The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-03-03
EARLY STRIKE
NOT PROBABLE
All Unions Except Maintenance
of Ways and Shop Workers
' Are Expected to Agree.
PROCEDURE is PLANNED
President Has Called on Railway
Executives and Unions to
Name Board Members.

Washington, March 2.-The presi-
6ent today called on railway execu-
tives and unions to select representa-
tives on the bipartisan wage board
TO decide the wage controversy. All
railroad unions except that of main
tenance OF way and shop laborers have
agreed to cooperate in giving new
legislation a trial. 1t is believed they
finally will agree.
Maintenance of way leaders will
meet ia Chicago Thursday The presi-
dent urged prompt action in the
selection OF representatives so claims
which have been pending since last
August may be settled promptly
1T is understood also that they de-
cided to hold in allegiance plans to
test the constitutionality of the law
and not to refer the controversy to
the union membership for vote "un-
til the law has been given fair trial.
This means, it is said, that all dan
ger of a general strike at this time
has been removed. One of the union
officials said, I'VE are all good Ameri-
cans and desire to go along with the
!, president as far as we can"
The conference named B. NJ. Jewell
acting president of the railway en-
ployes' department or the American
Federation Of Labor; +. j. Manfon,
president OF the Order of Railroad
Felegraphers, and Timothy Shea, act
ing president of the Brotherhood of
F'fremen and Engineers, a committee
to draft statement of their views
and their immediate course of action.
Decision of the union leaders was
reached after a conference which has
lasted over three days. Most of the
officials prepared to leave Washing
ton tonight. The executives, however,
planned to stay until President Wilson
had invited them to submit the names
Of their members or the, labor board
provided in the new transportation
act.
The executives will determine the
method by which their members on
the tripartite board will be selected.
tt is understood a majority of them
favor the reference of a list of ten
names to the general committeeman of
all local organizations. the six leading
in the voting being the namese to go
to the president.
Efforts of certain groups of the
unions to force an immediate test of
the laws constitutionality came to an
end In secret meeting last night, it
was stated. The more influential of
the executives who ATTENDED that
session argued that the law should be
allowed to demonstrate it's own value
and workability. This view finally
was accepted, but net without pro-.
tests.
President Wilson is preparing to set
up the tribunal provided in the rail-
road bin for considering the wage de-
mands OF the 100000 railroad en-
pIoyes.
IL was announced at the White
House today that he was writing to
the unions and railroad companies
that they nominate represen-
tatives to the wage board. Under the
law the unions name six representa-
tives and the roads six. From each of
three and in addition he will name
three representatives OF the public
The board of nine, as thus constituted,
VIII be subject to senate approval
Decisions of the board will be by
majority vote. provided one of the
majority is of the public group. The
law does not make acceptance o. the
findings mandatory on either the work
- N4AS AoeiuSf Jul heHlDeFs OF con-
Sress the debate on the measure ex-
pressed the belief that public opinion
would compel acceptance.
representatives of the brotherhoods
sun are meeting at Washington con-
slaering the presidents reply to their
wage demands, in which he promised
lhat u the new law did not provide
Tor a tribunal for settlement of wage
Controversies. he would use his efforts
TO nave board appointed. In asking
the president TO veto the railroad bill.
= the railroad men said the machinery
Y set up by law would result in delay
Aof many months in the settlement of
their demands