Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-02-12
Appeal to President is Taken at Request of Union
 Leaders HINES AND OFFICIALS ARE | UNABLE TO AGREE Railroad Directors Refusal to Grant Demands Apparently Based On Fact That Federal Control
 Soon Ceases

| Washington, Feb. 11.-Failng to reach an agreement with the repre- sentatlves of the more than two mill lion railroad employees on demands for increased wages, Director General Hines decided tonight to submit the whole case to President Wilson for decisions.
 The appeal to the president is to be taken at the request of the union leaders after they had conferred with Mr. Hines two hours late to- day and after he had informed them there was no hope of an agreement. MT. Hines will send to the white house tomorrow the statements of the unions together with his own reports.
 The president thus is called upon to determine whether the govern ment will grant the increased wages or transfer the wage demand con- troversy to the corporations soon to regain control of their properties. Submission of the claims and argu- ments to the president while tempo rarily ending the general negotia- tions, does not mean final break, railroad administration officials ex- plained. Neither members of Mir.
 
 men indicated they felt that a dead- lock had arrived, altho the discus sions were ended. Regardless of the presidents decision the differences could be ironed out after return of the railroads thru machinery likely to be set up by pending explanation.
 MT. Hines refusal to grant the em- ployes' demands apparently was bas- ed entirely on the fact that federal control soon will cease.
 Hines Statement.
 Director General Hines issued the following statements:
 Since February the director gen. eral has had frequent conferences with the chief executives of the rail- road labor organizations for the pur- pose of devising means for disposing of the pending claims for wage in- creases. : During these conferences, the executives of the labor organi- Zations have expressed their views with frankness. The director gener- al has not been able to agree with them as to how the problem should be disposed of in view of the early termination of federal control, and is now laying before the president the representations of the executives of the organizations and also his own report for the purpose of obtaining the presidents decision in the prem ises.
 "In any event the conferences have been decidedly helpful in bringing out clearer development as to the real issues involved and as to the character of evidence pertinent to those issues and the discussion thru out has been characterized by cour- tcsy as wei las candor and with sincere purpose on the part of all otry to find solution"
 The separate grievances and claims of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen were not included by Mir. Hines in the date sent to the white house. w. G. Lee, president of the trainmen, will confer again tomorrow with MT. Hines. In statement to- night, President Lee declared that the government had not succeeded in reducing the cost of living, and he, therefore felt he could no longer hold the demands in abeyance.
 Trainmen's Position.
 "The trainmen," said Lee, take the position that more than g reasonable time has since elapsed and that the cost of living has not been reduced, but instead has been increased and that it is up to the federal govern ment to make good the pledge made by the president in his letter of last August as understood by labor.
 "I expect to get the written m. swer of the director general to the trainmen's. request at the next con- ference with him, after which the special committee of 20 offifers and general chairmen, authorized by the Convention of the to handle the subject will take final action relative to its 
 Events leading up to the disagree ment between the conferees came rapidly. MT. Hines conferred with Attorney General Palmer, acquiring him with details of the controversy. The meeting was not to be constrced IS indicating action by the depart- ment of justice, Mir. Palmer declarA ed. The attorney general declined to say whether any action was con templated under the Lever act in the interest of the strike saying tkaI department not know where, when or how faction would be needed if any was necessary at all. Y