The Washington herald., 1921-02-07
President Refuses to In
tervene in Dispute
With Officials. =
REFERS REQUEST
TO LABOR BOARD
Tells Unions That Duly
Constituted Bodies Have
Authority.

President Wilson yesterday re-
fused to intervene in the contro-
versy between the railroad labor
unions and the executives before the
Railroad Labor Board al Chicago.
The Labor Board and Interstate
Commerce Commission arc r. -uIar-
ly constituted agencies able TO deal
with the points al issue, he gaij in
a telegram 10 officials Of the unions
and to a representative Of the
railroads
Copies OF the Presidents teIc-
gram sent to :. +. Anderson. vice
president OF the International As
sociation OF Machinists. Z. F. Gra-
BILE, grand president or the United
Brotherhood OF Maintenance En-
ployes and Railway Shop Laborcrs.
and Thomas Dewitt CuyIer. chair
man OF the Association OF Railway
Executives. all Of Chicago.
In making request that the rail-
roads be permitted to return to 4
prewar basis OF operation. W W.
Atterbury, spokesman for the rail-
road executives. informed the W.T.
Labor Board that il such permis-
sion is not given the roads will soon
find themselves face TO face with
bankruptcy.
Request Intervention.
The railroad unions Immediately
telegraphed tC President Wilson re-
questing him to institute an inves-
/ tgation into the alleged facts as
presented by the railroads. These,
they asserted, are not borne out by
sworn state ments on operating costs
required by the Interstate Com
merce Commission.
In his reply President Wilson said:
Il have carefully considered the
several kilograms addressed to me
/ dealing with the labor questions
and railroad management now uu-
| der consideration by the Railroad
La Dor Board in Chicago
The transportation act. spprov-
ed February IS. 1920. 10 a greater
extent than any previous leEisla-
tion. places all the questions deaf
ing with finances and railroad man
aEement and necessary rates under
/ the Jurisdiction Of the Interstaia
Commerce Commission: hence all
questions involving the expense ~
operation. the necessities OF the
railroads, and the amount OF money
! necessary to secure the successful
operation thereof, are now under the
! jurisdiction Of the commission
Go TO BOARD.
At the same time. the Ecr placed
all questions Of dispute between
carriers and their employees and
subordinate officials under the lu-
risdiction OF the Railroad Labor
Board. now sitting n Chicago
This hoard Is composed oF
three members constituting the la
Dor group, representing the en-
ployes and subordinate officials ~
the carriers. three members conStt-
tutinE the management group. rep
resenting the carriers. and three
members constituting the public
group. representing the public
SO far as ] am advised. the
board may be relied on TO rfvs
, careful and intelligent considcrs-
I ton to all questions within its fu-
risdiction. To seek 10 influence
Of these bodies upon anvthir-
. which has been placed within their
jurisdiction by Congress would he
unwise and open to grave objection
It would be manifestIy unfair for
me, therefore, to take any action
which would interfere with tho or
derly procedure OF the Interstate
| Commerce Commission or Of the
Railroad Labor Board and all mat
ters mentioned in YOUR Telegram,
arc within the jurisdiction OF ono
or the other OF those bodies. and
in their action ! think we NAV re-
pose entire confidence
In view Of the foregoing. IL
does not seem wise 70 comply with
your suggestion that the matter
be submitted to the Congress. and
the only action deemed necessary -
to submit copies OF the teIeErsms
! received from you and from repre-
! sentstives OF the railroad execu-
tives to the Interstate Commerce
Commission, and to the Railroad
Labor Board, for such action a.
these bodies may deem wise in the
premises: this will be done"
tSigned)
WOODROW WILSON"
Report From Payne.
1t is understood that the Presi-
dents telegram was drafted fol-
lowing a report from John Barton
Payne, who in addition TO being
Secretary OF the Interior is advisor
Of the railroads
Il has been reported that should
the RAILROAD executives be permit
ted to decrease the wages Of shop
men and maintenance Of way sm-
ployes those men who number about
$4,000 vii. Immediately go on
strike.
While such a walkOUt would not
entirely paralyze railway trsnspor-
tation. labor officials in Washington
assert. Il will certainly make op-
Grafton Exceedingly difficult.
rxIHo nuyNT TTEE