Denver labor bulletin., 1918-01-05
SURE OF REACHING Salts
FACTORY TERMS.
Labor's Fight on Postmaster GEN
eral Burleson Is Likely To Re-
tire Him From Presidents
Cabinet, Says Correspond
ent Todd.
BY LAURENCE TODD
Especial Representative The Denver Labor

Bulletin.)
WASHINGTON, Jan. Thirty days'
delay of the pressing of their demands
for 40 per cent increase in wages has
been decided upon by the four big rail-
road brotherhoods, since the railroad
executives have given them a refusal
of the increase as the final responsible
act OF the old regime in the railroad
world.
From now on, the brotherhoods will
deal with the government. From now
on, they assume, the old arrangements
for conference and discussion and set
tlement of all disputes between the
employees and the management will be
handled by the regular trade union
machinery They understand, after
many conferences with President Will
son, Director General McAdoo and
lesser officials, that the administra-
ton has no thought of disturbing the
existing situation-the recognition of
the unions in every possible relation
where managers and union representa-
atives can work in harmony for the
benefit of the service.
Principle of High Wage.
Because there is still great deal of
confusion as to just what steps must
be taken to adjust the railroads to the
war needs of the government, the
brotherhoods will wait another month
before taking up with the government
this 40 per cent wage increase. But
they are going to bring it up. The
government officials. from the highest
down, understand that wages must be
kept at least as high, in proportion to
the cost of living, as they were before
the war began. That is the principle
set forth in the statement issued last
spring by the executive committee Of
the Labor Committee of the Council of
National Defense. 1t is based on the
evident need of the workers and their
families to have sufficient food, cloth
ing and shelter to maintain their
strength while working for the ma
tons safety.
The confusion with regard to how
the railroad management is to be ar
ranged will soon be over. Fat salaries
paid to Wall street brokers and law
yers, or to favorites of certain Wall
street banking houses, for supposed
service as presidents and managers of
railroads, will be cut out. Millions of
dollars spent in useless competitive
advertising of railway lines will be
saved. The men who will stay on the
pay roll at good salaries will be the
ones who can do the most to make the
roads operate smoothly and efficient
ly. When the preliminary shaking-up
has been done, the wage question for
the mass of the workers must come
under review.
viii Reach an Agreement
Director General McAdoo may be
able TO solve the problem without call
ing in the aid of the Board of Media
ton and Cancellation, which was Gre
ated five years ago, under the New
lands act, TO handle railroad industrial
disputes affecting train crews, switch
men and telegraphers. This board has
settled every big dispute except that
of the general eight-hour day. which
Congress and a threat to strike had to
settle. Hundreds of minor grievances
are adjusted thru its help. Last week
it settled the dispute between the Bal
timore & Ohio and its telegraphers
over general wage increase and eN-
ira pay for Sunday work. The award
was compromise, but it satisfied the
men for the present time.
II the 40 per cent wage increase is
either granted or compromised by Nc
Adoo. the brotherhoods will have Sc
cured an immediate triumph over
those who claim that the new "boss"
is going to be n hard one to deal with.
If the director general shall for any
reason decide to send the dispute thru
the usual channels to the Board of Me-
iiation and Cancellation, he will still
probably concede settlement which
will come pretty near to the original
demand.
Common Sense Practices.
Nine out of ten men whom you ask
about it, here in Washington, will tell
you that the government is going to
own as well as operate the roads, and
that the 100000 men who maintain
and operate the roads will from. now
on be public employees. The railroad
brotherhood officials, except for Pres
ident Garretson of the Conductors,
have refused to assume that this Is
the situation. Nevertheless they have
been prompt to get an understanding
with the government as to just how
workers are to be dealt with.
This understanding Is satisfactory to
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