The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1920-02-19
RAIL STRIKE CALLED OFF
Barker Acts Promptly on Sharp Note
From Mr.. Wilson.

,lrce hundred thousand members {
the Brotherhood of Maintenance {
Way Employees and Railway Sho
l.ahorers, set for Tuesday, was indef
niteiy postponed tonight by a.
har.str, international president of tn
union, in accordance with the reques
OF President Wilson that action b
delayed until after Tie general con
ference of railway Union committee
men February 20.
Mr.. Barker decision, he all
nounced, was taken on recommends
ton of the executive committee nov
in Washington, to whom it appeared
he said, that late developments ii
their wage controversy tended to
place the maintenance of way dnior
in position apart from the union:
and seemingly iorgetful of public i'll
tcrest.' He maintained, however
that immediate RELIEF i44tlst he HAD an !
that a strike as planned would have
been fully justified.
Notice of the decision to postpone
the strike was communicated to Di-
rector Gencral Hines by Mr. Barker
i'll this message:
In compliance with recommends
tons from the committee of the
Brotherhood now al " ash.nston aim
indefinitely postponing the strike to
have become effective Tuesday morn
ing, February ~ However, am
confirmed in my belief that ,trile ac-
ton would have been eminently JUST
fled 10 lorcc- favorable aetien-en the
Vat' demands TT ...t .tltn u whom
| speak. 1t is evident or commit
did mot desire jh;l: tie niain,' nance
ol way brotherhood siIo Id be d iven
into It position >ccm;n}Iy' iot:yelful .!
he Dunl'r iutctest due to unl!iehdIv
interests, Including IT, avcnt,e, of in
formation by ,,h.ch lac pubic en- L.
reached, INC people being ignorant i, i
actual >ontli,i Ill among these rail
way workers. | desire to impress up
on you with ali Ike force III my cot1-
maud The absolute necessity OF relief
for our members immediately ii a
most serious situation from which
there Will be no retreat is to b
;,voidcd.
Washington. Feb. 4.-prcsidlnt
" ilsuu late today tclegraphcd Pres
~ III ~ lie l)dl NCl vi lllS olllCl H'btG
u Maintenance OF Way Employees,
asking him to take at once the necc,-
'ary steps to withdraw the strike or
der and to make sure that no inter
'uption whatever to transportation oc-
;,rs on that account in this critical
period.
The Presidents ste, lal.,-..,--M H =. I
Barker at Detroit follows:
"Iesterday addressed to the CHIEF
executives of the principal railroad |
abor organizations, including the one
VI which you are president, Il mes
age, a copy-oi- whleu. Has heet,-tratls-
nltted to you at Detroit. la c
u>t received a response indicating til"
purpose of the organizations general.
y to conform to the principles OF my
message, to bring i, to the attention
If the membership and 10 hold a con.
ercnce February 20 for the purpose
II carrying the matter into effect. II
,o,e with surprise and disappointment
hat your organization is the only
me addressed which has not ex-
PRESSED its concurrence in this meth
ID of handling the matter and I'M
crstand that no advice has yet been
cceived of withdrawal of your strike
rider which was sent ont several
avs ago
The director general of railroads
Hplaincd this situation to your COM
littee as soon as it presented to him
dvlcc OF the strike order and he has
NICE summarized the position of
he government in a telegram to you
'hich ! fully indorse.
Il ask you to take at once the nee
ssary steps to withdraw the strike
rider and to make sure that no in
eruption whatever to transportation
cCurs on that account in this critical
eriod.
Il feel sure that you and your asso- :
atcs, upon full consideration. will
,allzc that you cannot in Justice to
our membership and the citizens
cnerally OF the United States persis
course which is opposed to your
bvious duty to the country, to the
rect and specific request of the gov.
,nment and also to the attitude Of
! other railroad labor organizations,
| Tor the mere purpose OF objecting
the procedure l have proposed,
hich is the only practicable method
obtaining prompt and reasonable
of-the important wagc
lestions now pending.
Il also ask you to send my mes
ge and its Enclosure to- all your
embers and give them the oppor-
nifty of cooperating with all the rest
the railroad labor in handling the
after.
T. SiOnnd) "\Noodro,,, Ny:1.or III