Show MERRY ROUND MERRY ROUND GO-ROUND Whitney Riled President With Tactics By DREW DREn PEARSON WASHINGTON Those V WASHINGTON ASHINGTON Those who sat in on the hectic door closed-door conferences over the railroad strike report that It is hard to say who was sorest at the prima donna tactics of A. A F. F Whitney head of the trainmen trainmen govern govern government ment officials or the other brotherhood leaders who did not strike bu but who were thrown out of ot work by the tho trainmen and the locomotive engineers At one time probably the president president pres pres- ident of ot the United States was the tho most Irked at the grandstanding grandstanding grandstanding grand grand- standing Mr Whitney Truman even had difficulty getting Whitney Whitney Whitney Whit Whit- ney to stay in Washington He was constantly threatening to stage an operatic exit to Cleveland Cleveland Cleve Cleve- land without even en bothering to advise the tho White House This brought a sharp tongue tongue- lashing from the president during during dur dur- ing one of ot their meetings What do you mean to do do- do walk out on the president of ot the United States 1 Truman roughly inquired No sir Whitney responded and and his voice lacked its usual brusqueness Well then you had better stay here until we get this thing settled and try to show a little littlemore m more o 0 r e cooperation Truman ruman snapped napped Whitney in Reverse Inside f fact et is that the disastrous railroad railroad railroad rail rail- road up tie-up was close to settlement settlement settle settle- ment last Wednesday the day before the five day truce ended Then suddenly the thc acrobatic Mr Whitney reversed himself Whitney h had a d tentatively agreed to settle on the basis of an 18 hour cent hour an pay bo boost t two two and one half cents more than the presidents president's factfinding factfinding find fact ing board proposed with proposed with four rules changes over and above the 14 changes previously recommended recommended recommended rec rec- by the board The additional rules changes demanded by Whitney were 1 Pay for railroad workers while attending Investigations of ot accidents and other inquiries 2 guarantee of ot 30 days a month on the basis of ot miles milesa a day work for road service 3 pay bonuses for trainmen on freight trains pulled by powered higher-powered locomotives 4 ot O yard service engineers to be paid the same 8 as freight en en- The latter tatter was demanded demanded demanded de de- de- de by Whitneys Whitney's sidekick Alvanley Johnston boss bess of ot tl the e engineers Dr John R. R Steelman promised promised prom prom- bed to take these rules changes up with the carriers and was most hopeful of ot getting th their lr acceptance He was was even more hopeful after putting the matter up to carrier chiefs late In the day and finding finding- some of them amenable However he didn't reckon with Whitney For when Whitney met Steelman Steelman Steel Steel- man again the trainman chief had a new set et of terms demanding demanding demanding de de- de- de manding 32 rules 32 rules changes and still sun insisting on an 18 cent 18 cent hourly Increase Steelman is noted for his even temper in labor negotiations but after listening to this ultimatum he had a tough time controlling himself Al AI he declared how do you expect to get a compromise if you go up Instead of ot down in your demands Yesterday you seemed agreeable to only four rules modifications in addition fo th those e recommended by the emergency board Now you want wanta a total of ot 32 I have havo talked It over with my committee and that is the minimum we can agree to replied Whitney I wonder if you really want to settle this strike Al AI countered countered countered coun coun- Steelman sharply However However However How How- ever Whitney refused to budge from his new position NOTE NOTE- Stock complaint carrier carrier carrier car car- rier spokesmen made against Whitney is that tha he continually steps up his demands during negotiations Diplomatic Chaff The Chaff The soviet has quietly turned down a bid to support the Arabs in their fight tight against Jewish immigration in Palestine The soviet in Cairo has informed Arab leaders leader that Russia favors placing placing placing ing the whole Palestine i issue ue in inthe inthe inthe the hands hand of ot the United Nations However both the Arabs and tho the British are against this move The housing situation for United Nation delegates is 15 now so difficult the state department department department depart depart- ment may ask the army to give up Fort Totten N. N Y as a temporary home for tor U. U N. N off oUi- dais A fine tine place to put a peace organization organization-In in an army to fort t According to uncensored diplomatic dispatches the soviet has made real progress in wooing wooing woo woo- ing f fascist Argentina The Russians Rus Rue alan even are embracing Argentine Argentine Argentine Ar Ar- gentine reactionaries rel in order to bring the Peron government I toward Moscow Copyright 1916 1946 Bell Ben Syndicate |