The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-13
WILSON EVADES
union DEMANDS
IN HIS ANSWER
Another Compromise Proposal
Is Offered by President.
Refusal of Wage Increases as
Asked Indicated.
TRACK MEN READY To STRIKE
Orders Already Issued Will
Affect 100000 Men.
Trainmen Uncertain as to Their
Future Course.
Refusal of Wage Increases as
Asked Indicated.
TRACK MEN READY TO STRIKE
Trainmen Uncertain as to Their
Future Course.

washington, Feb. 13.-President
Wilson today handed a written state
ment constituting his reply in the rail-
road wage controversy to a committee
of three union leaders headed by B.
NJ. Jewell of the American Federation
of Labor railway department.
I'VE shall give careful consideration
to the presidents statement and advise
him OF our position later. probably by
letter" said President Timothy Shea
of the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen and Enginemen, a member
of the committee.
The union leaders refused to say
whether the president had granted
them the increase they asked. There
were Indications. however, that the
president refused to grant their COM
plete demands for horizontal increase
of approximately 40 per cent for two
million railroad employees.
Leaving the White House the COM
mittee went directly to a hotel to re-
port to the group of fourteen union
representatives who have been con-
tor Hines
Was Short Session.
The committee was with the presi-
ceived the men on the south portico
of the White. House.
president Wilson gave no indica-
tions, as far as appearance was con-
cerned. of a man who has been i'll for
months" said Shea. His guestureS
were decided, his enunciation abso-
lutely clear and he frequently smiled"
Wilson shook hands with the COM
mitteemen before and after the brief
conference. They said his grip was
firm.
Shea, who conferred with Wilson
when a strike in 1917 was threatened,
said the president looked much the
same today as he did then. His face
is full his color healthy and his eyes
clear. said Shea.
The United Brotherhood of Main
tenance of Way Workers however. has
sent out a strike order effective Tues
day next at a. m. Officials of the
union late yesterday delivered to
Hines a formal notice that the order
had gone out and it could be can
celled only thru granting of their de-
mands. Hines urged the union Off
cials to await the conference today
with President Wilson before making
up their minds finally. The union
officials went in the conference. how
ever, declaring that the conference
with Wilson could not change the
course authorized by the unions gem
erai chairmen.
3OO,OOO Men A11ecIcO.
A strike by the union will affect
500, 900 track walkers, section hands
and repair men, according to Vice
President John Malloy. Travel will be
unsafe IL trains are operated while the
union members are on strike, Malloy
said.
. Railroad administration officials de-
clare the strike a violation of the
unions agreement which they say pro-
vides thirty days notice must be given
before the agreement is terminated
Associates of Hines declare this no.
tice has not been given.
President w. G. Lee of the Brother
hood of Railroad Trainmen has given
Hines formal notice of the desire OF
his union to terminate its contract
The termination notice is effective
February &c. No formal strike order
las gone out to the trainmen.
Strike order Still Stands.
Detroit. Feb. 13.-Mr. Barker said
this morning he was still hopeful the
presidents decision would be such a:
to make possible a withdrawal of the
order calling for a strike Feb. IT OF
the brotherhood's more than 100000
members. He added. however, thai
up until late this forenoon he had nC
information from the brotherhood
committee in -lshingtOn.