' 'iV"':"';':' :-"":':'JV' : - y r : - ; .. ( , . r::'; J, Sunday Bee 1 ; The Omaha VOL. XLIX NO. 35. Enttrtd at ucoii4.ota nattw May 21. 1906. at Oaiaha P. 0. nadir aet at . March 3. II'S- OMAHA, SUNDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 15, 1920. By Mall (I ytar). Dally. U.IK: Sd. $J.&t: Dally t4 Sua.. 17.00; auultfa Hit. aoitait antra. FIVE CENTS. cm AH re MhrA 2,1 i PUBLIC BACIl!chers Follow OF LANSING Former President Says Re signed Secretary Was Acting Within Rights in Calling Con- ' ferences of Cabinet Members. OFFICIAL WASHINGTON FURNISHED SENSATION : Break Not Openly Discussed in COnqreSS. Bllt PrOVeS MOSt; 3 . I Prolific MatlCr for Talk in Cloakrooms and Elsewhere. St Toscoh. Mo., Feb. 14. William iwanl Taft, ex-president of the United States, said here that the public will side with Secretary of State Lansing in the controversy with President Wilson which result ed in the resignation of Mr. Lansing.- "I believe 'that Secretary Lansing ;ts acting altogether within his rights in catling conferences of the cabinet members," Mr. Taft said. "I would not call them cabinet meet--intrs." "To niv tuird, calling such meet ings d$cs not constitute an assump ,ion ol nresiueilttal antnoriiv wimm ; UK' inai'lUK " ft- luusuiuLuni. Polk May Succeed. Washington.- , Feb. 14. I'nder Secict irv Polk, John W. Davis, ani k sador to Great Britain, and llugh (', Wallace, ambassador to France, are foremost among tiiose being dis eased to head the State denartmenr ns siH-cissor to former Secretary i.- ' in;j-. who aMiiounced his resig- -'ion after a dramatic clash vuh V" -dent Wilson. ' ,':hou"lw it is known that Mr. I'olk bnd determined to return to '-iynte life and practice law, some tr-rnr a or he administration were hopeful tirct he-might be induced to -crye out the unexpired term of bt.4 i irnior "'-lef. ' - The T Tusi'i-)- resignation fur nished official Washington with a sensation unparalleled since William 1. P.ryan denprted from office. The statement of Secretary Lane, who is bavincr the cabinet March 1, that be felt an equal resoonsibility with Mr. Lapsing for holding the cabinet meetings to which President Wilson nbiected. seemed to add possibilities Jn' "further cabinet resignations for a t imp but- this was disposed of by a statement at the White House that j thefe were to be no further retire-1 merits as a result of the incident t x... TMsiici Qnco firm L'jns-cas w.w..v... , Conres, discussed the sensation; with avidity, but in the cloak moms, j however., and tne subject did not ; ' lome un in debate on the floor of , either house or senate. Such com ' meiit' as was made was more or less "divided, onponents of, the treaty praising: Mr. Lansing's course, and others recalling that one of the pres ident's prerogatives is to select the members of his own official familv. The row served to bring to public light much that has been going on mder the surface since the president .II .11 4l, ,,-; .'inn 1 pftVrt was , , .'i,,t;,. .,. Prpsident Wilson i i.': nf ctate I null iiis. ivi in, i ,s.. s-.vi,.., v, 1,,,,,,-rtipafli! nn msiiv in- TA CLA MS I'.ortan't '-ubiects even before the I Villa is reported as having threat- ! was the refusal of Acting Gover lTnited Sftes went into the war in I clled that it the ,mcrican govern- nor barrows to hear their pleas for l"17 and that these disagreements, ment refused to deliver the MAi--j a 'commutation of sentence during were on fundamental' ques-1 eh it . nc oi rn ifv. ommnuea imoim" i out the peace" negotiations at Paris . and even into the handling of the Mexican situation since the president i h.-.3 been sick. Art-oH nn President. - The best informed -of those close, -the administration were sure that ; the climax was the result of an ac- I cumulation of conditions which con tinued over the question of whether the peace treaty and the league of nations covenant should be separated .if treated as one document, ranged into the recent handling of the Mex 'can situation and wound up in the Y.-ide administration discussion of whether the president's illness in-'.-apacitateci him from discharging the du';es of his office. Mr. Lansing's friends said that in ailing the cabinet together he was , -ting with precedent to supnort 'u-vt and that although as ranking Mticer of the cabinet he actually ailed the meetings, other members ,.f the cabinet agreed in the proce !ure. They point to Secretary Lane s statement that he assumed equal re jsponsibilitv and that alt the cabinet members thought the cabinet meet ,ngs a good thing. Much Private Discussion. Tin. jinder-the-surface discussion of the incident, howeves the sort which goes on between officials and . is not intended tor puuncation onnects at least the first of cabinet neetings last October with the spec datien which was going on at the ime as to whether Vice President vlarshall ought to be called upon o take over the duties of the presi lency. While it is known that the ubject never came up actually at a ueeting of the cabinet officers, it is ilso known that it was discussed prl atclv and that some of the reports .liich were taken to the president ncludcd Secretary Lansing's name unong those who were discussing that probability, now mucn . (Continued oa Tag T, Columa One.) XKSSXlll' EXPLAIN Nebraska Delegates Play ' cation Banquet of Woman's Suffrage Workers And Win Places on Committees Lincoln Woman Human Valentine Presented to President. By MYRTLE MASON. special lleprcwntative Omaha Brr. Chicago, Feb. 15. (Special Tele- ;grum.) A living valentine was pre-t.--ntcd to Mrs. Carrie Chapman Cut. president of the National American Women's Suffrage asso- : ciation. Saturday night at the bril '. liant ratification banquet of the vie- lory "convention of the American UTZ'JT o'X Congress hotel. Floor and galleries were packed to overflowing. Ne- Iraska. as one of the state's which tiave ratiricu tne lecierai sunrage ; Meiuer, Hastings; iioin vmaiia. amendment, was given a place in : Mesdames George Bligh. Charles the larjve valentine. j Xeal. 11. C. Suniuey, James Richard- Mrs. W. E. Barkley of Lincoln ; sou, O. T. F.asiuian. Charles D. appeared in the rose-draped heart Kounlze, C. E. Johannes, E. S. and recited: "Cheer, cheer Nebras- Rood, Jennie Callfas, Cuthbert Vin ka's vear. Even-thing 'has crone cent and 1". 1). We ad; Mrs. E. T. well. We have runir the anti's knell. Cheer. cheer, Nebraska's year. Unanimous, we ratified." i. From the Hoor came a quick de - ; cision returned hv the Nebraska 'delegation: "Who. who. who are j we? We are from Nebraska." Tttbilant and carefree were all numbers on the ratification nro- gram. Mrs. Catt inspired the feel-' I in ft when in her opening words she said:' "1 his is the ratification bau - Mjuet of a victory convention. There jiwill never be another, If you don't I like the program, rise up where vou are un(J sl;i.t ()e of yom. ow MfKraclra Rio- Tfartnr i 'I hough onlv one of 4S states, Ne- ! braska has one-twentieth of the I total miniber of the registered dele-i gates at the conventions of the ! American Woman's Suffrage asso- j ciation and the League of Women voters. The delegation headed bv i Mrs. Charles Dietrich of Hastings j represents a wide range of interest I in the state. Mrs. l.ela Dvar of Boone is tate president of the W. C. T. IV. Mr.. A.gnes T. Dover of North Platte rep resents the Maecabee. Mrs. Luleh f. Andrews of Lincoln, the republi jeans; Miss Grace hallenberger of Aima. tne democrats; imiss .'uii!s Chaikin of Liqcolu- i secretary ..of the University of Nebraska Aluinri association and Miss Edna Bullock of Lincoln conies from the legisla tive reference bureau. Among the past state suffrage presidents trom i VILLA PLANNED ; CAPTURE OF 12 AMERICANS Intended to Hold Them as Hos- tages Lor burrende. of Mexi cans Sentenced to Die. l'T Paso, 'lex., Feb. 14. During his recent raid on Lerdo and Gomez Palacio, fciburbs of Torreon, Coa huila, F;rancisco Villa declared that he intended to canture 12 American citizens, whom he would, hold as hostages for the surrender of resi dents of Los Angeles, who had been j sentenced to death, according to re- i ports current in Torreon. i The first of these Americans was Joseph E. Laskew, an employe of j the 1 lahuahlo company s plantation, . . . , ,H'al '-Prno, it was saui. cans w l-os Angeles over to him he i i would shoot the 12 Americans. j-j . . f T 1 nOSltlOIl Ol Leaders In Pact Lompromise Still at Impasse Washington. Feb. 14. Peace J treaty negotiations still stand at an i impasse with opinion among lead- j ers divided on the possibilities of a j compromise to insure ratification ' when the trpatv ira n e L-pn nn n tne senate next week. . . S- . - ! Discussion centered on the two re tween one of the Hitchcock pro posals and the new republican res ervation recently proposed, it was pointed out, is, the insertion in the latter of the words "or by any other means" in enumerating the measures which the United States would de cline to oring into use to preserve L)e integrity of other countries. It was suggested by some, senators that a compromise might be pos sible by substitution of "or by its resources" for "or by any other means." There was no assurance, however, that the leaders of either party would acctpt such a proposal. Kenyon-Kendrick Meat Bill Ordered Favorably Reported . Washington, Feb. 14. Favorable report was ordered unanimously to day by the senate agriculture com mittee of the revised Kivnn.Vn. i-nscussiou centered on ine two re- cjpo i p:j. vised article 10 reservations submit-! 31 olOUX Uliy crli? leaded ""Seteme.i i! I ' Does $Uf000 Damage disposition by any considerable Sioux City, la.. Feb. 14. One hun nnmber of republicans to accept j dred thousand dollars' damage was cither of the proposals. The repub-jdoue by a fire at Third and Jack lican leaders said that no formal son streets Saturday- night. The reply had been made to Senator j heaviest losers .were: Hitchcock and that there would! F. Xi Zabite..S2.".f)tX): Independent probably be none. ' Auto Repair co'mpanv. S40.000; Mar- Virtually the only difference be-! tin Tent coninann. $20,000. this 1 drick bill providing for federal regu ne.) 1 lation of the meat industry. Uentiov f Prominent Roles at Ratifi- Nebraska are Mrs. Draper Smith A Omaha and Mrs. VV. E. Barkley of Lincoln. The pioneers include Mrs. David Crowcll of Omaha anil Miss Ellen Ham of Kenesaw, Miss Mary Will iams of Kenesaw. accompanies Miss Ham. Mrs. P. T. McGcrr of Fall? City, present chairman of the de partment of health, Nebraska Fed eration of Women's clubs, is attend i:iK the sessions. Others registered , from Nebraska are: Mary Smith , J layward, Uiauron: Mrs. 1' rank i Harrison, Lincoln: Miss Margaret Hartley of Lincoln, and Misses j Grace and Edith Abbott of Chicago I will be added to the delegation later. ; Members of Committees. I 'Mrs. Draper Smith, who is serving I on the resolutions committee for the urTrage association, says there is nothing from Heaven to the grave ""-'hici! has not been banded into their committee. Mrs. Barkley, and Mrs. Dietrich j - .ie ,crvng on tile smtrage execu- ; ; tlV( hoard. Mrs. Dietrich is one ot j ht enrs on a committee for 'lie League ol Women voters, which will consider a division 01 the i l lilted StatCS llltO 1CC10I1S Or OW- ! poses of organization and work. -M rss. Dietrich is not only leader I lor AeDraska suilragists in name, ,)ut obvious fact. She was easily distinguished in a picture featured u' the Chicago Tribune Saturday fitting beneath a standard carrying !''e state name and an improvised i banner surrounded1 by tl'.e state, delegation. She carried the same ' standard Saturday noon in a parade .officials of Great Britain con for the benefit of movie artists, who ' cerning the disposition by the f-av their nictures. will be shown I United States of America of the over the entire United States. ',: . . Nebraskans will give a banquet Monday in the Russian tea room, doing particular honor to Ellen Har ii. pioneer from Kenesaw, Miss 1-larh is 91 rears of age, and is pres ident of a club in a town which raised more for suffrage per capita than any place m the state. She (C n(inii on Page Two, Column Five.) ELECTROCUTION AGAIN POSTPONED BY COURT ORDER U. S. Circuit Court Refuses, To Dismiss Appeal of Grammer. Lincoln, Neb., Feb. 14. (Special.) Electrocution of Alson B. Cole and Allen V. Grammer was again automatically postponed today, ac cording to information received by Attorney General Davis from Mason Wheeler, assistant attorney gener al, stating that the United States circuit court of appeals refused to dismiss the appeal made by Gram mer. Their reprieve expires Freb- ruary 20, but the court action acts as a stay of execution - .Aiiotner aeveiopment in tlie case the absence of the governor. Gov- j ernor Barrows holds that his power I in the office only pertains to emer ! gencies. Attorneys for Cole indicated that i they would immediately start sim ilar action but Governor McKelvie khas already indicated that a stav for one of the men would cause i him to grant the other the same ! right, due to the similarity of their cases. j "S two men were convicted ot complicity in the death of Mrs. Lul1- Vogt of near Elba. Xeb.. on tl'C ment Ot Itllv 1, 1VI. -Mrs. ogt was Gramme r's mother-in-law. For a time the fire threatened the Howard hotel. Ship Fire Extinguished. New York, Feb. 14. The fire on the steamship William Henry Webb, reported last night after the ship had been previously reported as drifting with crippled e"n glues, has been extinguished, a wireless report received early today said. The steamer Panama has -the Webb in tow and is making for New York. "Lizards" Raise Pricesj Paris, Feb. 14.Pari!fcn "lounge lizards" ar keeping pace with the times. Since the coal prohibition in dance halls, the price of professional male dancers whom Tashionable patronesses formerly were able to hire for 50 cents a round has shot up to $4. ASK WILSON AGREEMENT : j Senate Adopts Resolution to i Have President Make Public Negotiations With Britain! Over Selling German Ships. BRANDEGEE HINTS AT SECRET UNDERSTANDING Representative Jefferis Criti cizes Executive for Even Entertaining Idea Vessels Should Go Outside America. Washington, Feb. 14. President Wilson was asked in a resolution adopted by the senate today what agreement, if any, he had made with British authorities regarding the disposition of the German ships for j sale hy the shipping board. The resolution was presented by Senator Brandegee, republican, Con necticut, who told the senate he had heard on what he considered good authority that the president had en tered into" an understanding as to final disposition of all the German vessels which came into American I10-scssjon .luring the war and after ,je alrmt;ce Acts Without Debate. 1 " senate atieu vinuaiiy vwiu- '" UCOatC. "1 have not the knowledge in the sense ot navmg seen any ot tne doc uments, said Senator Brandegee. "But 1 have the information from a friend of mine whom 1 consider re liable." The resolution requests the presi dent to inform the .senate "whether 3n'. a- 't so, what agreement or understanding exists between him (-... ., ..i,:. ...i.:. i. ci.:..: viiuiiaiJ biuj.s men llic oiuppillg Board is purposing to sell or which were acquired by the United States after the termination of hostilities hctween the United, States and . the central fcurnjteatr-letttotitc pewFS:" Jefferis a Convert. Ki prcsentalive Jefferis has be come a convert to the propaganda against the sale of former German- , owned ships, the Hearst paper here : (noting him as follows: "In my opinion the German ships seized by the United States during i the war should not be sold by the president or shipping board to Great Britain or to a British cor- : poration. If this fleet is to be sold i at less than value it should be to Americans, with the requirement that tliev must flv the American !flag. "No true American can concien- tiously assist Great Britain in mon- opouzing tne ocean-carrying trane of the world. If freedom of the seas meant so much to America as to call for the sacrifice of lives and billions in money by our country in the late war. we certainly should utilize these seas for commerce by developing our merchant marine. Fears Further Demoralization. "The sale of ships to Great Britain for two-thirds of their value can only result in further demoraliz ation on our merchant marines. "The United States is financially better able to retain these ships than is Great Britain to buy them. Why our country should continue the policy of transporting products to the water's edge there to load them into foreign bottoms, is be yond my comprehension as an American citizen. Baldwin Casts His Lot With Ex-Service Men Who Are for Pershing Headquarters of the Pershing Soldiers and Sailors club have been established at 107-108 Paxton hotel and already many former service men have enrolled under the "Pcrsh-iug-for-President" banner. John Baldwin, secretary of the club, is in charge of the headquar ters. ' , "It is true that 1 was for Gov ernor Lowden at first," said Mr. Baldwin. "I find, however, that Governor Lowden has conceded Ne braska to Pershing, tjiis being Pershing's home state, and under those circumstances I have no hes itancy in casting my lot with Ne braska's favorite son." 20 Per Cent Increase iar Men Overseas Since July 11 Washington, Feb. 15. Soldiers who have served overseas since July 11, 1919, will receive an increase of 20 per cent on their entire base pay iiistead of on the old base pay' au thorized during the world war. is ..cltiTi-,(n i,ot imn )Zft 01111 to 300,000 soldiers will submit claims for back payment antTit will require approximately $1,800,000 to settle the claims. . Swiss in League. Bern. Switzerland, Feb. 14. dent Motta read a telegram liament announcing the n -Presi-o par ptance of Switzerland into the lea-. ie tf na tions with guarantees for her mili tary neutrality " The (Mow ill III It limw 7fJJ ffM 1 - llltr, Hff " "I Says Wilson Wants NothingjTWO KILLED IN But Puppets in His Cabinet! OARING HOLDUP; Senator Norris and Other Notables Harshly Criticize President for Lansing Resignation-Assert Chief Executive Is Physically and Mentally, TjTnfit. By &':C $NYHJE.8..;:.' j...! Wniiiniciiin ( .irrriKn(ipnt omaim . j I AK.-ol,;r,.., 71 r VU i apn ii'ls iwi'i i v-i '. n (Special Telegram.) Greater polit ical excitement has been created here over the forced resignation of Robert Lansing, secretary Of state, than has been produced by any other incident connected with the Wilson administration. That excitement is coupled with indignation, all directed at President "Wilson. Secretly the democrats are as harsh in their criti- cism as the republicans have been, the latter being, of course, unre strained and frank. One of the first public expressions given in a day which was full of matter was made gossip over tn bv Senator Norris,. which, while ' more blunt than most utterances, is a fairly good index of the general reaction. The incidents connected with the ! Lansing resignation demonstrates two things," said Senator Norris. 1'irst, that the president is mcapaci-i tated. and that it was necessary forv someone to look after the affairs of government: second, that the mental expert who has been employed at the white house was discharged too soon." Throughout all tne excitement the general trend was that of sympathy with the attitude of Secretary Lan sing. Even the democrats them selves, while admitting that the Lan sing resignation mrght be desirable. Converts Liquor Store Into Home; Case In Courts New York, Feb, 14. A test to de cide whether a man can convert his liquor store into his private home and store liquor there will be fought in the federal courts between John II. Bredc of Brooklyn who tried it, and revenue agents, who seized nine barrels of wine and 1,500 bottles of whisky, gin, champagne and other liquids. As soon as prohibition went into effect Brede tacked a card on his liquor store door re.yling: "Private residence .- f lohi; II. Brede." $27,000,000 Worth of Pelts Sold at Annual Fur Sale . St. Louis. Mo.. Feb! 14. More than $27,000,000 .worth of pelts werc sold at the 12-dsy auction at the In ternational Fur Exchange here which ended Saturday. Buyers as serted that it was the largest sale in the trade's historv. Approximately 1,300.000.000 skii said to be about half the visible fur supply of the world, were disposed of. Price advances were recorded lin "earlv evcr-v Iot s0,d- Hog Island Land Turned Over to Shipping Board j Champion Short Horn Bull meirlSre Amcricaii'l nterna- j BrinQS 5,000 Guineas at Sale tional Shipbuilding company was! Aberdeen, Feb. 14. At the Aher reached today by the United States deen cattle show 5,000 guineas wer" .limnlnn l.ns.J 1 . . .. - k ! !, .Un 1. ! ' .1 f . !. I i .1 , T . iwjptn uifliui i.j v.jiiv.1! mi. nuaiv. , taices tuie to tn? lann ot tne nog; Island shipyard at Philadelphia. j Passing Show to meet you' Your rest fn aton afford 'me an opportunity I to select, someone WWJC illMU WVU.lt NOT A V if (fn , il'iw.c irrr.n (s Urtt-tl 777? n f -t KsC7 -JW MINO j -id' tl.caneihod by which it was j brought about and tile' rebuke, ad-1 ' in I ti 1 1 i irtr r rw)wii1iit f tliM 1 ..ess...... ,,.s.,.v.v... y. ...s pretext that his action m holding cabinet meetings was unconstitution al, was "unwise and deplorable." Another side of the question re lated to 1he action of cabinet mem bers in attending these meetings. It was said that to carry the logic of the president's position toward Lan sing to its rightful conclusion every member ot the cabinet, and Secrc tary Tumulty should resign prompt- Iv. If Lansing committed a "crime' in holding the conferences, then those others of the president's of ficial familv who attended them are accessories after the fact." Repeated observations were made that the "president wants nothing but a mere puppet m his cabinet. that whom the gods would destrov they first make mad" and that "cen- gress must immediately provide inpans for meeting iwire situations that arise in wMcli the chief execu- live is titint phys'cally or mental'y for the discharge of his duties." It is probable that the foreign re lations committee of the senate will order an investigation of the conduct of the government's affairs since the president's illness began in October. Conservative officials in congress are deeply concerned over the outlook, feeling their weakiiess in the most important branch of the government at a time when above all others strength is demanded.4 Pork and Bean Biscuit Suit Is Appealed to l i The suit; of, Grace Osborne and Louise Osborne Fergson against the firm of Aimour & Co., the Standard Oil Co., and about 20 other defen dants fcr $120,000,000 damages has been appealed to the supreme court from the district court of Douglas county which decided against the plaintiffs on the grounds of lack of luridiction. The nlaiiltiffs contended in the ! district court that thev are 'the own-; ers ot a patent pork and bean bis cuit which the defendants are mak ing and which they have no right to use. Thev'also contend that the defendants have been able to secure the influence of certain newspaprs which has injured their credit with certam hotels. Last Mercantile Marine Of Germany Demanded London. Feb. 14. According to ' the Exchange Telegraph company's Amsterdam corrcsnondent. a mes- sage has been received there from Rerlin aniiniuirincr that an ulliprt I note has been hatidcH to the Ger-! ' man government requiring the sur render of the remainder of manv's mercantile marine. fjer i IJrtlU KM, Mil; llldllipiljll Mll'Vl HOI II cull Kothic Unsbane Muglit. It will be exported to Argentina -r rw .ITS on rfjsmK of 1920 kv.. Zfy iviff V else Mld V"s. iCllSL c WOMAN IS SHOT Bandits Try to Steal Bonds in view ot Thousands in San Francisco Get Safely Away. San Francisco, Feb. 14. While hundreds were passing by the place, two men were shot and killed and a woman was shot by two bandits in the office of a Libertv bond brokerage company at Turk street, in the heart of the business dis trict here this afternoon. Jht men, E. R. Stroud, one of the proprietors of the place, and H. A. Bohlmau, a stranger looking for work, were slain as they grappled with the bandits. Mrs. M. Lasater, the book keeper, it tc r receiving a bullet in the head, seized a handful of Lib erty bonds and plunaed through a plate glass window to the street. Her condition was said to be serious, The bandits dodged through the crowd, several members of which tried to hold them, leaped into an automobile and sped away. The machine was one believed to have been stolen. Although it was followed for blocks by other cars and by per sons oh foo't, the car with the bandits soon was swallowed ' up in the traffic Telegrams were sent im mediately to all police . headquar ters in central California with a full description of the men. Both bandits were unmasked. One wore a mustache. Whether the bandits obtained anything cannot be determined until, a check is made. Mrs. Lasater said they might have taken several ' thousand (loi rs' worth of honds. engineer at otate Industrial Home Is Dismissed on Charges Lincoln. Neb., Feb. 14. (Special Telegram.) The discharge of Engi neer A. IT. Hagen by Superintendent Clara Quimby, following complaints made bv three inmates of the Girls' Inrluslrial home at Geneva,-is being investigated by. members of the Mate .Board ot control, commis sioner Allyn investigated the' affair following the report made by.th? superintendent, but would, give out no details of the nature of the girls' charges. Follo-winsf his siimnrary dismissal Engineer Hagen was allowed to stay all night at the school, but moved into the town of Geneva the next day. He. remains silent on the charges; The Weather. Forecast. Iowa Generally fair Sunday and Monday: continued cold Sunday; ; rising teniperatgre .uonaay. I .Nebraska Mostly cloudy Sunday; j somewhat colder in southwest; Monday-fair with rising temperature. Hoirly Temperatures.- 3 11 p m.. 1 ! 2 P. in.. 2 ' i p. in.. 2 p. m . ; ; p. in. . 3 1 P in. . 4 ' li.'m. li i a. m. . T a in. . 8 H 111. . It a. nt.. 10 a in.. H . in.. 12 noon . 7 ik iffix WILL WAIT ON OUTCOME OF CONFERENCE President of Maintenance of. Way Employes and Railroad Shop Laborers Halts Walk out on Request of Wilson. RAILWAY COMMITTEEMEN WILL MEET FEBRUARY 22 i I To Decide Whether Demands i For Increased Pay Shall Be I Pressed on Government or Passed to Rail Corporations. Detroit, Feb. 14. The strike ol 300,000 members of the Brother hood of Maintenance of Way Em-, ployes and Railway Shop Laborers, set for next Tuesday, was tonight in definitely postponed byAllen E. Barker, inteniatio"nal president of . the union, in accordance with the request of President Wilson that action be delayed until after tin general conference of railway union committeemen on February 23. Notice of the decision to post pone the strike was communicated to Director General Hinea by Mr. Barker in the following message: "In compliance with recommenda tions of the committee of the broth erhood, now at Washington, I am' indefinitely postponing the stfike order which was to have become effective Tuesday morning, Febru ary 17. However, I am confirmed in my belief that strike action would have been eminently justified to force favorable action on the wage demands of the men for whom 1 speak. It is evident our committer did not desire that the Maintenanct of Way Brotherhood should b driven into a -position seeminglj forgetful of the public interest dm to unfriendly interests .including tin avenues of information by which th public can be reached; the peopl being ignorant of actual conditions among these railway workers. 1 desire to impress upon you with all the force af my confmand the abso lute necessity of relief for our. mem bers immediately if a most serioui situation from which there will bi no retreat is to be avoided' ' Messages Sent Out., The telegram to the membership postponing the strike was sent oil tonight to the approximately 6,000 local secretaries of the brotherhood In it President Barker briefly re views events leading up to the is. sttance of the strike order and tht sending of the executive committee1 to Washington. This commttee, th telegram said, after consulting with high officials "who are true friend of the railway workers" recommend ed that action be postponed. A special convention, Mr. Barkef said, might be called to deal witk the wage controversy. He was not prepared to say whether the execu tive committee would join the othef railway brotherhoods in the Wash ington conference. . : The strike order was issued 1as4 Monday after failure of union fepre sentatives to reach an agreemenl with the railway administration in wage negotiations begun last sum mer. The men had demanded increases amounting to approximately 40 per rent, the greater increase to go ta the lower paid workers. Referred to Conference. Washington, Feb. 14. The rail road wage controversy was referred today to a general conference of union committeemen called to meel here February 2., for final decision as to whether the demands for in creased pay will be pressed on th government or passed on to the rail road corporations, soon to resumt control of their properties. Representatives of 14 unions, who have been conferring with Directoi General Hines since February 3, an. I whose spokesmen laid their claims before President Wilson yes terday, have tentatively accepted the White House proposal for a tribu ra'. created cither by law or on the president's motion, to consider the, demands. .' Final word must come, however, from higher union author ity, tiir. conference of union heads. Assurance was given the Union officials by 'the president in his proposal that he would provide ma chinery for dealing compreheusivelv with their claims; he pro'poscd the naming of a corhmission of wage experts to begin . the compilation of data bearing on the controversy. The president said, he was "certain" if is appajent to'all reasonable men and women that these momentous questions must be dealt with by an agency which can continue to func tion after March 1." . - i . Steps Wilson Contemplates. , "I wish, therefore," he said, "to ! announce to al! railroad employes I at this time that I propose to carry I out tie following steps: I "l.ii the event that in conne--I tion with the return to private con ! trol provision shall be made by i law for machinery for dealing with ; railroad wage matters I shall i proniply use my influence and so far j as such law confers power upon me, I shall promptly exercise that pow j er to bring about the, .earliest prac-t-eable organization of the ma chinery thus provided. "2. Li the event that no such pi)viii-.n is made hy law for dealing uith these matters. I stmU' employ (( ont In ii'il on Two, Column Thw.) lit I Hi A K.V - r i pi- . I fir m mi it