Arizona republican., 1920-06-24
URGES RAILROAD
 LABOR BOARD ID
 HURRY DECISION
President Takes Hand to Quiet Unrest Among Rail- way Workers - Board Promises Ruling "As Soon As, Possible" - Predicts More Trouble
CRepublIcan A. p. Leased wirel


 WASHINGTON. June 23-The rail road labor board at Chicago has been urgently requested by President Will son to expedite its wage decision.
 The presidents message resulted from the general unrest among rail- road workers over the wage question and the walIout of yardmen and other employees at Philadelphia, Baltimore and other cities. Its text was not made public, but unofficially it was de- scribed as being of a "forceful char acter."
 Predicts More Serious Condition
 Soon after the white house announce ment of the presidents action. warn ing that unless there was a settlement of the now year-old wage controversy by the end of this week, the situation probably would be much worse
 The railroad labor board MT. Doak said. "is wholly responsible for the present bad situation" He added that the chiefs of the railroad brotherhoods desire the public to know that this much heralded and advocated method of adjusting questions of this charac- ter, according to the present indica- tions, is rank and hopeless failure"
 At the same time. Secretary Wilson Of the department of labor declared in formal statement that while the labor board had had big task to perform 1t could render no better public ser vice in the existing situation than by coming to speedier determination of the questions at issue before it." Says Big Wage Raise Necessary MT. Doak's statement said the rail- road labor organizations had done everything reasonable to keep trans portation moving and that they were now considering means to assist in every manner in preventing worlxmen from leaving the services of the roads. but that they knew full well that the men must be given substantial pay in- creases before their efforts could be successful.
 Secretary Wilson, in making public his statement. denied the railroad strike had been discussed at the meet lng of the cabinet with President Will son yesterday or that action on the strike was delayed after he had de ciared that the situation was so i'm | proved that steps by the government were unnecessary.
 After the cabinet meeting, Secretary Payne, who now is head of the rail- road administration, stated in presence or Secretary Wilson that he had made report 10 the president on the strike situation, but that no action was taken after Secretary Wilson had stated that the situation was improving 1 Promise Ruling as Soon as Possible CHICAGO, June 23.-Everything nos 1 slble is being done to expedite the de- | cislon on wage demands of railroad | employees. the railway labor board said | today. The board late today had not received President Wilson's messa -e requesting an immediate decision, but 1 after reading press dispatches from | Washington, c. w. Hanger. public rep resentative on the board and chairman of it's publicity committee, announced I that no statement would be made. as it might be construed as an apology for delay, and that the board has nc l apologies to make.
 l Public hearings were completed only l two weeks ago, Mir. Hanger pointed out, and the board was now devoting | all it's time to consideration of the several hundred schedules which must be issued
 Hope for Decision Within Month l The decision will be forthcoming I he said, lin a reasonable length of time" but he declined to define such a reasonable time. Members of the board previously had indicated that the decision might be ready within 10 days (Continued on page 9