Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-02-10
EVENTS RAPIDLY MOVING
TOWARD. GENERAL STRIKE
INVOLVING ALL WORKERS
Unions Press Demands on
Eve of Return to Pri-
vate Control.

washington, Feb. 10.-Wage ne
,otiations OF the railway employees
With Director General Hines reach
.d.a critical stage today and inso-
far as the Brotherhood OF Railway
Traiumen is concerned, a strike
,oomed unless pending demands
are satisfactorily settled"
W. G. Lee, president of the union.
has served notice on Mr.. Hines that
his men are very insistent and
mist have a definite answer soor."
To this Mr.. Hines replied that no
statement of position could be
made until he had again talked with
the whole body Of labor represen-
tatives.
Mr.. Hines made a tentative ap-
pointment with Mr.. Lee for late to-
day to consider the trainmen's de-
mands.
Take Strike Vote.
Railroad administration officials
understand that strike vote is
being taken by the trainmen. 1t
was admitted that Mr.. Lee had in
formed the director general on
ian. % of the unions intention to
inyalidate its wage agreement on
the prescribed 80 days notice. On
that basis. it was presumed that he
required an answer 10 the relt-
Grated wage grievances by Feb. %,
less than a week in advance Of the
roads return to private control.
1t is understood that Mr.. Lee has
not the aggressive support OF the
other train operators unions in en-
forcing the wage demands with the
strike weapon. Most of those at
tending the conference here. how
ever, were silent on this question,
but some OF the brotherhoods' lead
frs held that they should first re-
reive Mr.. Hines full proposal be-
for determining their future course.
See End Of Negotiations.
II was generally believed here
that Director General Hines would
today go before the representatives
Of the 100000 railroad workers
and inform them that their wage in
crease demands could not be grant
ed. He is willing to go no further,
It Is understood, than to adjust al
legged inequalities in wages.
The employees representatives
are expected to come forward with
new proposition for the settle
ment of their case, but none OF
them would discuss their plans
prior to today's conference, which
is expected to end the negotiations.
Means Higher Rates.
The director general is under
stood to hold to the opinion that 1t
would be inadvisable for the rail-
road administration to order gen.
eral wage increase in view OF the
return of the lines to their private
owners in less than three weeks.
He is also said to believe that high
er freight and passenger rates
would inevitably follow an increase
in wages.
Laborers' Strike Sure.
Detroit, Mich, Feb. 10.-The
strike Of 100000 members Of the
United Brotherhood of Mainten-
ance of Ways Employees and Rail-
way Shop Laborers. will go into
eHect Feb. II, as ordered, regard
less OF any steps the government
may take. short Of meeting the de-
mands of the men for wage in
!crfases, President Barker Of the
motherhood reiterated today.
No court Injunction can prevent
.oe strike" Mr.. Barker declared
me strike order is out and the
anke will take place unless Di-
rector General Hines meets our
Wage demands"
Agreement Not Violated.
Replying today to a statement at
uiouted to Mr.. Hines that the
suike call issued yesterday was in
"oiasion of the unions wage agree
uent, Mr.. Barker said:
:, we have a 30-days' notice
sause in our wage agreement. No
we however, was served upon the
,suroad administration last July
- was renewed on Dec. 80. both
- ietter and by person-r confer.
sNe with the director general, aft
- We had held the strike in abey.
w., nv pending efforts of President