Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 185, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 August 1919 — 2,000,000 RAIL MEN JOIN IN DEMANDS. [ARTICLE]

2,000,000 RAIL MEN JOIN IN DEMANDS.

Washington, Aug. 6.—Representatives of fourteen different railroad unions now have joined in a communication to • Director General Hines asking immediate increase in wages. So far as known this is the first instance on record in which all the railroad unions, representing 2,~ 000,000 employes, have acted as a unit. Mr. Hines said today that he had not had time to analyze the communication, but it seemed a formal presentation of wage demands already made public. Speculation was 'caused by the action of the unions as to whether in the future they would continue to proceed as a unit. When the four 'big brotherhoods united in wage demands several years ago their insistence that th* railroads treat with them as otne body met with considerable resistance because of the tremendous power which the unified brotherhoods could bring to bear. Director Hines conferred today with Chief Shepherd of the conductors and Acting Chief Shea of the firemen. President Forrester, representing the clerks and freight handlers, expected to see the director general. . The senate r - interstate commerce committee late today by unanimous vote directed Chairman Cummins to reply to President Wilson’s suggestion for legislation to create a special railroad wage board. Senator Cummins’ letter will not 'be made public until tomorrow, but lit is understood to advise the president that he has full authority without further legislation.