Evening star., 1946-05-30
Rail Strike Talks TRANSCRIPT
BY the Associated Prcsx

CLEVELAND, May 30.-Headuuar-
ters of the Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmen yesterday made public a
stenographic record of two telephone
conversations with the White House
on May 18, date of the five day post
ponement of the rail strike
Principals in the conversation
were identified by the headquarters
as A. F. Whitney, president of the
trainmen; Alvanley Johnston, presi-
dent of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers; DR.. John R. Steel
man. labor adviser to the President, !,
President Truman, Ray T. Miller,
legal counsel for the brotherhoods.
The first conversation was timed
at 3:02 pm. at the start and $40
pm. at the conclusion. The portion
Of it made public follows:
DR.. Steelman-I am here with the
President *s*Ns ssass. n Sssg Tsssss
President .~ It seems to me
further negotiations might get
somewhere in this. I thought it
would yesterday but didn't, have a
chance to tell you that. AS far as a
postponement is concerned, If it is
properly handled I don't think there
is any chance of any trouble if you
don't work it out.
Called Old Song and Dance.
Mr.. Johnston-Well, Mr.. Presi-
dent, I said the other day, I knew
we would not get anywhere. They
gave us the same old song and
dance that they are broke.
President--I can't answer for that
but l am satisfied that is not the
idea l wouldn't be asking you to
negotiate further if I thought it
was. y
Mr.. Whitney-This is Mr.. Whit
ney, Mr.. President Can you give
us assurance that you have talked
with the railroads and that they
want a conference and are willing
to do something definite?
President-Yes.
Mr.. Whitney-And further, that
In case we don't settle, that the
Smith-Connally Act will not be used
against us?
Presidential you handle the mat
ter in the manner suggested to you
why there is no possibility of your
getting into any trouble over
that, "
Mr.. Whitney-And you will pro-
tect us with the Attorney General
as far as you can?
Drn i i L..
been trying to protect you but you
were not very kind to me. When I
talked to you before I felt mighty
bady about that because you were
in the Presidents corner before and
you were not this time.
Mr.. Johnston-You were all right
but they weren't, the railroads.
President-I understand that, but
you didn't give me a chance to do
anything about that. I am asking
You now to give us that chance.
Mr.. Whitney-We will talk with
our committees here and call you
back within ten minutes. Will that
do?
President-That will be all right.
DR.. Steelman-Wait a minute.
Mr.. Johnston-He said wait a
minute.
Discussed the Law.
DR.. Steelman-Hello. A. F. what I
had in mind here, for your own
benefit. if you are going to discuss
1t We don't want to pull any tricks
on you with that Smith -Connally
Act, and if you agree with the Pres
ident and you announce at the Pres
1dents request you are postponing
the strike; here is the way you put
tive have moved the strike date
over from pm May 1S to 4 pm.
whatever date.
Mr.. Whitney-The 23d. l.
Dr.. Steelman-I would like to have
10 days, but if you can do the job
quicker We want to do it, The quicker
the better of course. You move the
strike date from 4 pm. May 18 to 4
pm. some other date. See what
mean?
Mr.. Johnston-Yes.
Mr.. Whitney-Yes.
DR.. Steelman-We cannot say
nobody can criticize you or get after
you on the law about that.
Mr.. Whitney-All right.
Mr.. Johnston-You understand
the only way We can call this off
or postpone it we have to put out
code word. Now, then, I want as
surances if we postpone this thing
and we have later got to reinstate it
tanother code WordD and that will not
be considered violation of the law.
Use Code Word.
DR.. Steelman-You use a code
word now to postpone it?
Mr.. Johnston-To call it off, which
will advise the postponement. That's
right.
DR.. Steelman-Then I think after
I do that you could send a wire
and get yourselves on record that
you have agreed upon the request
of the President to move the strike
from to -
MIR. JohnSton-That is not it.
They will have to have this code
word if we postpone. Now then,
We want another code word to take
care of it, and I want to ask-that
wouldn't be a violation.
DR.. Steelman-No
Mr. Johnston-O. K.
DR.. Steelman-No, that's right.
Mr.. Whitney-We will Call you
In a few minutes
DR.. Steelman-The President will
see to it that the railroads will make
some further concessions, but you
cannot quote it. Say you are post
poning at his request and returning
here Immediately for further nego-
tiations.
Mr.. Whitney-I think We under
stand the situation he is in.
DR.. Steelman-Ali right.
Mr.. Whitney-OK.
DR.. Steelman-Good-b by.
$40 pm.
Text of Second Transcript.
The text of the second transcript
follows:
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