Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-02-12

dIIIleI, dCIudl1llillk uliH Will ue-
as indicating action by the de-
Y general declined to say wheth-
a strike, saying that the depart
d, if any were necessary at all.
Sees Delegates After Palmer.
Following his conference with Mr..
Palmer, the director general met mem
bers of the union delegation. excepting
representatives Of the Brotherhood Of
Maintenance Of Way Employees, who
have called a strike for Feb. IL. This
meeting lasted two hours, at the conelu-
sion of which Mr.. Hines met with the
members OF his staff relative to the
railroad administration next move.
The union leaders, who at Tuesdays ses-
their view, also held a separate con-
ference, at which it was definitely de-
termined to close their case.
The appeal to the president is to be
taken at the request of the union lead
ers. after they had conferred with Mr..
Hines for two hours and after he had in
formed them there was no hope of an
agreement under present conditions.
May Not Be Final Break
Mr.. Hines tomorrow will send to the
White House THE statements of the
unions. together with his own represen-
tations in the controversy.
The president thus is called on to de-
termine whether the government will
grant the increased wages or transfer
the wage demand controversy to the
corporations. soon to regain control Of
their properties.
Submission of the claims and argu-
ments to the president. while temporar-
i so4t~ Il
not mean a final break. railroad admin
istration officials explained. Neither
members of Mr.. Hines staff nor the
union spokesmen indicated they felt that
a deadlock had arrived. although the dis
cussions were ended. Regardless of the
presidents decision in the matter. the
can be ironed out By return
of the railroads, through machinery like
" to be set up by pending legislation. lF
was explained
Based on Control Ceasing Soon.
Mr. Hines refusal to grant the en-
ployes' demands apparently was based
entirely on the fact that federal control
soon will cease.
The director general is understood 10
lave kept this fact consistently before the
union representatives. together with the
argument that it would be unfair to the
of owners of railroad stock to
Increase the expenditures of their cor
porations wien the government would he
for the revenue obtained for
so brief period
Frank But Unable TO Agree.
Mr.. Hines said the union representa-
tiyes had presented their views with
ability and frankness' and that. while
the conference had not solved the prob
lens before it. the real issues involved
now are more clearly developed than
at any time since the wage demands
were first presented last July. In ex-
PLANTATION of his action, the director
general issued the following statement:
Since February g. the director gem
eral has had frequent conferences with
the chief executives of the railroad
abor organizations for the purpose of
ievising means for disposing of the
pending claims for wage increases.
During these conferences the axecu-
ives Of the labor organizations have
!bility and frankness. The director gen
'ral has not been able to agree with
hem as to how the problem should be
disposed of in view of the early ter
nination of federal control. aud is now
aying before the president the repre-
entations of the executives of the or
and also his own report for
le purpose OF optalutHS tue pEeSlIeul
ecison in the premises. In any event.
he conferences have been decidedly
lelpful in bringing out clearer de-
elopment as to the real issues invelv
d and as to the character of evidence
Iertinent to those issues, and the dis
ussion throughout has been character
zed by courtesy as well as candor and
With sincere purpose on the part ot
II to try to find solution"
n. C. l. Worse, Says Lee.
In a statement tonight, President Lee
ecared that the government had not
ucceeded in reducing the cost of living
" the campaign begun last summer
md he. therefore, felt he could no long
r hold the demands in aheyance
THE tranmen.'' he said, take the
POSITION that more than reasonaoie
inc has since elapsed and that the cost
t living has not been reduced. but m
tead has been increased since thaf t(me;
nd that it is now Hp to the feuerai
overnment to make good the pledge
aade by the president in his letter OF
ast August, as understood by labor
IL EXPECT TO get the written answer
= the director general to the trainmen 5
so,lest nj the next conference With him.
flor which tho special committee OF 70
fficers and general chairman, author
,,,l by the international convention OF
Il