The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1920-02-26
LABOR FIGHT On
RAILROAD BILL
GOES TO WILSON
Cannot Sanction Wage Pro-
visions In Measure, They
Say-Ask President For
Wage Tribunal.

Washington, Feb. 23.-Labor today
rarrias. Its fight on the Esch- Cum
minis railroad bill to President Will
son.
In letter delivered at the White
House, union leaders attacked the la
Dor clauses of the bill as well as the
provision for a guaranteed return of
51a per cent and practically refused
to submit their wage demands to ar
duration tribunals set UP by congress
as proposed by the president.
The letter declares that analysis of
the labor provisions of the bill seem
sufficient to warrant the definite con-
clusion that the congress has not pro-
..nsea . zs.:et!'o,: -:.s..aai,:ra accent.
able at any time and that the propo-
sal is entirely inadequate to meet the
present situation"
Want Wage Tribunal
The union men further made it
clear that they believe Wilson should
go ahead with plans independent of
congressional action to set up a tri-
bunal to handle wage matters.
We feel sure" the union men
wrote to the president that you can
agree with us to the extent that there
is little likelihood that congress will
be able to reach an agreement that
will insure prompt disposition of
the question"
The letter of which a copy was
transmitted to Rail Director Hines,
was signed by President Bert M.
Jewell, of the railway department Of
the American Federation Of Labor
President Timothy Shea, of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
and Enginemen, and e. ] Manion, of
the Order of Railway Photographers,
who constitute the committee which
has been negotiating with the presf
dent on behalf of all the railway
unions.
Present Memorial.
The union mon presented with the
letter memorial which they adj
dressed to the Senat and House
Thursday, Analysing the bill in de-
tail. The letter to Wilson read:
experimenting our letters to Mr..
Walker D. Hines, director general of
railways, under date of Feb. 8. and
II, your letter of February 13, and
our letter to you dated February IA,
answering yours of the 18th instant,
we herewith submit for your consid-
GRAFTON the following:
Sat a meeting of the chief execu-
tive officers of the railroad labor or
CARNATIONS to whom you addressed
your letter Of February IS. held
Wednesday evening February 1S. to
discuss the labor section of H. r.
10453 trailroad bilD designated as
title threee of the act, the under
signed committee was appointed and
duly authorized to prepare and sub
tote
through analysis of the labor pro-
visions OF the act and ca to protest
against the provisions of the act
wherein it provides for minimum
guaranteed return of 5k per cent
based on the aggregate vaule of the
property Of the carriers.
I'VE respectfully submit and urge
that you give careful consideration
to the attached copy of a memorial
presented to the members of con-
gress February 20. setting forth in
detail our criticism and protests
thereof; quoting from your letter Of
the 18th instant
Wilson's Promise.
=. In the event that in connection
with the return to private control pro-
vision shall be made by law for ma
chinery for dealing with railroad
wage matters, 1 shall promptly use
my influence and so far as such law
confers power upon me, I shall ex-
ercise that power to bring to about
the earliest practical organization of
the machinery thus provided
in our analysis of the labor pro-
visions of the act, we have set forth
reasons coupled with our years of
practical application and experience
in negotiating wage adjustments,
which to us seems sufficiently to war
rant the definite conclusion that the
congress has not proposed method
of procedure acceptable at any time
and entirely inadequate to meet the
present situation.
I'VE feel sure that you can agree
with us to the extent that there is
little likelihood that congress will be
able to reach an agreement that will
insure a prompt disposition of the
question: