Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 92, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 February 1920 — WILSON TO MEET RAIL MEN TODAY [ARTICLE]

WILSON TO MEET RAIL MEN TODAY

President Will Confer With Brotherhood Chiefs Brer Wage Demand. MEETING AT WHITE HOUSE Executive Studies w»»ge Report Negotiationß Submitted by Director —Unions Ih-epare to Strike. Washington, Feb. 13. — President Wilson will have a personal conference today with three representatives of the railroad brotherhoods to discuss the wage demands of the 2,000,000 railroad employees which were referred to him on Thursday by Director General Hines. In making the announcement Secretary Tumulty snld It had not been decided which of the brotherhood representatives would be Invited to the White House. This, he added, would be left to Mr. Hines. The union leaders will see the president on the south lawn at the White House, where Mr. Wilson spends a portion of each morning. Before meeting the brotherhood officials the president will study in detail the report on the wage negotiations which Mr. Hines submitted through Secretary Tumulty. Hines Confers With Tumulty. . The director general was in conference with Mr. Tumulty and then returned to his office to complete his memorandum for the president, who will be naked to make the final decision on the demands presented by the railroad workers nearly a year ago. Decision to lay the matter before the president was made after Director General Hines nnd representatives of the employees had failed to reach an agreement. Statements setting forth the views of both sides tn the controversy—one giving the reasons why the unions demand an Immediate increase In wages and the other explaining why Director General Hines conld not agree to such Increase on the eve of the turning back of the railroads to private ownership —were In course of preparation. See Settlement In New Legislation. Just how much time the president will require In considering the statement Is problematical, but it was bell tAed It would be short. Whether he upholds the views of Director General Hines or decides that the demands of the employees are just and should be granted, the opinion was expressed that a settlement finally will be made through the machinery to be ret up by the legislation now pending which win ‘ govern the return of the rail properties to their former owners. Ab prepared for presentation to the White House the statement did not Include the separate grievances of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, and Mr. Hines arranged to confer further today with W. G. Lee, president of that organization. Likewise, Mr. Hines will confer with a committee representing the maintenance of way employees whose officers have called a strike to become effective February 17. * Prepare to Put Strike Into Effect Detroit, Mich., - Feb. 13. — Strike headquarters were to be opened in 10 cities by divisional officers of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees and Railway Shop Laborers, from which the nationwide strike called for February 17 will be directed. Final plans for the'strike have been made, union officials here declare, and only an agreement between representatives of the men in Washington and President Wilson, they said, will avert the walkout. If such agreement is reached, it was said, it must come before Saturday night or the strike order cannot be rescinded before it'becomes effective.