Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-08-26
Shopmen's Demands for p Per
Cent Raise Are Re-
fused.
FOUR CENTS MORE
PER HOUR GRANTED
New Attitude Will Affect All Such
Questions Coming Before Gov
eminent Until Economic
Balances Comes.

Washington, Aug. 25.-Postpone.
ment of the settlement of wage de-
mands until normal economic cond-
tions are restored was announced to-
! day by President Wilson as the policy
which the administration will pursue
in dealing with such questions, par
ticularlv those affecting railroad
workers.
The president ann ..inced also that
it was neither wise nor feasible at
this time, when the most important
question before the country is a re-
turn to normal price level, to at
tempt to increase freight rates to
provide funds for higher wages.
owe ought to postpone questions
of this sort until we have the oppor-
unity for certain calculations as to
the relations between wages and the
cost of living" the president declared
in a statement to the public explain
! ing his decision as to wages. ut is
the duty of every citizen to insist
upon a truce in such contests until
intelligent settlements can be made,
and made by peace and effective COM
mon council. appeal to my fellow
citizens of every employment to CO.
operate III lnSlSJlHS upon ana HAIL
tanning such truce"
Mr. Wilson's statement was issued
in connection with vhe decision of
himself and director general Hines
: on demands by railroad shopmen for
a Is per cent. advance in wages, but
the General policy pronounced covers
also the wage demands Of other hum
dreds of thousands Of railroad work.
ers which are pending before the di
rector general or about to be present.
ed 1t is to be expected. that other
unions trying to obtain more pay will
e be asked as the shopmen, to play their
4 part with other citizens in reducing
r the cost of living by foregoing tenn
I porary advantage would add to trans
:, portation costs.
q The decision Of the president and
!. the director general was announced
to committee of one hundred, repre-
senting the shopmen. In reply to
their demands for rs per cent. in
: crease. the shopmen were asked to
t accent an adjustment Of their pay to
!. the basis of ten hours pay for eight
II hours work. which they contended
n was given other employees and denied
i them when the Adamson law became
e effective. This means an advance OF
= the basic pay from GO cents to ~
y cents an hour, whereas an increase
of II cents to IS cents an hour was
demanded.
Up to the Locals.
: Acting President Jewel, of the rail-
= way employees department of the
American Federation Of Labor, and
, his advisers said they would COM
le municate the decision to the union
y locals for acceptance or rejection. A
o. strike vote completed yesterday, but
s. not vet tabulated. was on the ques-
ton whether the men should quit
work to enforce consideration Of their
demands by the railroad administra-
ton instead of by congressional
90 commission as first suggested. As
;" this plan was abandoned, the vote for
,d whatever it results. is non-effective
81 and shopmen now have an entirely
new question before them.
* This question they were asked by
ne President Wilson. through their COM
Ms mittee. to consider Gin new light
W. eve are face to face with situa.
n ton" the president said, (which il
on for more likely to affect the happi
- mess and prosperity and even the lift
of our people than the war ITSELF"
tt He thereupon outlined the govern
/ ment's efforts to reduce prices AM
! the need for assisting these efforts
| by stimulating production and main
I tanning TRANSPORTATION.
! "A general increase in the levels o
wages might defeat this at it's yer.
j beginning" the president said. II be
| lieve that the present efforts to re
! duce the costs of living will be sue
| cessful. if no new elements Of dit
ficultv are thrown in the way.
confidently count upon the men en-
| gagged in the service Of the railway
to assist. not abstruct. Thew ar
+! good Americans. along with the res
of us. and NAV. am sure. be counte
upon to see the point.
Apace With Prices.
"It goes without saying that il on
efforts to bring the cost Of Twin
!. down should fail. it will be. Of course
necessary to ACCEPT the higher cost
as q permanent basis Of adjustment
and railway wages should be adjust
ed with the rest"
Mr.. Hines recommendation to tn
president as to the amount OF increas
to be given: went exhaustsyely INT
Iii Continued on page six.)