Evening journal., 1919-08-26

clear TO me. and believe Will seem
clear 10 every thoughtful Ameri-
can, including the shopmen them
selves when they have taken sec
ond thought, and 10 all wage earn
ers OF every kind that we ought TO
postpone questions Of this sort un-
til normal conditions come again
and we have the opportunity for
certain circulation as 10 the rela-
tion between wages and the cost Of
living. II IA the duty OF every cit
zen OF the country TO insist upon a
truce IN such contests until intelll-
gent settlements can be made, and
made by peaceful and effective COM
mon counsel.
I appeal 10 my fellow citizens Of
every employment TO cooperate IN
insisting upon and maintaining
such a truce, and 10 cooperate also
In sustaining the Government IN
what conceive 10 be the only
course which conscientious public
servants can pursue. Demands un-
wisely made and passionaiely IN
sisted upon az this time menace the
peace and prosperity OF the country
as nothing else could. and thus con-
tribute TO bring about the very re-
suits which such demands are In
tended 10 remedy.
The wages Of other railway em-
plOyes are based upon the rule that
they are 90 receive for eight hours
work the same pay they received
for the longer workday that was
the usual standard Of the pre-war
period This claim Is, I am told.
well founded. and ] concur in the
conclusion Of the Dlrecior-General
That the shopmen ought TO be given
the additional cents an hour
which the readiusiment asked for
Will justify. There are certain
other adjustments also pointed out
in the report Of the DirectOr-Gcn-
eral which ought In fairness TO be
made and which will be made.
Let me add also that the position
which The Government must in
conscience take against general in-
creases In wage levels while the
present exceptional and temporary
circumstances exist will Of course
not preclude The Railroad Admins
tration from giving prompt and
careful consideration 20 any claims
that may be made by other classes
Of employees for readiustments be-
lieved 10 be proper 90 secure i'm
partial treatment for all who work
IN the railway service.
WOODROW WILSON.
The White House, Aug. 25 1919
said:
The very time that We are trying
with great confidence. TO reduce the
cost Of living and are able TO say
that II Is actually beginning 20 fall.
| am aware that railway en-
plOyes have a sense Of insecurity
as 10 the future Of the railroads
and have many misglvings as 10
whether their interests will be
properly safeguarded when the
present form Of Federal control
has come 10 an end No doubt il Is
IN part this sense OF uncertainty
that prompts them TO insist that
their wage interests be adjusted
now rather than under conditions
which they cannot certainly fore
sec. But do not think that their
uneasiness Is well grounded.
I anticipate that legislation deal
Ing with the future Of the railroads
Will. in explicit terms. afford qde-
quate protection for the interests
Of the employees Of the roads. but.
quite apart from that. 10 Is clear
that no legislation can make the
railways other than what they are
a great public interest. and 10 is not
likely that the President Of the
United States, whether I'm posses
sion and control Of the railroads or
not. will lack opportunity or per-
suaslve force 10 influence the de-
clsion Of questions arising between
the managers Of the railroads and
the railway employees. The en-
pl0yes may rest assured that dur
ing my term OF Office, whether ] am
IN actual possession OF the rail-
roads or not, ! shall not fail 10 ex-
crt the full influence Of the Execu-
tive to see that justice is done
them.
I believe, therefore. that they
may be justified in the confidence
that hearty cooperation with the
Government now IN its efforts to
reouce the costs OF living will by
no means be preiudical 10 their own
interests. but will. on the contrary,
prepare the way for more favorable
and satisfactory relations in the
future.
! confidently count on their CO.
operation in this time Of national
test and crisis.