The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-05-16
To the Editor of The Republic:


daily press for some time past. All
those with whom / talked who had
read the article were agreed in saying
that it was absolutely right in every
respect. Your Endorsement of the
policy being pursued by Chairman
Hertenstien of the Efficiency Board
in regard to returning soldiers and
their replacement in positions left by
them to go to the front was certainly
based upon the most solid and substan-
tial ground. / sincerely hope that re-
turning soldierst will be warmly re-
ceived and put to work as quickly as
they are able to resume the perform
ar,ce of their duties in their previous
positions.
This is something that must not be
lightly dealt with, for it is a subject
that is charged with very inflammable
material. The world has walked up in
the past two years to the fact that la
Dor, generally speaking, has been very
poorly paid and, Notwithstanding the
great increase in wages in many oc-
equations, a large number of the toll
ers in all sections of the country are
still far from able to support big
family and meet the increased cost of
living, even with the increasing wages
which have been voluntarily given
them within the past year.
Carl Gray's Narrative
Last Monday night had the pleas
IRE and privilege of listening to Carl
Gray, formerly of st. Louis, the man
who has had the actual operation of
the railroads of the United States on
his shoulders since the period of Fed
eral control began. He said to the
big audience that the most surprising
fact that was brought to his attention
through his investigations after he as
sumed charge of his big task was the
low scale of wages paid to the toilers
of the great railway systems of the
country, upon whom the shipping of
supplies to the Allies depended, and
the winning of the war was to such
large extent responsible. He said
that between so per cent and rs per
cent of al the men actually engaged
in the real work of running railroads
and getting their rolling stock NOV
ing and kept in operation as well as
the men in shops, in offices, at freight
stations-in fact, rs per cent of all
the men who really do the railroad
work of the country-were receiving
less than 500 month, and larger
portion of these were averaging $75
and in some cases less, per month,
for the great tasks which they had to
carry through in order that the world
should be made safe for democracy.
In order that the war should be
won, it was imperative that there
should be no strikes upon the great
railroad system of the country. With
his director general, McAdoo, Mr..
Gray was quick to grasp the fact that
If the railroad men of the country
were to carry through the response
bilities resting upon them in provis-
ioning the vast armies on the battle
fronts of Europe, increases in wages
would have to be made right down the
quiet the restless feelings of this vast
army of toilers upon whose shoulders
such gigantic tasks were laid.
One of the most interesting stories
ever told to an audience in this city
was Mr.. Gray's narration Of how the
wage scale of the railroad men was
adjust in order to make assurance
doubly sure in this regard. 1t was a
great story by simple but unspoil-
ed master of the railroad business,
and the fairness of the man and his
determination to play absolutely
square with the great railroad army
of the country was recognized by his
audience at several points in his ad-
dress, and his remarks were cheered
with fervent enthusiasm.
In ordr that one should be able to
do justice to the telling masses, it
is absolutely essential that he should
follow the example of Mr.. Gray first,
and find out for himself by actual in
vestigation what the cost of living
is in proportion to the wages paid to
all those who have to work for liv-
ing in any line of business in any sec
ton of this country.
Quotes Walsh
In the April number of Reconstruc-
tion of New York City, Frank P. Wal
sh, former chairman of the Warl La
Dor board, touches on this point in two
very Illuminating paragraphs. He
says:
The truth is, OF course, that wages, |
nowhere that have observed in the
United States, have begun to keep
pace with the increase in the cost of |
living.
"The ordinary laborer in the Unit
ed States is still compelled to take a |
wage that leaves him below the line of |
living in health and reasonable |
comfort; while even the highest paid |
skilled workman, with the exertion of |
all of his skill and strength both in
the factory and in his union organi-
cation, has been compelled to take
the losers end on account of the war"
Austin B. Garretson, president of the |
Order of Railway Conductors of Amer
lea, in his same journal, has some very
striking things to say. He says
almond other things:
Wherever labor gives thought in
stead of feeling to conditions and the
remedies for conditions, unrest is
bound to be quickened.
"The greatest weapon of oppression
has ever been to keep the people lull-
ed to Sleep"