The Sentinel=record., 1918-05-31

" dAHl lHAlbhs NdN hV. ! Nt IdiIlbdl employees were reminded by Director General McAddo tonight that they are employees Of the United States .n tune Of war and that a strike means a blow at their government and the hampering of transportation essential to protect hundreds of thousands of American boys fighting on the battle fields of Europe,
 A few days ago several hundred machinists and shopmen at AleXan dria Virginia, left their posts in Southern railway shops in protesi against small increases given them under the director generals new scale of higher wages and there have been threats of general walhout of all Iunion shopmen next Monday unless substantial further pay advances arC farthcomue before that time
 In a telegram to the heads of al
 labor unions having shopmen amons their members MT McAdoo gave no
 tice that the government cannot D, coerced or iulimidated and callet upon railroad men to remain at theil
 duty and rely upon him and the new board of railroad wages and workin. conditions for just consideration oi their claims He asked the unlor 1 leaders to urge upon their men by wire the wisdom and patriotism ol this course
 
 "The strike of certain shopmen, ma chinists, etc, in the railroad shops at Alexandria, Virginia, has created a very painful impression on the public mind," said the director generals mes sage. q cannot believe that these men knew what they were doing. They are all employees now of the United States government. They are not em- pioyes of any railroad corporation therefore this was a strike against the government of the United States. Il Is the first time in the history of oui government that any of it's employees have attemtped a strike against their government Such action is incredi ble. For the good of our beloved country and for the honor of railroad men in the service everywhere, l hopt that there will be no repetition o what every one must condemn as un. patriotic in tho highest degree.
 ''Ihe government cannot be coerced or itimidated by any of it's employees It is anxious to do justice and will dr justice to all as far as it is possible tC measure justice Recognizing tha' there are probable inequalities in tho recommendations of the wage com mission which should be impartialll considered and dealt with, | appointe, in my general order number 27, datet | May 25, board of railroad wages anl working conditions composed of thre' Representative labor men and thre, representative railroad men who's duty it is to hear and to pass upon al | petitions and complaints.
 Every class of employe, or part of classes of employees. who feel tha l they have just ground for complain
 under the wage decision should sub
 init thelr cases promptly to this boar'
 and they will be given just and partia
 consideration The American peopl
 have just been called upon to pa.
 largely increased freight and passen
 ger rates for the purpose of paying il part of the increased wages amount
 ing to more than $300.000,OO0 awarde'
 to railroad employees.
 "If suppose they should strike agains
 the government because they do no
 think they are fairly treated in beini
 forced to pay these increases for tn | benefity of railroad labor what wouli
 happen to our country? Suppose tha
 railrb bad officers should strike becaus
 they disliked the orders of the govern lmfnt and should refuse to obey them what would happen to them Suppos | That railroad employees should strik laeainst the decision of their govern lnent and hamper the operation of tn Railroads at a time when transporta
 tion Is essential to protect the hun #dreds of thousands of American boy