The Benson signal., 1920-02-21
Director General Hines Refuses
to Raise the Wages of the
Railway Employees.
DISPUTE PASSED TO WILSON
Gompers Against Organization Of la
Dor Party-Farmers' Representa-
tives Deny inherent Right to
Strike-ReneWed Hope for
Agreement on Peace
Treaty.
BY EDWARD w. PIckARD.

Director General Hines and the
heads of the railway unions failed to
reach an agreement as to wages, and
the whole matter was passed on to
President Wilson for his decision Of
the final attitude of the government.
The possibility of general railway
strike and consequent paralysis of in
dustry loomed big, despite the asser-
tion of the leaders of the four brother
hoods that no such move was being
considered vet.
Mr.. Hines, after many days Of con-
ference with the labor chiefs, came
to the conclusion that, though the
workers may be entitled to more pay
under existing living conditions, it is
economically impossible for the rail-
way administration to grant the in
creases in view of the fact that feder-
al control comes to an end on March
/. 1t was believed in Washington
that the president would sustain Mr..
Hines and appeal to the railway un-
ions to submit their demands to the
wage adjustment boards provided for
in the pending railway legislation. The
uniOns however, do not seem to have
any faith in such tribunals, and feel
that they will have no chance after
the roads have been returned to
private ownership.
Everyone concerned in the matter
directly feels that the union chiefs
have been very courteous and have
shown a genuine desire to avoid seri-
Gus trouble. It is to be expected that
some strikes will follow if the preSi-
dent decides against the workers, but
there has been no threat of a general
strike. One such strike already has
been ordered. The maintenance of
way employees and shop laborers have
been directed to quit work on Febru-
ary II. Their president, Allen G.
Barker, said, however, that the sub
mission Of the controversy to Presi-
dent Wilson might avert this, as it was
at Mr.. Wilson'S request that the strike
plans made last August were held in
allegiance while the government tried
to lower the cost of living. Since it
mainly failed in this, said Mr.. Barker,
he felt Mr.. Wilson would afford the
men the relief they had asked. This
may be so but official statistics do
not bear out the claims of the main
tenance Of way workers. Since 1913
their wages have increased on the av-
erage 106 per cent, while the cost of
living in the same time has gone up
t. % ,.;c,iv hny
ever, that the workers should join in
the general grabfest. Since the war
began there has been no greater prof
iteer than organized labor, but the
capitalist, big and small, set the ex-
ample and led the way.
In Kansas the maintenance Of way
men have been officially warned that
their contemplated strike will be in
1olation of that states new indus
trial court law.
The congressional conference COM
mittee fixed up a clever compromise
railway legislation bill and it's speedy
acceptance was predicted. But for
midable opposition developed. Repre-
sentatives Barkley of Kentucky and
Sims of Tennessee, both Democratic
members of the conference refused
to sign the report and announced they
would fight the measure. Barkley OBJ
jects to the provision for a 59 per
cent return on earnings with an equal
division of excess earnings over per
cent between the ROADS and govern
ment fund for the benefit of the weak
er lines. Sims makes his fight especial
Iy against the rate-making provision;