The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-06-07
McADOO WARNS RAIL
MEN NOT TO STRIKE


a blow at their own government and
the hampering of transportation es-
sential to protect the hundreds OF
thousands Of American boys fighting
on the battlchelds of Europe.
In telegram to the heads of all
labor unions having shopmen among
their members McAdoo gave notice
that the government cannot be CO.
creed or intimidated and called upon
railroad men to remain at their duty
and rely upon him and the new Board
of Railroad Wages and Working Con-
ditions for just consideration of their
claims.
He asked the union leaders TO urge
upon their men by wire the wisdom
and patriotism Of this course.
WalkOuts are Threatened.
A few days ago several hundred
machinists and shopmen at AleXan-
dria, Va, left their posts in Southern
Railroad shops in protest against
small increases given them under the
director generals new scale OF high
er wages, and there have been threats
of a general walkout of union shop
men next Monday unless substantial
further pay advances are forthcom-
ing before that time.
The strike of certain shopmen, ma
chinists, etc, in the railroad shops at
Alexandria, Va. has created very
painful impression on the pubic
mind, said the director generals mes
sage. | cannot believe that these men
knew what they were doing. They
are all employees now of the United
States Government. They are not
employees of any railroad corpora
ton, therefore this was strike
against the government of the United
States.
1t is the first time in the history of
our government that any of its en-
ployees have attempted strike
against their government. Such ac-
ton is incredible, for the good of our
loved country and for the honor of
railroad men in the service every
where, | hope that there will be no
repetition of what everyone must
condemn us unpatii0tic in the highest
degree.
Anxious to Do Justice.
The government cannot, of course,
be coerced or mtimidated by any OF
its employees. 1t is anxious to do
Justice to all and will do justice to all
as far as it is possible to measure
Justice. Recognizing that there are
probable inequalities in the recon-
mendations of the wage commission
which should be impartially consid-
cred and dealt with, j appointed in
my general order No. 81, dated May
25, a board of railroad wages and
working conditions composed of three
representative labor men and three
representative railroad men, whose
duty it is to hear and to pass upon all
petitions and complaints.
Every class Of employees or parts
of classes Of employees who feel that
they have just ground for complaint
under the wage decision should sub
nit their cases promptly to this
board and they will be given just and
impartial consideration. The Ameri-
can people have just been called upon
to pay largely increased freight and
passenger rates for the purpose of
paving in part the increased wages
amounting to more than $500, 100000
awarded to railroad employees,
c,uan.1 .ho, should etr;ka AGAINST
a. Sup d"ns,s,nnt hocanse they do not
think thew nre fairly treated in being
forced to nav these increases for the
benefit of railroad labor, what would
hannah "a orr country? Suppose that
ra;Iroad officers should strike because
thav d;s,;ked the orders of the gov-
ernnent and should refuse to obey
than what would hammer TO them
SMnnosc that railroad EMPLOYEES
Should strike urainst the decision Of
fLe;r uov,rnmont md hammer the OPP
ane.son n An railroads at n time when
tras ,vt ~ 10 essential 10 protect
tha Spntrads If thousands of Amer
;ca, hnMs I now fobting on the battle
Saids of Fmrone 20 save the lives and
nrnnort, and I;herty Of railroad en-
p pioreas serving here Mt home, what
ipo UISh annon n our country?
"'"'U ""pp." -
must SUM" " LAWS, :.
The Kaiser probably would get H.
We cannot all get eXactly "hat We
want in this world, nor can VIC WIN WI,
this war unless each and every cltl-
zen is willing to submit to the laws