater. WOODROW WILSON"
To Nahe Wage Commission
Assurance was given the union ON
cials Jy the President in his proposal
that he would provide machinery for
dealpg cOmprehensively with their
clalhs; he proposed the naming OF
commission OF wage experts TO begin
thf compilation OF data bearing on the
controversy.
fhe President said be was certain Il
4 apparent TO all reasonable men and
yOmen that these mOmentOus
Questions must be dealt with by an
gency which can continue 10 function {
fter March l."
81 wish therefore," he said. TO an