Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-08-29
TEXT OF WILSON'S STATEMENT TO
PlIRl IT,.

addressed TO the pubic, fOllOwS:
"My Fellow Citizens:-A situa-
lion has arisen in connection with
,hc administration Of railways
whch is Of such general signifi-
cance that think it my duty to
make public statement concern
inr it. in order that the country
NAV know what is involved.
"The railroad shopmen have de-
manded large increase in wages.
they are receiving SO, So, and 68
cents per hour. They demand IS
cents per hour. This demand has
been given careful and serious con-
sideration by the board, which was
constituted by the railroad admin
istration to adjust questions of
wages, a board consisting of an
equal number of representatives of
employees and of the operating
managers of the railroad compan-
les. This board has been unable
to come to an agreement, and it has
therefore devolved upon the direc-
tor general of railroads and my
self to act upon the, merits of the
case. .
"The shopmen urge that they are
entitled TO higher wages, because of
the higher wages for the present re-
ccived by men doing Il similar work
in ship yards, navy yards, and ar
Senals, as well as in a number of
private industries, but l concur
with the director general in think
ing that there is no real basis of
comparison between the settled en-
ployment afforded mechanics by
the railroads under living condi-
lions as various as the location and
surroundings Of the railway shops
themselves and the fluctuating en-
rloyment afforded in industries eX-
ccptionally and temporarily stimu-
lated by the war and located al
most without exception in indus
trial centers where the cost of liv-
ing is higher. 7'
THE substantial argument, which
the ShOpmen urge, is the very seri-
Gus increase in the cost of living.
This is very potent argument,
indeed. But the fact is that the
cost of living has certainly reached
its peak, and probably will be low
cred by the efforts which are now
everywhere being concerted and
carried out. 1t will certainly be
lowered so soon as there are set
tied conditions of production and
of commerce; that is, so soon as
the treaty of peace is ratified and
i'll operation, and merchants, manu-
lecturers, farmers, miners, all have
a certain basis of calculation as to
what their business will be and
what the conditions will be under
which it must be conducted. The
demands of the shopmen, there
tore, and all similar demands, are
IN effect this: That we may in
crease in wages which are likely
10 be permanent, in order to meet
a temporary situation which will
last, nobody can certainly tell how
long, but in all probability only for
limited time. Increases in wages
VIII, moreover, certainly result in
and stimulate further costs of pro-
nuctlon, and therefore the cost of
hFInS, and we should only have to
20 through the same process again.
Any substantial increase of wages
III leading lines Of industry at this
"nc would utterly crush the gen.
'ra' campaign which the govern
lNeni IS wagins, with energy, vigor
ana substantial hope of success, to
ItntIcc the high cost of living. And
'"c increases in the cost of trans
roF'ati0n, which would necessarily
rHull from increases in the wages
]" railwaN employees would more
ter'ainly and more Immediately
nave that effect than any other en-
,"hccd wage costs. Only by keep
'nS the cost of production on its
nItScnt level by increasing produc-
uo' and by rigid economy and saw
nl8 on the part of the people, can
W. nope for large decreases in the
D"rdcnsomc cost of living, which
HOW weighs us down.
The director general of rail
,;U'oS and | have felt that pecu-
har h responsibility rests upon us,
,in,'us r.'use in determining this ques-
ou we are not studying the bal
I''e Sheets of corporations mere
iho H., we are in effect determining
f'i, fE burden of taxation which must
ir'. upon the people of the coun-
foSr III general. We are acting, not
lho private corporations, but i'm
Iho name of the government and
1r,, puDiic, and must assess our
il H'nSlDlllty accordingly. For
,,l' heIther wise nor feasible to
of ,.,: tarc OF increases in the wages
h., ;'llroad employees at this time
Increases in freight rates. 1t
rc,nnn ,np0sSlble at this time, until
rlfl;, mas come and normal con
N.I,,' are restored, to estimate