The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-30
WILSON PLANS
LABOR DAY PLEA
Special Appeal May Be Made
to All Workingmen to Stay
With Their Jobs.
CONFERS WITH GOMPERS
Is Urged to Intervene in Steel
Crisis and Bring Pres
sure on Gary.
CONFERS WITH GOMPERS
speeiai Despctch to THE suS.

WASHINGTON, Aug. "a Labor Day
appeal to organized labor and to capt.
tai to stand patriotically by the ma
tonal welfare in this time Of indus
trial and economic crisis in the United
States Is expected from the White
House.
Intervention of the President in the
threatened strike of the iron and steel
workers of the country was asked by
a labor delegation headed by Samuel
Gompers in a long conference at the
White House this afternoon. State
ments on the result of the conference
were refused by the labor men and by
the White House, but it was indicated
that formal statement was likely to-
morrow.
1t is understood that the labor lead
ers urged that the President intervene
and bring some pressure on Judge
Gary and other officials WHO have re-
fused to recognize the union or to con-
fer with its delegated officers.
There was further evidence to-day of
a strong effort Of union leaders to hold
their men in line and to keep a restrain
ing hand on radicallsm on Labor Day.
when a crisis Is expected. 1t Is recog-
nized here that labors national holiday
will afford the radicals who are for
strikes and drastic action to meet the
ends desired. without regard to the ma
tional situation. their best opportunity
fo- eTective work u !s likewise ecsar-
ent that the Government and the labor
leaders in Washington are working
shoulder to shoulder to get over what Is
frankly regarded as a critical situation.
California Improving.
Reports of the Railroad Administra-
tion throughout the day indicated that
the strike situation on the railroads In
California was rapidly improving. The
worst centres of delayed train movement
were in Fresno and Los Angeles. In
other parts of the State men were back
on the job and trains moving on sched.
ule. The San Francisco yards were re-
ported clear and the Santa Fe all right
except north of and not including Fresno
The Southern Pacific was in good shape
| except at Fresno. and service was gen.
orally restored on lines except at the two
points mentioned
Just what form any statement from
| the President will take is not known, but
1t is expected that it will be in the ma
ture OF direct appeal to the workers
| and to the employers OF the country, pos
sibly with particular reference to the
CT fn0l In
issues of the impending steel strike. and
the general industrial situation, but it IL
| regarded as certain that he will urge
! upon labor generally the same arguments
| for delay that have effectually, 1t seems
| postponed the strike OF railroad shop.
men.
In this connection II is significant
that Assistant Attorney Ames author.
lied the prediction to-day that the cos
of living will be reduced 25 per cent. In
the next ninety days through the Ad,
| ministration's efforts The statement
was made just before the committee ap.
pointed by the Governors conference al
| Salt Lake City went into session with
| Department of Justice officials to plar
| State aid and cooperation in the cos
CT living fight.
Food Cuts Are Forced.
Mr.. Ames said: reductions already
| have been forced m many localities, In
Guiding New York, Tennessee and Idaho
A big drop in hog prices which occurre
| yesterday in Chicago is a big indication
of the effect of the Governments cam
paign. Another is the general decreas,
| in prices OF securities Of companies deal
| ing in food products and clothing. Price!
| will continue on down grade from
row on"
| Following this Attorney-General Pal
mer let It be known that wholesale
prosecutions of retail dealers through
| out the country are planned just as soor
as Congress passes amendments TO th'
| food control act Data on retail dealers
accused Of taking excessive profits ar
now being compiled, preparatory, It Il
said, to action. Many wholesalers ar,
on the list. Restaurant prices are like
wise under investigation by specta
agents OF the Department.
These efforts are expected to be 6
large factor in the endeavor to SETTLE
I the Industrial situation. 1t gives thu
basis upon which President Wilson
urged the shopmen TO delay drastic
action and to await results from thu
efforts to put living cost behind instead
of constantly in front of wages.
! The threatened stTlke OF lne btee
workers is not predicated upon wages
but upon union recognition. however
1t Is possible that President Wilson viii
invite Judge Gary and other officials
here for conferences before any strike Il
called.
President Gompers OF the American
Federation OF Labor and the leaders o
the steel workers here were with tn,
President for an hour to-day discussing
the subject.
Plea Wired to Gary.
Before the conference a Telegram
sent by the leaders TO the men in Gary
Ind, who said they were being dis
criminated against and prosecuted wa
made public. The telegram, addressed
to James Mulholland. secretary OF tn
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