The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-02-14
SUSPEND RAIL WAGE DEA!
i Until It'll 1N NERS GET ROADS
SECRECY SURROUNDS
PRESIDENTS STATEMENT
Answer of Unions To Be Mad
Today - Hint Maintenance
ofWayMen GetNo1ncrease

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.-SegctiR.E
lions Of the union railroad employees fol
an increase IN pay practically were suS.
pended tonight until the rail properties
are again in the hands Of their ownerH
There remained as finale only the
presentation to President Wilson the
union reply to his statement given them
earlier in the day'and this likely will be
sent TO the White House Tomorrow
morning.
Union officials conferred for six hour
on the Presidents statement but theS
steadfastly refused to divulgO it, cpa
tents on which White House orftcial.
likewise maintained absolute silence.
Nor would the union chiefs give any In
formation as to their reply. fuse
Director General Hines cort.nryd
briefly iat" to-day with w. 6. L"r. pres.
idcnt O. the Brotherhood # RJii"os,us
Tranmen and a committee from his or:
ganizatIon. This conference. so far a.
the railroad administration is concerned.
was said to conclude the series Of meet
inEs on the wage question.
Mr.. Hines also late to-day s"ut Il tt-
ter to the brotherhood of way employer
re-stating his attitude toward that
groups strike. He did not make pubic
the nature OF his communication but ~.
was limited dhe had informed the main.
tenance workers they could expect moth.
Ing further I'm the way OF wage IL.
creases from the railroad administra.
t!on. I. .5sE
Maintenance Of Way.
Members Of the committee which has
been representing the maintenance EN-.
ploycs however, denied this, but de-
clarcd there had been no decision to casi
off the strike which has been set IN:
Tuesday. 10y yf
After Mr.. Hines had given the adnaiR.
is,ration's final word to Mr.. Lees DR.
ganization. the trainmen's president -
nounced he regarded the White HooHk
decision AS binding on our union-sa as
we'll as the others" Although Mr.. Lee
declined TO discuss the next move he
would make. II was understood he would
not break from the other organisations:
II was indicated dalso that he would par.
nit the wage agreement. notice OF abIo.
CATION OF which was given for February
%. might be allowed to remain In ef.
feet until the termination OF federal con.'
troll Members Of his committee seemed
to accept this rs their chiefs stand.
Proposal 10 Offered. e.
WASHINGTON. Feb. i3.-!rcH lfE
wilson to-day made a propo.ai q -
representatives OF the railroSd Hre5t
hoods for settlement OF their wassE -
n,ands and the men engaged 70 Slse.I
nnsideratfces. - =
The brotherhood men would not
what the proposal was. Timothy Osht
acting president or the Brotherhood Ii.
Pailroad Firenicn and EnEinr mcn, con.s
Guiding that they would maxi no state
mcnt to-day. -
B. ". Jewell. president Of = railway
departnent of the American Federation
of Labor, announced that the Presidents
proposa: would have to bH put up tes
The men" before any announcement
could be made by their representatives
Besides Mr.. Jewell and Mr.. Shea. E
]. Manion. president Of the Order/of
Railway photographers. was present 81
the conference. The president met the
representative on the south portico OF
the White House and read . statement.
which he had prepared after q study Of
the report on the wage negotiation pre-.
sented to him By Director General
Hines. The conference laSted about 1t
minutes. The President was In hi:
wheel chair.
Mr.. Shea Immediately notified the
other union officials who have been con.
rcrrirc with Mr.. Hines. advising them
Presidents x atSmrnt. The President
said there wa. no disposition on the pafi
Of the union mcr {" act hastily and thht
they desired to make complete exph-
milton 81 tho Presidents statement be-
fore reaching 4 decision. TIL" PreSi.
dents ufopok, H. whatever II was, was
not expected to stay the strike OF the
maintenance Of way employees called foI
next Tuesday.
The general attitude Of union oftt-
Gals. after being made acquainted with
tn, presidents statement. in confer
cncc on tho south lawn Of the White,
House was plainly ono Of disappoint-
mont Som" OF them We! openly dis
satisfied but the moro conservative
leaders urged that they hide their time
in tho hope Of success along other lines.
whether this attitude was proof that
the president had clatly denied the re-
uuest for Increases or was an indioA-
ton he had submitted an unSstisfsc
tory counter proposal WAS the subject
OF differences OF opinion among union
leaders who were nos made acquainted