The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-02-13
PRESIDENT WILSON Will BE-
ASKED FOR DEFINITE PROMISE
TO REDUCE HIGH COST OF LIVING
Assurances of Immediate Re-
suits Would Prevent Nation
Wide Railroad Strike
ANSWER EXPECTED TO-DAY
Union Officials Are Said to Be
Fearful That President Will
Not Grant Wage Demands

Washington. Feb. IL President
wilson will be asked tomorrow by
spokesmen for more than 1000. 600
railroad employees for definite asslr
ances Of immediate reduction in the
cost Of living. leaders in wage nego-
.ations declared tonight. AS an al
tentative the Union representatives
will claim increased wages, demands
for which were not pressed at the
presidents request last summer.
There was unmistakable evidence
tonight among union officials of fear
mat the president will refuse to grant
said so
This view seemed based on an argu-
ment of Director General Hines in
his conferences with the union heads.
He told them he could not grant their
demands because of the early termin-
alton Of Federal control and explained
that pending legislation, the passage
Of which is expected, would provide
machinery for impartial, and un-
biased" handling of their wage claims.
The union reply was that this would
compel them to face another delay
with no assurances of relief.
Hines told representatives of the
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way
employees and Shop Laborers who
have already called a strike for Tues
day, that he could not agree to their
demands for higher wages, but that
ne was willing to leave the case to
the president. This puts their case
practically in the same category as
tie four brotherhoods.
The union leaders will see the presi-
dent on the South Lawn at the White
House, where Mr.. Wilson spends a
PORTION of each morning. Before
meeting the brotherhood officials the
president will study in detail the re-
port on the wage negotiations which
Mr.. Hines will submit through Sec
retary Tumulty.
The director general was in con-
ference with Mr.. Tumulty this morn
lng and then returned to his office
TO complete his memorandum for the
president, who will be asked to make
he final decision on the demands pre-
sented by the railroad workers nearly
4 year ago.
Mr.. Hines memorandum which was
fore noon was understood to have
embodied the claims and arguments
of the union officials with whom he
has been comforting since February g..
Railroad administration officials and
union representatives apparently were
inclined to regard the situation as
guiescent, White House officials eX-
PRESSED concern at the gravity of the
problems presented. Without dis
closing what these questions were,
i was declared the general public did
not realize the serious nature of is
sues involved.
Union officials with the exception
of maintenance of way employees, and
The Brotherhood of Railroad Train
men, apparently were willing to leave
he case in the hands of the president
Although there was dissatisfaction
because living costs had not been re-
duced it was evident the union men
felt another opportunity should be
given for adjustment of the differ
ences which have been held in abey-
ance at the presidents request since
they we're submitted last July.
Administration officials were en-
gagged today in resurrecting all claims
submitted by this group of workers
before Its wage agreement was signed
last November. %. The agreement
shows it became effective December
10 and federal officials. say they have
not been formally notified of an alb
rogation Of the agreement which pro-
Tides that SO-day notice of cancel
latIon must be given.
w. G. Lee. president of the Brother
hood Of Railroad Trainmen, also was
70 confer with the director general
On MS individual reasons for invalidat-
'ag the agreement which his organiza-
non has Notification of intention to
1feak the agreement was given Mr..
lines January %. six days before the
.'ads return to their owners.
The action of Mr.. Lee admittedly
giving administration officials con-
eeFn. While his representatives have
anticipated in all sessions of the
-eAeral conference Mr.. Lee contended
"'S organization had reserved the
'ght to press its grievances for ad-
s-Slment separately. He declined to
add to his statement of yesterday
which asserted the trainmen had
na,'ed sufficiently long for the gov
'"lnenL to force down living costs.